Stop Mayweather dancing to triumph – Mathews

Dec 8 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

WITH a perfect 19 wins against his name, Derry Mathews knows what it takes to remain unbeaten in a boxing ring.

But as Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jnr go head to head in the early hours of tomorrow morning for their WBC welterweight clash that is being billed simply as ‘Undefeated’, Liverpool’s WBU featherweight champion is split over which of the pair will get the decision.

Hatton and Mayweather Jnr have amassed an incredible 81 wins without a single defeat between them.

Mathews knows that something has to give at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and while his head tells him it could be too close to call, his heart is with firmly with Hatton.

“I can see it being a good fight but if I’m honest I can’t pick a winner beforehand,” says Mathews, whose second title defence will take place at the Echo Arena on February 2.

“Ricky’s a world-class challenger but Mayweather is also world class. It’s really hard to predict. As a five weight world champion Mayweather has experience of these fights. But I believe Ricky’s got the heart and soul. Hopefully he can bring back the belt for us.”

Hatton versus Mayweather Jnr is arguably the most highly-anticipated contest involving a British fighter since Frank Bruno put his WBC heavyweight crown on the line against Mike Tyson at the same venue in 1996. The difference, however, is that Hatton has a real chance of hitting the jackpot in Vegas.

Likened to the ‘Energiser Bunny’ by one time pound-for-pound middle and light-heavyweight king Bernard Hopkins this week, Mathews agrees that Hatton’s all-action, come-forward style could be key against Mayweather Jnr.

“Ricky’s game-plan is often never to take a backward step from the first bell,” explains Mathews.

“In a fight like this he couldn’t afford to do that. He’s got to pressure May-weather from the outset. He can’t let Floyd dance around him as he likes to. Ricky has got to stick close to him and work like hell for 12 rounds if that’s what it takes. If he does that, as we know he can, I believe he will come away the winner.”