RICKY HATTON V MANNY PACQUIAO
Venue:
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, USA
Date:
Sunday 3 May
Start:
Approx 0300 BST Coverage:
Full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, reports and photos on BBC Sport website, TV coverage on Sky Sports (pay-per-view)
Floyd Mayweather Sr has revealed Ricky Hatton's training camp ahead of his title fight against Manny Pacquiao has been marred by personality clashes.
Hatton defends his unbeaten record at light-welterweight against the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, Pacquiao, at the MGM Grand on Saturday.
But Mayweather admits problems have overshawdowed the preparations.
"Was there a problem (in the camp)? Yes. I saw a problem and addressed it. Nobody is jerking me around," he said.
It is just the second fight Hatton and Mayweather Sr have worked together, with Hatton seeking to get back on top of the boxing world after suffering the only defeat of his career in a welterweight showdown with Mayweather's son in December 2007.
Following that fight, when a knockout saw Hatton fall to the first defeat of his 46-fight career, Hatton took on Mayweather Sr as a trainer ahead of his return to the light-welterweight division.
Mayweather Sr had just seven weeks to prepare Hatton for last November's victory over Paulie Malignaggi, but the lead in to the fight with Pacquiao, who has a record of 48 wins, three draws and two losses, has been a lot longer - leading to divisions in the camp.
But the American insists he is happy with Hatton's lead-up to the fight, despite admitting to a spot of in-fighting.
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606: DEBATE
Hamo
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"It doesn't mean a camp is not a good camp because there are problems," he said. "It doesn't mean you've had a bad camp. I think he had a good camp.
"It was a problem that could be addressed and taken care of without being in the media. We straightened it out."
When asked if there was a clash between himself and Hatton's assistant trainer Lee Beard, Mayweather said: "Why wouldn't Lee and I be friends? Why would you pick Lee out of everybody?
"There are a lot of people there (in camp), not just me and Lee. But you could be on the right track.
"I'm a no-nonsense trainer. We have a very clear understanding. I respect them and I want them to do the same with me."
And Mayweather Sr believes his no-nonsense approach will pay dividends when Hatton, 30, takes on Pacquiao.
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I want him to use the jab more as an offensive and a defensive weapon. You can beat him up with the jab and keep him off you with it
Floyd Mayweather Sr
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The Mancunian has been learning the hard way about keeping his head moving in training, with Mayweather going as far as hitting Hatton on the head with his pads during training sessions to drill into him the importance of the exercise.
"If someone's fighting you is he going to play-fight?" Mayweather asked. "So are you going to play-train? "What are you going to do? Are you going to move your head or are you going to stay there?
"I don't play games, if you leave your head there I'm going to take it off. I said to Ricky, 'You need to move your head, man, you want to be able to see your kids. You don't want to be hit in the head, that's your brain in there. When you get hit in the head your brain rattles'.
"So I don't want him to get hit upsides the head and I want him to use the jab more as an offensive and a defensive weapon.
"You can beat him up with the jab and keep him off you with it."
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