Hatton taunts could persuade Mayweather

Updated 09.30 Tue Jun 26 2007

Keywords: Floyd Mayweather, Ricky Hatton, boxing, sport

Floyd Mayweather could be tempted out of retirement and back into the ring by IBF light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton's taunts.

The 28-year-old Manchester 'Hitman' challenged Mayweather to a multi-million-pound 'super-fight' after his stunning fourth-round victory over Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Ricky Hatton challenged Floyd Mayweather to a multi-million-pound 'super-fight' after his stunning fourth-round victory over Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas on Saturday night

And it would appear that Hatton's jibes could make Mayweather rethink his decision to make last month's victory over Oscar de la Hoya his final bout.

Mayweather's adviser Leonard Ellerbe said: "He got Floyd's attention. Now we're calling his bluff. All he has to do is make a deal and he'll have his chance to back up all that talk. All that's standing between him and Floyd is air and opportunity.

"We can make the deal this week. He's very, very disrespectful. He's trying to promote himself off Floyd's name.

"When we make the deal, we'll show the world why he's the most overrated fighter of this decade. Floyd has never taken any fight personally. But he's taking this personally. Floyd is going to kick his butt."

Ellerbe has revealed that Mayweather was far from impressed by Hatton's performance against Castillo in Las Vegas.

He added: "He said he only wants to fight the best - then sign the contract. Floyd's going to show all his fans in Britain just what a phoney he is."