Hatton praises tough regime

Hitman getting to grips with Mayweather's techniques

Last updated: 12th November 2008

Hatton praises tough regime

New regime: Hatton and Mayweather

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With only 10 days to go before his Las Vegas showdown with Paulie Malignaggi, Ricky Hatton is undertaking a rigorous new training regime in the Nevada desert.

The Hitman has spent the last three weeks preparing for his light-welterweight contest on November 22 by pounding the roads around Mount Charleston.

Working hard at altitude, Hatton's progress has also been hindered somewhat by the decision to make him run in combat boots.

The latter idea comes from new trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. who, as Hatton sweats at an altitude of up to 7,000 feet, carefully watches his charge's progress.

"It's so hard and so tough, but it's all for making you better," Hatton told Sky Sports News, before adding that the boots are "seriously getting on my nerves".

With Mayweather smiling from behind the wheel of a sleek BMW convertible, Hatton added: "As soon as the fight's over, I'm going to pick them up and put them over Floyd's head."

Defensive

Mayweather is known as a defensive master and, with the two having only come together for the Malignaggi fight, Hatton has only had a short time to learn the new techniques.

It's a major change to the way he worked under previous trainer Billy Graham, but Hatton said he was getting to grips with the new methods.

"All these new things I'm learning - these new training methods - are just going to add to what I already had in the first place. It means I'm going to be a better fighter," he continued.

Following his morning run in the mountains, Hatton is undertaking hard afternoon sparring sessions of eight rounds.

Meanwhile, the evenings are quiet, with brother Matthew living alongside him in a small apartment - its lights being switched off at 9.30pm.

The fighter added that he felt fit and focused ahead of his crucial clash with Malignaggi at the MGM Grand.

"I don't think I've felt this good in a training camp - this early in a training camp - for a good two years," Hatton said.

Mayweather added: "You're going to see the new and improved Ricky Hatton. Let me tell you, they're going to see the Ricky Hatton they ain't never seen before.

"You'll see a much, much smarter, slicker, smoother fighter."