Let it begin: Mayweather wants to come out of retirement to fight Pacquiao!

Mitchell Kane · Dec 17, 2008

From Yahoo:

Mayweather Jr. expresses interest in Hatton rematch
3 hours, 13 minutes ago

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has approached Ricky Hatton’s team about a possible rematch in 2009, according to the Englishman’s camp.

Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) suffered his only professional defeat at the hands of Mayweather, getting outboxed the entire match before being knocked out in the 10th round last December.

A two-weight world champion, the 30-year-old Hatton has spoke of his desire for a rematch with Mayweather, who cited a lack of “joy” for the sport when he retired in June.

There has been recent speculation that the 31-year-old Mayweather has been preparing for a return to the ring.

Despite Mayweather expressing in an interest in again taking on Hatton, the Englishman’s priority remains a showdown with Manny Pacquiao, who has since inherited Mayweather’s status as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

Hatton traveled to Las Vegas earlier this month to watch Pacquiao’s dominating eighth-round technical knockout of Oscar De La Hoya.

Hatton’s lawyer, Gareth Williams, revealed “The Hitman” is still hoping to face Pacquiao even though negotiations have not not started, something promoted Bob Arum has disputed. Williams also said Mayweather remains an option.

“Every light-welterweight in the world wants to fight Hatton,” Williams told PA Sport.

“We’ve had approaches from everybody. We’ve also had approaches from people at 130 pounds, Juan (Manuel) Marquez and Juan Diaz both want to fight him. He is a massive draw and can fight where he wants. We’ve also had approaches from Mayweather to have a rematch with him. He wants to fight Ricky.”

Williams maintained Pacquiao is the fight the Hatton camp wants.

“But the fight we want to make, our preference, is Manny Pacquiao because we think that is a great fight,” Williams said. “Ricky has made no secret of the fact he wants to take on the best and Pacquiao is regarded as the best.

“We’re more than happy to make that fight but it has got to be on acceptable terms.”

Pacquiao comprehensively dismantled the legendary De La Hoya to seemingly pave the way for a meeting with Hatton. However, it was then claimed Mayweather was considering a comeback and may have jumped ahead of the Briton in the queue to fight the Filipino champion.

Arum, the Filipino fighter’s promoter, had claimed that negotiations were under way with Hatton’s team.

“He’s not talked to us at all. We’re happy to fight Pacquiao but it has to be on our terms,” Williams said. “We won’t be bullied or forced into any decision that is not on our terms.

“We’ve had no contact whatsoever with him. That is the fight we want to make but we’ve got other options, we will do what is best for us.”

Hatton’s father Ray confirmed they had been “sounded out” by a third party on behalf of Mayweather.

“It hasn’t come from us because we just took it as what it was, a third party sounding us out,” he told Sky Sports News.

“Really at the moment we’re looking at Manny Pacquiao. It’s very nice for Ricky to still be in such a big league. We’ve had approaches from different things, two or three other fighters as well. It’s a nice position that people are asking us. Manny Pacquiao is now regarded as pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world and that’s a fight Ricky would like. I know fans would like to see it.”

Hatton’s preference for a fight with Pacquiao is likely to be due, in part, to his reluctance to fight again at the 147-pound welterweight limit where he has struggled, rather than his natural light-welterweight limit of 140 pounds.
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Registered · Dec 17, 2008

A rematch doesn't make sense. It's not like Hatton was that competitive in the first fight with Floyd.

I mean seriously, would anyone here buy a Mayweather-Hatton rematch PPV?

adamiw · Dec 17, 2008

Alabama_Man said: ↑

A rematch doesn't make sense. It's not like Hatton was that competitive in the first fight with Floyd.

I mean seriously, would anyone here buy a Mayweather-Hatton rematch PPV?
Click to expand...

If Mayweather is interested, it is probably to do with money......Hatton is one of the most popular fighters in the world.....

these quotes are coming from the Hatton camp though.....whose to say Mayweather's people haven't contacted others?

Mitchell Kane · Dec 20, 2008

Adviser: Mayweather open to fight offers
by David Mayo | The Grand Rapids Press
Friday December 19, 2008, 11:43 PM

Press File Photo
Adviser Leonard Ellerbe, right, looks on while Floyd Mayweather speaks to the media in 2007. GRAND RAPIDS -- Floyd Mayweather's adviser acknowledged Friday night that he has been instructed to entertain inquiries about possible fights.

Mayweather has not fought in more than a year and recently called a family member to discuss various comeback possibilities, including a fight with Manny Pacquiao, but had not shown interest publicly before.

"Everybody's talking about Floyd, so he gave the word to see what's out there and if it's something he's interested in, we'd consider it," Leonard Ellerbe said. "That's not saying he's going to do anything, just that he said, 'See what's out there.'

"The bottom line is, since all this is going on, Floyd has given me pretty clear instructions to evaluate whatever's offered, and if it's something worthwhile, he'll consider it."

Mayweather has been linked to possible fights next year against both Pacquiao, who replaced him as pound-for-pound king after he retired this year and solidified his spot with an upset this month of Oscar De La Hoya, as well as Ricky Hatton.

Hatton lost a 10th-round technical knockout in the 32-year-old Mayweather's most recent fight, in December 2007.

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Hatton, reportedly said this week that Hatton-Pacquiao talks are close to fruition. Bob Arum, whose Top Rank Inc. represents Pacquiao, has said he expects no fight announcement for the Filipino star until next year.

Ellerbe said he had not had direct discussions with representatives of either Hatton or Pacquiao about fighting Mayweather but added, "I've gotten calls today that are probably going to lead to that."

"Mr. Mayweather's name has been ringing like Christmas bells everywhere," Ellerbe said. "Every conversation we see is Floyd, Floyd, Floyd. With Floyd being out of boxing, these guys are using his name to elevate their names and their positions. So Floyd gave instructions to find out what their positions are."
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Let it begin: Mayweather wants to come out of retirement to fight Pacquiao!

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Let it begin: Mayweather wants to come out of retirement to fight Pacquiao!

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