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Hatton, Mayweather trade barbs ahead of showdown

Undefeated welterweights Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather arrived in Las Vegas on Tuesday ahead of their weekend championship showdown, with the Briton brushing off Mayweather's trademark trash talk.

US veteran Mayweather, 38-0 with 24 knockouts, defends his World Boxing Council crown on Saturday against Hatton, 43-0 with 31 knockouts, in a clash of styles -- the flashy "Pretty Boy Floyd" and the blue-collar "Hitman."

"The fight won't go the distance. I can promise you that," Mayweather said. "Ricky Hatton has never faced anyone with any talent like I have."

"All the British fans coming to the fight are going to have the chance to be part of the Floyd Mayweather experience," he said.

Hatton told a cheering throng of British supporters to "come and watch me take the belt from this clown."

"A lot can be said before the fight and he has been saying all kinds of things, but all he's doing is lying to the papers," Hatton said. "He seems like a confident man, but I think he's a bit insecure."

"He calls me all kinds of names -- Ricky Fatton. He says that I only fight the `has beens'. None of that stuff matters to me. He's training as hard as ever and he's in great shape but I don't think he thinks I'm as good as I am," Hatton said. "I've never seen one fight where Floyd has taken the bull by the horns and gone after him and that's what he's got to do on Saturday."

Mayweather countered by saying, "In front of the cameras he's really acting up. You know what I call him -- a camera gangster. All my other opponents said they were going to beat me too and I'm still undefeated."

Mayweather has not won by knockout in more than two years. He won decisions over Zab Judah and Carlos Baldomir last year and a split decision over Oscar de la Hoya in May.

"Oscar died in the last six rounds of the fight and Mayweather only won that fight by the skin of his teeth because of that," Hatton said.

Mayweather could take home more than US$20 million from the showdown.
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