'Write off Ricky, it takes pressure off'

Updated 11.46 Wed Nov 21 2007
Keywords: Billy Graham, Floyd Mayweather, Ricky Hatton, boxing, sport

Ricky Hatton's trainer Billy Graham says he is happy for the US to be writing off the Manchester 'Hitman' ahead of his fight with Floyd Mayweather.

Across the Atlantic, most experts expect Mayweather to be too good for the Briton.

"People writing off Ricky takes an awful lot of pressure off me, victory will be sweeter when Ricky beats him" - Ricky Hatton's trainer Billy Graham

But Graham is confident that the 29-year-old light welterweight king will maintain his unbeaten record against the world's top pound-for-pound fighter.

Hatton's trainer said: "People writing off Ricky takes an awful lot of pressure off me, victory will be sweeter when Ricky beats him.

"I don't bother too much about it, but if I'd written some of it I'd be embarrassed by my lack of knowledge."

And, after years of preparaion, Graham is certain that Hatton is ready for the fight of his life.

He added: "I wish it had happened sooner. I think Ricky would have been a world star sooner."

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