04.09.08 – by James Slater – As has been widely reported today, Floyd Mayweather Senior will be helping Ricky Hatton get ready for his upcoming world title fight with Paulie Malignaggi. As fans know, long-time trainer and corner-man Billy Graham was “let go” from the Hatton team a few weeks back, and Hatton Assistant Lee Beard took over as head trainer..
Now, later on this month, the 55-year-old father of the only man to have ever beaten Ricky, will fly into Manchester and, alongside Beard, oversee Hatton’s training. The 29-year-old light-welterweight will be training at his new camp, located in The Village Hotel, Ashton-Under-Lyne. Apparently, Hatton began the first days of preparations for the Malignaggi fight this past Tuesday, and is looking forward to Mayweather Senior’s arrival.
“At this stage of my career I’m not going to change my style too much, but you are never too old to learn,” Hatton said. “I have spoken with my team and we are all sure that I’ll benefit from Floyd’s incredible knowledge. The fight with Malignaggi is make or break for me and I’m convinced this will be the best training camp I have ever had.”
Will Mayweather Senior make a good assistant trainer for Ricky? Billy Graham, for one, in an interview last month, said he felt Mayweather was “not the trainer for Ricky Hatton.” He may be right, of course. But sometimes a little change can be a good thing. In facing a slick mover like “The Magic Man,” Hatton perhaps needed a man who would give him a new and improved game-plan to follow. Now, after Ricky will have been taught some things by Mayweather Senior come fight night, Malignaggi will not know for sure if he will be meeting the same old, straight ahead, hit-and-then-grab Ricky Hatton.
The hugely popular Brit may have a few tricks up his sleeve, courtesy of Mayweather come November 22nd! Also, sometimes, a new trainer can prolong a boxer’s career. And perhaps Hatton needed a fresh new outlook as he gets close to the age of 30. It’s unlikely Mayweather will be able to get Ricky to stop his bad habits, such as putting on booze-induced weight between fights – if the experienced and flashy trainer even stays with Hatton that long. Indeed, Mayweather may not even get to see this side of Hatton firsthand. But Floyd Senior would surely disapprove if he saw Hatton drinking and eating like he does.
More than likely being brought on board to simply add some polish to an aggressive-minded warrior who has learnt his craft by now, Mayweather Senior is, as Hatton himself says, not going to change him that much. But his being brought in can surely do no harm and maybe some good.