FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. VS. RICKY HATTON, ‘UNDEFEATED’

Friday, Dec. 7, 2007 | 7:31 a.m.

Fight facts

Principals: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (38-0, 24 KOs) vs. Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs), 12 scheduled rounds

At stake: Welterweight world championship

Date/site: Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Doors open 3 p.m.; first bout 3:30 p.m.; pay-per-view telecast begins 6 p.m.

Tickets: Sold out

Closed circuit: $50, MGM Mirage properties

TV: HBO Pay-Per-View, $54.95

Weigh-in: 2 p.m. today, MGM Grand Garden Arena. Open to the public

Promoters: Golden Boy Promotions, Mayweather Promotions

Referee: Joe Cortez

Featured undercard bouts: Jeff Lacy (22-1, 17 KOs) vs. Peter Manfredo Jr. (28-4, 13 KOs), 10 rounds, super middleweights; Daniel Ponce De Leon (33-1, 30 KOs) vs. Eduardo Escobedo (20-2, 14 KOs), 12 rounds, WBO junior featherweight championship; Wes Ferguson (17-2-1, 5 KOs) vs. Edner Cherry (22-5-2, 10 KOs), 10 rounds, lightweights

1. Record year

As a headliner in the two biggest fights of 2007 - his split-decision victory against Oscar De La Hoya and Saturday's showdown against Ricky Hatton - the superlatives are piling up for Floyd Mayweather Jr. The May 5 fight against De La Hoya drew 17,078 fans to the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a record gate of $18.4 million. It generated 2.4 million pay-per-view buys and $134.4 million in domestic revenue, also records. Mayweather's total take, including pay-per-view revenue, was an estimated $25 million. If Saturday's fight - which sold out in 35 minutes - generates 1 million to 1.5 million pay-per-view buys, an estimate by promoter De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, Mayweather could earn another $20 million-plus. He would become the first nonheavyweight to attract 1 million buys in consecutive pay-per-view fights.

2. 'The best'

Mayweather's star power is driven by his status by consensus as the No. 1 boxer in the sport, pound for pound. Some make a case for super featherweight star Manny Pacquiao, but even Hatton's vote goes to Mayweather. Hatton was critical, however, of what he characterized as Mayweather's passive fighting style. "He relies on (his opponent's) tiring as much as grabbing the bull by the horns," Hatton said. Mayweather was having none of it. "They say I'm the best fighter in the world ... but," Mayweather said. "There's no buts. If you're the best, you're the best."

3. No hands?

Mayweather has suffered from nagging hand injuries, a common plight among boxers, throughout his career. In 2001, he fought - and beat - Carlos Hernandez despite entering the fight with two sore hands, and seriously injured his left hand when he landed a hook on the top of Hernandez's head. The inevitable speculation about his brittle hands flared up again in the buildup to Saturday's bout, prompted this time by a depiction on the HBO show "24/7" of Mayweather undergoing a paraffin treatment for his hands. Mayweather summarily dismissed any concerns. "My hands are fine," he said as veteran hand-wrapping specialist Rafael Garcia prepped him for a training session.

"There's no dispute," Hatton said. "We all know he suffers from bad hands. There's no getting away from that."

4. Celeb spotlight

Capitalizing on his recent appearance on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," Mayweather announced three fellow "Dancing" competitors will accompany him into the ring for prefight ceremonies. Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, who won the dance competition, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Wayne Newton are scheduled to carry Mayweather's WBC and Ring magazine belts into the ring. Castroneves and Newton are also expected to join Mayweather at today's weigh-in as Mayweather continues his push to promote himself as a crossover star rather than an athlete recognized only by boxing fans. The weigh-in is shaping up as a major event in itself, with at least 5,000 fans projected to attend.

5. The pick

Hatton, 29, who steps up in class against Mayweather, will be facing an opponent with superior speed, defense and technical skills. In a switch from his most recent fight, against De La Hoya, Mayweather, 30, also has an edge in size, with a height advantage of 5-foot-8 3/4 to 5-7 and a reach advantage of 72 inches to 65 inches. Look for Mayweather to win nine to 12 rounds on each of the three judges' scorecards on the way to a unanimous decision against a game but ultimately frustrated Hatton.

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