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Mayweather tones down talk

30/11/2007

American boxer Floyd Mayweather has backtracked on some of his recent trash-talking ahead of his welterweight title fight with Ricky Hatton next week.

The WBC belt-holder has been denounced by some pundits, even in his native United States, for some of the comments he made regarding his British opponent in Las Vegas.

The two undefeated men face-off at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 8th and Mayweather has done his bit to promote the fight - branding the Manchester pugilist 'Vicky Fatton' and describing himself as the greatest boxer ever.

But in a remarkable climbdown Mayweather has claimed he has "a good heart" and is merely trying to express the confidence he has in his own ability.

"Each fight has to have a good guy and a bad guy, but I'm just saying I believe in my skills," he said.

"Everybody's entitled to judge a person how they want to do, but I never did anything illegal - all I did was go out there to dedicate myself to the craft of boxing."

Mayweather also admitted that while he knew bad-mouthing an opponent was not Hatton's style and he was always likely to be the quieter of the two men in the approach to the fight, it did not mean he would be taking him too lightly.

"Ricky Hatton is not a trash-talker, but Floyd Mayweather has been a trash-talker for over a decade," he continued.

"I don't overlook any of my opponents. I always approach every fight in a great manner.

"I am always pushing myself to the limit and trying to get the best out of myself and I will continue to do that."