Special Kayes diet

We speak to the man who keeps Ricky Hatton off the fry-ups.

Kerry confident he'll keep Hatton's weight under control

An English fry-up is a pre-match meal popular with Sunday league footballers trying to settle a stomach churning from one too many pints the night before. Eggs, bacon and sausage are not the ideal staples of a world champion boxer's diet, particularly not one about to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. But that it is exactly how Ricky Hatton used to prepare for his big title fights, before one too many hash browns almost cost him dearly. Nowadays everything on Hatton's dinner plate is monitored by his strength coach and nutritionist, Kerry Kayes. The former national body building champion is an important part of Team Hatton, and it is his job to ensure the Hitman is in fantastic shape come fight night. His task is not an easy one: Hatton is known to put on as much as 30lbs between fights as he becomes reacquainted with his favourite pint of Guinness. But when the date of his next fight approaches Hatton usually buckles down and takes a Spartan approach to training. Usually, but not always... For his last fight at welterweight - the same mark at which he will take on Mayweather in December - Hatton relaxed a little too early and came into the ring sluggish and heavy.

Exhausted

He started with his trademark intensity, flooring opponent Luis Collazo in the opening seconds, but he finished the fight exhausted and clinging to a disputed points victory. Hatton and his team have learnt from this performance and are not about to make the same mistake again - certainly not if Kayes has anything to do with it. "We only had about six weeks notice for the Collazo fight," Kayes told skysports.com. "Ricky - by his own admission - took his foot off the pedal. He's admitted to me he had a few little things he shouldn't have eaten." One of those "few little things" was the traditional Hatton fry-up after the weigh-in. Whenever he fought in Manchester, Hatton was a regular visitor to the Butty Box in Hyde, where he would devour a large breakfast on the eve of a fight. It is something Kayes has now banned. "When he was 147lbs he had the weigh-in and we were hopefully carbing him up properly for the fight," Kayes said. "But he had his full English breakfast, which I was dead against. "The next day when we got to the dressing room and me and Billy looked at him, he'd put on too much weight. And it was bad food he'd put the weight on with."

Confident

For the Castillo fight, back at light-welterweight, the frying pan was kept in the cupboard and Hatton looked in tremendous shape as he walked down the Mexican and stopped him inside four rounds. Kayes is confident Hatton will be as well prepared for Mayweather. "Where he is now, we're very very happy. We've really controlled his diet. What we don't want is the Castillo fight when he was 140 and in great nick, but with an extra 7lb of fat added on. For the physical side of Ricky we've got to add a lot of protein, because we want a little more muscle." If everything goes to plan Kayes is certain Hatton will have a physique and fitness that will prove too much for Mayweather. "I think Ricky will surround him, I think he'll swarm him. All the brash talk we've seen from Mayweather - I don't think he realises the ferocity that Ricky will take into the ring," he said. "We all know Mayweather's a very talented boxer, but he likes to box in his style - almost like an exhibition - and Ricky just won't allow that." When Hatton steps into the ring in Las Vegas on December 8 it will be the end of weeks of dieting and eating the fuel needed for 12 brutal rounds. Whether Kayes' prediction comes true remains to be seen, but you can be as sure as eggs is eggs, Hatton will give it his best shot.