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'Hitman must score a KO'

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Last updated: 4th December 2007

According to one of only two men to have fought both Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather, the Mancunian will have to secure a knockout if he is to claim the WBC welterweight title in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Canadian Tony Pep went the distance with Mayweather back in 1998 and managed to cut Hatton three years later before the Hitman came back with a vengeance and secured a fourth-round stoppage at Wembley Arena.

Mexican Jose Luis Castillo is the only other fighter to take on both men, with Pep - now retired and the owner of a gym in Vancouver - claiming that Hatton cannot match Pretty Boy's style if the fight goes the distance.

Pressure

Pep said: "Hatton has to stick to Mayweather like glue and even then I don't think he can put on enough pressure to win on points. If he has a chance, it is a puncher's chance.

"Ricky's a very tough fighter who can hurt you to the body. But in Mayweather you've got one of the all-time greats.

"He's seen off everyone he's fought in style and he's got to be a big favourite."

Mayweather was sufficiently impressed with Pep following their bout to invite him to act as chief sparring partner for his next contest against Genaro Hernandez.

However, having accepted with the thought of exacting at least a measure of revenge at the back of his mind, Pep subsequently realised the true depth of Mayweather's skills.

He continued: "When we fought I'd been a little bit rusty so when I was asked back to spar I thought, right, now's the time to get him. Every day I turned up with a specific plan to unsettle him.

"But every day, it only took him a few seconds to adapt to whatever new I threw at him. I had sleepless nights thinking up new plans, and whatever I came up with he just adapted straight away.

"He's something special, an extraordinary fighter. He was 21 years old when I fought him and afterwards he looked me in the eyes and said, Tony, people mistake my confidence for cockiness.

"He said it was just a fact that nobody could beat him right now. He was right and here we are eight or nine years later and he's still not lost. He is a nice, regular guy who is able to back up all his boasts."

Short notice

In contrast, Pep took his fight against Hatton at only four days notice - with the beaten man never scoring another victory before eventually opting for retirement.

He added: "I took that fight at four days' notice and I wasn't really ready.

"When I cut him they said it was a head-butt but it wasn't, it was a good punch. I fear Hatton might cut in this fight too.

"But it will be a good fight. It's always good to watch fighters fight who you once fought against.

"Hatton's done all the right things in his career so far. I just think Mayweather is that little bit extra special."