Training day

Ed Robinson reports from the Mayweather camp where PBF mimicked Hatton as slow and clumsy.

Here's the bad news for Ricky Hatton and his followers - Floyd Mayweather is in absolutely terrific shape ahead of their 8th December Super fight. In a non-stop two hour showcase of his extraordinary fitness and talent, Floyd dispelled any rumours that he's not taken this test as seriously as he should. In his gym in the Chinatown district of Vegas, Floyd displayed his full repertoire for the cameras. Of course he was late, leaving Uncle Roger to entertain the assembled media. The controversial trainer gives great copy but there's a lack of logic to much of what he says. As he talked, Roger's two year old son raced around the gym putting on headguards and gloves, hitting bags and shadow boxing. Theirs is a true boxing family. There were pack lunches on hand for the press and even the enormous Team Mayweather bodyguards offered up their seats to us. When he did arrive Floyd was on a charm offensive, his agent Kelly Swanson organised brief interviews before he started work. After having his brittle hands expertly taped up he began his workout. Moving effortlessly around the ring the pound for pound king worked on short combinations before donning the gloves. Then he worked the pads with Roger - firing off blinding combinations and slipping shots back from his uncle. It looks, certainly from what we saw, that Floyd will aim to stand his ground and make Hatton miss and then make him pay. Floyd called for the punches coming back at him to be wider and slower like Hattons. That might still be a weakness; the Mayweather clan simply don't rate their challenger. Later in the session Floyd started to clown and do impressions of his rival as a slow and clumsy attacking fighter. I talked to Ugandan former World champion Cornelius Boza Edwards for a while. Boza ended his amateur career in Britain before signing for London promoter Mickey Duff. Most of his big fights were in the States and now he's settled in Vegas. He believes that working the pads in those routines since he could walk means Floyd doesn't even have to think before blocking, slipping or throwing a shot. Another Mayweather believer in the gym was former World champion Lovemore N'dou. The Australian based fighter was brought in as a sparring partner to mimic Hatton's style. N'dou simply can't see how Hatton can win. We left the gym feeling we'd witnessed a performance close to perfection. Back at the vast reception of the MGM Grand we walked straight into Floyd senior, the boxer's estranged father. There's real bitterness between senior and junior. For all their talent and money the Mayweather family have their problems. Boxing bonds them but emotionally there seems to be real vulnerability and insecurity to them all. Even after seeing such a faultless display of the art of boxing from Mayweather there seems hope for Hatton. If only Ricky can drag Floyd into a brawl, the cracks just might start to show.