Hatton growing in confidence before Mayweather showdown

By Kieran Mulvaney

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Britain's Ricky Hatton is becoming more confident the nearer Saturday's WBC welterweight title showdown against Floyd Mayweather gets.

"I have a really eager twinge in me. I really want to get in there and do it," Hatton, with a career record of 43-0, told reporters ahead of his clash against the undefeated American at the MGM Grand.

"Sometimes as the fight gets nearer doubt comes in. It's having the opposite effect on me."

Hatton said the secret to beating Mayweather, 38-0, was revealed by Mexican Jose Luis Castillo, who lost a disputed decision to the American in a WBC lightweight bout in Las Vegas in April, 2002.

The 29-year-old Hatton knocked out Castillo in four rounds in his most recent bout, in June.

Castillo pressured Mayweather throughout the 12 rounds of their contest, and several ringside observers felt he deserved the victory.

Hatton believes that the weaknesses Mayweather showed that night play to his strengths, and that everything Castillo did, he can do better.

"A lot of people will say that I did a better job than Mayweather against Castillo, and a lot of people will say Castillo had seen better days," he said.

HEART FACTOR

"But when Castillo was in his prime, was his footwork as quick as mine, was he as physically strong as me? Was he as explosive as me? Was he as good a body puncher as me? Was he as hard a hitter as me?

"Did he have the variation of shots I have? I would have to say no to every one. And a lot of people think that Jose (beat Mayweather).

"Jose had the pressure; I've got the skill and the pressure. I think that's going to be the difference. And there's the heart factor.

"You've never seen one fight where Floyd has had to dig deep, grab the bull by the horns and pull the fight out of the bag. He's going to have to do that Saturday night to win."

Hatton said he thought Mayweather underestimated his hand speed and his punching power.

Although Hatton feels that Mayweather is "training as hard as ever," and is taking the fight "very, very seriously," he pointed out that the champion has been denigrating him publicly.