Ricky Hatton has said he holds no animosity towards Amir Khan, who some have perceived as helping to plot his fellow Lancastrian's downfall by training with Manny Pacquiao.
Hatton also accused Pacquiao's coach, Freddie Roach, of playing mind games by talking up his fighters in the media.
Asked if he was upset with Khan, Hatton said: "On the contrary, I'm very proud of Amir for his last performance, against Marco Antonio Barrera."
Hatton is already trim and weighing 154lb, just a stone off the limit he will have to meet before he faces Pacquiao on May 2 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
Hatton added: "Amir Khan is a close friend. And it will remain that way. I don't blame Amir for training and sparring with Manny because it is a good thing for him.
"But he is so far away from me as far as styles go that I don't see the point of what was said about Amir being used for speed as a sparring partner.
"It's the wrong kind of speed. Amir won't be pushing him back on the ropes, pressurising him and throwing power punches to the body. In fact, what is being said by Roach puts even more confidence in me.
"If Amir Khan can spar with Manny and better himself for it, that's OK with me – I can't blame him for that because he is looking after his own career."
Hatton, whose fans have already bought 5,000 tickets, also believes a sub-plot is developing between his trainer, Floyd Mayweather Snr, and Roach.
"These are two of the very top coaches," Hatton said. "Freddie and Floyd are considered the two best trainers in the world. Floyd will take it great if he can put one over on Freddie.
"Freddie Roach has said a few things that have upset Floyd – like Manny Pacquiao is going to knock me out in three rounds – and he was nothing short of disgusted by that. It got his back up a bit. This fight is about getting the tactics right and who is the better trainer.
"I don't want to be disrespectful to Freddie Roach but it is clear from my fight against Paulie Malignaggi when I was moving my head, jabbing better and making better angles without losing any of my ferocity, that I made the right choice of coach.
"Floyd is very good for me. I have got a nice balance between combinations, power punching, slipping and dipping and moving my head. Then I go on to the big bag for power shots and more explosive stuff. When you see all that, you know I have made the right decision."
Hatton believes Roach's tactic is to build his fighters up using the media, but the Mancunian is unfazed. "I hear a few things Freddie Roach is saying," Hatton said.
"Maybe it is all early mind games and he is trying to big up his fighter, confidence-wise. It doesn't matter what I read or what help Manny gets from Amir. Nothing can faze me. This is my fight."
telegraph.co.uk
1 comment:
What a crock pot of shit Hatton!
Seriously, look at your own fucking dick head trainer now poetic writer! MY ARSE!. Look at the ego & disrespect your trainer shows in recent press conferences are you BLIND HATTON? You are the one who needs hype not Manny/Freddie.
DESPERATELY trying to give you people some hope, but it's boring now & come May 2 your performance will be futile.
That's why Manny is complacent& you are the one talking crap.
All Hatton ever talks about is when I did this, when I won this fight my head moved blah blah when I I beat Malanaggi blah blah always talking about the past.
Mayweather this Malanaggi that came off second best against previous P4P like a broken record, bullshit you came off DEAD FUCKING LAST! Malanaggi only has 5 KO's in his whole career, so big fucking deal that you moved your head, in that figh you were going to beat him anyway.
Blah blah! I can do this now, my trainer is so good, best choice rah rah rah. I want to enjoy the build up to this fight but it's like bloody groundhog day.
I really wanted to like you Ricky Hatton.
MANNY PACQUIAO KO-9
RICKY HATTON DOES NOT REALLY BELEIVE HE CAN WIN
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