Hatton to Get £5m for Mayweather Showdown

Ricky Hatton will get the fight he has demanded against Floyd Mayweather Jr on December 8 in Las Vegas and the undefeated Mancunian is likely to be given a guaranteed £5m pay check. An announcement of the fight is expected this week after an agreement was reached verbally between the two sides.

The 28-year-old Hatton is unbeaten in 43 contests and said after his most recent win against José Luis Castillo that "there was more excitement in four rounds of that fight than there has been in Floyd Mayweather's whole career," adding: "If I ever get in the ring with Mayweather, I think I will be his worst nightmare."

The taunts have played their part in tempting Mayweather to end the shortlived retirement that few expected to last after he outpointed Oscar De La Hoya in his last fight. Mayweather will also have been aware that De La Hoya was openly discussing the possibility of a fight against Hatton last week when Bernard Hopkins defeated Ronald "Winky" Wright and he will have been keen to beat his arch rival in the race to meet the British champion.

Although the 30-year-old beat De La Hoya at light-middleweight, the fight against Hatton will be made at welterweight (10st 7lb). Hatton, a natural light-welterweight, has fought only once in the welterweight division, when he struggled to outpoint the southpaw Luis Collazo in Boston last year.

Ray Hatton, who acts as his son's manager, has stressed that contracts have not yet been signed but that terms have been verbally agreed. "This is a great fight for Ricky," he said. "Mayweather is a great fighter but Ricky has the power in his body punching to keep him on the back foot. We see it as a win-win situation."

Mayweather can be expected to be earning more than Hatton from the contest, which may take place at the 20,000-seat Thomas and Mack Center where Hatton knocked out Castillo. On hearing news that the fight would happen, Mayweather said: "He's definitely getting knocked out, I guarantee that. He's talked the talk, let's see if he can walk the walk when he's in there against the best."