Martin Hannan: Keener, meaner and leaner: Ricky Hatton is fired up

THERE'S AN almost mythical creature in boxing, the holder of a title that does not formally exist but is arrived at by public acclamation and the critical judgment of pugilists and pundits. The best pound-for-pound fighter in the world is the man judged by most people to be capable of beating anyone else if all weights were level.

By definition, the best fighter in each weight division can never meet the best from another weight on absolutely equal terms. Occasionally, however, two fighters from the same division meet with the very real and significant prize of "pound-for-pound championship" on the line.

It will happen next Saturday in Las Vegas when Ricky Hatton of Manchester will fight Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, ostensibly for the International Boxing Organisation and The Ring magazine light welterweight championship, but with a greater title at stake – that of best pound-for-pounder in the world.

Hatton has been here before, when he fought the previous best, Floyd Mayweather Jnr, in Las Vegas in December, 2007, and lost for the only time in his career, knocked out in the 10th round.

"I am trying to become the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world at this moment, just as I was doing when I fought Floyd," said Hatton. "It's every bit as big a fight, and the stakes are equally high as they were for that fight.

"It would be nice to say that Britain has the number one pound-for-pound fighter, that Britain has the best boxer in the world. A world title is what you dream of as a youngster. But to be pound for pound the best boxer out of all the weight divisions would be something."

It's a genuine superfight, one that should earn Hatton £10m. He will deserve it if he can beat the Pac Man, whose following at home is fanatical and who has just as many fans in America.

"You can tell it's huge from the size of the occasion," said Hatton, speaking from his training camp in Nevada. "The atmosphere in and around Las Vegas is mounting, and we've got the 24/7 programming again. And it should be just as big this time, because it really is for the pound-for-pound title. The only difference is that I am a little bit quietly confident, because I fought Floyd at 147lbs (welterweight) and both my fights at that weight have not been the most pleasant experiences, but at 140lbs (light-welterweight) I have stopped everyone who has stood in my way and I have been far too strong and too good for people at this weight.

"This is my weight division, and I have always said that I would never get beat at light-welterweight and I still say that more than ever." Yet Pacquiao has earned his reputation as the best, winning titles from flyweight to welterweight and beating American legend Oscar de la Hoya in his last but one fight.

Hatton is not cowed, however: "To read some of the websites, I don't think Manny should be fighting me, he should be fighting f***ing Godzilla. Everyone thinks it's a foregone conclusion. He has improved since he lost three fights earlier in his career, but you can improve technically and still get stopped with body shots and be knocked down as he has been, so I don't know what he has done to improve his ribs and his chin.

"He has shown that he can be beaten and knocked out and that was against people who were nowhere near as big and as strong as me. Apart from the De La Hoya fight, he has had only one contest above 130lbs and that was against David Diaz, and though he was a world champion, Diaz was not one of the strongest of opponents. Juan Manuel Marquez was very defensive, Marco Antonio Barrera was trying to jab and move, so I don't think he has fought an idiot like me who will come at him at 100mph, and be strong, powerful and fast. I don't think he's faced a handful like me."

Hatton is articulate, funny and honest, but also seems to have a new air of maturity, the result of natural ageing and meeting his new coach Floyd Mayweather Snr, whose influence could be seen in Hatton's latest contest, a comprehensive battering of American Paulie Malignaggi. Mayweather also told Hatton to ditch the "Fatton" image, caused by the boxer's love of Guinness and fry-ups when not in training.

Hatton said: "Floyd's been good fun, he's got a good sense of humour, he's a fantastic coach and the proof was in the pudding with how well I performed against Malignaggi after just seven weeks. We're getting to know each other better, and don't forget we have an extra advantage in having another exceptional trainer in Lee Beard. If Floyd misses something when he's in the heat of the action in the ring, Lee is on the outside spotting things.

"Floyd also said one or two little things to me like 'Ricky, you've got to look after yourself away from the gym,' so when I arrived from Manchester he was pleasantly surprised and happy because I had obviously taken note of what he had said.

"Without a doubt I am now in the best shape of my career because I've not put on so much weight and I have not been as daft between fights, due to me getting older and wiser.

"I have had to grow up a bit because of what I am doing away from the ring. I have my health and fitness centre opening and my clothing range coming out so I've got to be sensible, especially as I'm also promoting and managing fighters. Sometimes in boxing you only get the one chance, so I don't want to have to look into the eyes of another boxer and say 'sorry, I made a pig's ear of that for you'.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm still Ricky Fatton now and again, but there's no contest in comparison to where I used to be and it is showing in the way I'm performing and looking."

Make no mistake, if Hatton defeats Pacquiao, he will thoroughly deserve the title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He will then have one or two more fights to capitalise on the acclaim before he retires. Amir Khan will not figure in them.

"No disrespect to Amir, who's my friend after all, but he's not on my agenda. I might be on Amir's and I might be on Frank Warren's, but he's definitely not on mine and I say that with the greatest of respect to Amir.

"If I beat Manny Pacquioa, I want to face Marquez or Floyd Mayweather. I'd much rather be in the crowd cheering Amir on than fighting him."

The bookmakers do not think he will beat Pacquiao. Most have Hatton as the 7-4 underdog against 1-2 the Pac Man.

"The odds don't scare me," said Hatton. "Remortgage the house, empty the bank and put it all on me. I've no doubt in my mind. The Mayweather defeat was very humbling, so I am not getting ahead of myself. But judging on what Manny has done in his career and the build and size of my opponent and how I am feeling and performing just now, well I think I could beat him every day of the week.

"Nobody wants to win a fight when you are hot favourite. You'd much rather win when you are the underdog, that's what makes it exceptional when you do so. And I am so really, really confident for this fight."

Hatton is also keen to finally cement his place in history as the British world champion who did things the hard way by going to America and winning: "A lot of people considered me over-hyped and over-protected, never coming out of Manchester and avoiding this fighter and that fighter. Instead, five of my last six fights have been in the USA, I've won four titles in two divisions and fought twice for the pound-for-pound title – and won it, because that's what I expect to do next Saturday."

• Ricky Hatton v Manny Pacquiao is exclusively live on Sky Box Office and in high definition on Sky Box Office HD on Saturday, May 2. To order the fight call 08442 410 888.