Hatton Sr backs coaching regime

Ricky Hatton's father says new trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr has not made big changes to his son's style ahead of his fight against Paulie Malignaggi.

Manchester's Hatton, 30, fights the 27-year-old New Yorker for the de-facto world light-welterweight title in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

"Floyd acknowledges Ricky is one of the most exciting fighters in the world," Ray Hatton told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"All Floyd's basically done is 'let's keep you a little more safe'."

Hatton Sr continued: "Let's just take [away] that little bit of gung-ho.

"Malignaggi is a great fighter, he's a tricky fighter, he's a tough fighter and you will see here the best Malignaggi he will ever be"
Ray Hatton

"In his last fight, at times Ricky boxed beautifully but at times we get the red-mist."

The fight against Malignaggi at the MGM Grand is Ricky Hatton's first since his long-time trainer and friend Billy Graham decided to retire.

Hatton Sr, who manages his son's career, says he has been taken aback by the negative reaction to his son's decision to link up with Mayweather Sr.

"It has surprised me, the negative things that have been said like 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'," he said.

"I've not heard people saying 'good luck to Ricky Hatton, he's a wealthy kid, why does he need to get up at five o'clock in the morning and run up mountains?"

Hatton Sr added Malignaggi is a much more dangerous opponent than his display against Lovemore N'dou in Manchester in May would suggest.

"You never saw the real Paulie, I think you saw something of the real Paulie when he took Miguel Cotto the distance," he said.

"Malignaggi is a great fighter, he's a tricky fighter, he's a tough fighter and you will see here the best Malignaggi he will ever be."

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