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They are two of boxing’s best, two of
the most exciting fighters in the sport today, and both are
undefeated. They stand atop their weight divisions and
fight fans are in for a thrill as pound-for-pound king of
the ring and welterweight champion “Pretty Boy” Floyd
Mayweather will meet British icon and junior welterweight
champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton on Saturday, December 8
for the 147-pound championship. With a combined record of
81-0, this is the biggest match-up of two undefeated
welterweights since the record setting mega-fight between
Oscar de la Hoya and Felix Trinidad in 1999.
The fight, officially
announced today and aptly named “UNDEFEATED”, will be
promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions
and produced by and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View.
With several sites interested in hosting this special
event, a location will be announced shortly.
“I am extremely excited to announce
Golden Boy’s involvement in another boxing extravaganza such
as Mayweather vs. Hatton,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President
of Golden Boy Promotions. “We are proud to continue to
provide fans with the best match-ups and fights in boxing
today. This will be an exciting way to end this
record-breaking year for the sport.”
“We are very happy that the first
fight for Mayweather Promotions will be an event of this
magnitude,” said Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions.
“To be in partnership with Golden Boy Promotions working on
another big event is a great way to show we are serious in
bringing great fights to the fans.”
"Mayweather-Hatton is a world-class showdown between two
undefeated superstars in their prime," said Mark Taffet of
HBO Pay-Per-View. "It's the biggest welterweight fight
since De La Hoya-Trinidad, and figures to be a memorable
night for boxing fans."
Mayweather, 30,
is 38-0 (24 KOs) and the reigning world welterweight
champion. He is a six-time world champion in five weight
divisions including super featherweight, lightweight, super
lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight. Coming
off of his decision victory against Oscar de la Hoya—the
largest grossing event in the history of boxing—Mayweather
is one of the most gifted fighters to ever step between the
ropes.
“I am the best
fighter in boxing today and I’m prepared for any challenge
my team puts in front of me,” said Mayweather. “And with
Ricky Hatton it’s already personal. He has talked and
disrespected me so much in the past months that I can’t wait
to get him in the ring and show him he is not even on my
level. He’s definitely getting knocked out.”
Hatton, 28, is
43-0 (31 KOs), and hails from Manchester, England. He is
also a multi-division champion and universally recognized
world junior welterweight champion. He has fought once
before at 147 pounds, winning the welterweight belt from
Luis Collazo in May of 2006 before moving back down to 140
pounds and capturing his third world title. His most recent
contest was a four-round destruction of Jose Luis Castillo
in Las Vegas in June.
“It is a dream
of every boxer to fight the best boxers in the world,” said
Hatton. “"I respect Floyd Mayweather immensely for his
boxing ability and it will be an honor to share the same
ring with him. He is rightly regarded as the best pound for
pound boxer in the world. However, I am confident and
determined that I will be the first boxer to beat him in the
ring and I am looking forward to this fight."
A global press
tour is being planned to promote this event. In addition,
on-sale ticket information for this championship title fight
will be announced in the near future.
8-2-2007
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