Ed Robinson sees the fun and games continue in New York, where Floyd again tried - and failed - to get Ricky riled.
Floyd's pranks continue in New York but Hatton remains unruffled
Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather finished the American leg of their press tour in New York on Wednesday. Sky Sports' Ed Robinson was there as Ricky finally found a way to silence the Pretty Boy, and the pranks and posturing continued away from prying eyes...
Ricky Hatton finally found a way to silence Floyd Mayweather - donning earmuffs during the American's latest outburst.
It was a masterful move from the Manchester hero and summed up the week.
Three cities in three days and New York was the latest stop for the Mayweather-Hatton press tour. A sunny afternoon in Manhattan and an outdoor venue, the Rockefeller Center Plaza.
There were lots of familiar faces from the boxing media and plenty of vocal fans looking down on the sunken stage.
Hatton arrived early and charmed the written press with a round table chat. It gave us a chance to talk to his training team of Kerry Kayes and Billy Graham. Both seemed very upbeat, Kerry told us a couple of interesting anecdotes.
Apparently Mayweather was so desperate for his private jet to beat Hatton's to Michigan, that he made his pilot continually contact Ricky's pilot to find out their whereabouts.
Sadly for Floyd his $3,000 dollar suits got misplaced during the flight and he turned up for the New York presser very casually-dressed.
Fresh beer
In Michigan Floyd asked Ricky if he wanted to join them on a night out, he declined, but left a one dollar bill 'from Vicky Fatton' under the windscreen of Mayweather's car - Mayweather is known for throwing bundles of $20 bills into crowds at nightclubs.
At the end of the night someone from his team left a fresh beer outside Hatton's room.
As in Los Angeles, the press conference itself was uneventful until the head-to-head. Then Mayweather continued to insult his British rival, again our producer/sound recordist Victoria had a trusty radio mic on stand-by.
I wonder if Floyd is aware that
Sky Sports News viewers know exactly what he's been saying to a national hero?
We had the usual problem of all the photographers jumping up and blocking our shot from the television gantry during the stare down. Eventually order was restored, in time for Ricky to produce an enormous pair of ear protectors.
David, our cameraman did his usual sterling job and then we grabbed a quick word with Hatton. We were already battling the clock to feed the pictures and then catch the same flight back to London as the fighters. The usual delay in starting the conference only increased the anxiety.
Then at the feed point our portable tape player swallowed the tape and wouldn't eject it. Dented somehow in luggage transit, it wasn't playing and our valuable feed time was evaporating.
When the pictures and sound finally came through we could relax and look forward to the flight home, all be it a slightly later one.
Now the show moves to Britain. Ricky's won over the Americans and frustrated Mayweather.
At home he's already a massive fan favourite, with their support and on home ground, before they go their separate ways to begin intensive training, I think he might be ready to really give Mayweather something to think about...
