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Boxing

Hatton admits less than perfect preparation

25/11/2005

IBF light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton has admitted that his preparation for tomorrow night's unification fight with WBA title holder Carlos Maussa has been far from perfect.

Manchester's 'Hitman' weighed in today ahead of the bout in Sheffield but revealed that his bitter legal dispute with former promoter Frank Warren has been a major disruption.

Warren and Hatton acrimoniously split in June this year after Hatton won his world title via a thrilling defeat of Australian Kostya Tszyu in Manchester.

The promoter insisted the 27-year-old broke away illegally, which led to him calling for an injunction to be placed on Hatton that would have prevented him from fighting.

And the boxer admitted today that the legal battle has "been very, very difficult" but he is remaining confident of completing his first defence against his Colombian opponent.

"Fall-outs are almost part and parcel of boxing but not when it starts to get personal," Hatton added.

"I was that infuriated I gave myself a headache and had to have a couple of days out of the gym.

"It's not been ideal but one thing that eases the pressure is the knowledge of how well my preparations have gone."

Hatton is the bookies' slight favourite going into the match but he is aware that he is up against a notoriously unconventional and dangerous adversary.

Maussa is also highly motivated ahead of the bout and told the weigh-ins press conference: "My work rate, my stamina, my Punches are all better than Hatton's.

"He does not have my boxing skills and can only fight one way. There is no plan B, just plan A. It is very possible that I can cut him and have the referee stop the fight."

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