I'll box on, vows the Hitman

Last updated: 9th December 2007  

I'll box on, vows the Hitman

Hatton: defiant in defeat

I thought I was in the fight but he had a good round, he was better inside than I thought and he got me. What I was doing made sense but I wasn't quite good enough to apply it tonight.

Ricky Hatton
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A defiant Ricky Hatton promised to fight on after his jarring defeat at the hands of Floyd Mayweather.

The Hitman told the thousands of fans in Las Vegas and watching on Sky Box Office that he has no intentions of retiring despite the 10th-round knockout.

It was the first time he has lost in 44 fights and although he admitted he had not been good enough, he was far from disconsolate afterwards.

"I've been knocked down but I'll come back," he told Sky Box Office. "Ricky Hatton is not finished."

Hatton, whose name was still being sung by the Brits who had packed out the MGM Grand Arena, was also his usual self within minutes of the vicious knockdown.

He has already won himself an army of fans in America to go with his following back here and true to form, was still able to raise a smile despite losing the biggest fight of his life.

"What a fluke that was!" he joked. "I thought I fought well. I was forcing it but maybe he's very good at making you miss.

"I thought I was in the fight but he had a good round, he was better inside than I thought and he got me. What I was doing made sense but I wasn't quite good enough to apply it tonight."

Hatton was full of praise for Mayweather, praise that was mutual and a far cry from the Pretty Boy's performances throughout the build-up.

And he admitted that it was the pound-for-pound king's defensive skills and not his punching power that proved too much to handle in the end.

"It sounds daft because he knocked me down but I don't think he is the biggest puncher but he is very accurate," he said.

"He is more natural at the weight than me and it showed at times. He is very clever at using his arms and elbows to get out of the way.

"He hit me with a few sneaky ones on my way in but like I keep saying, it's not a tickling contest. I think I was forcing it and doing well but showed have had a little more care."