The fight is aptly named “UNDEFEATED.”  They are two of the best and most exciting fighters in the sport today.  With a combined record of 81-0, pound-for-pound king of the ring and world welterweight champion “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather will meet British icon and universally recognized world junior welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton for the world welterweight championship. This will be the biggest match-up of two undefeated welterweights since the record setting mega-fight between Oscar de la Hoya and Felix Trinidad in 1999. 

 

Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions, and sponsored by Rock Star Energy Drink, Tecate Beer and Southwest Airlines, the fight will take place Saturday, Dec. 8 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View.    

 

            “This fight is going to be extremely exciting, the buzz is worldwide and I am very excited that Golden Boy can bring another great event to boxing fans,” said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions.  “This is one of the biggest nights in boxing history, showcasing a welterweight match-up between two undefeated fighters … a fantastic way to end a record-breaking year.”  

 

            Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions said, “Mayweather Promotions is delighted to be a part of this tremendous event. December 8 will be our first major promotion and its magnitude only is a testament to our commitment to bring great boxing match-ups to fans around the world.” 

While most believe Mayweather-Hatton has the potential to break records this December, many insist the match-up stylistically could be compared to another classic welterweight clash, the first epic battle between Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran in June 1980.  In that bout, the slick-boxing Leonard was goaded into a brawl with the hard-charging Duran and a classic ensued – which was won by Duran.  Leonard got even five months later by stopping Duran in the eighth round of the infamous ‘No Mas’ rematch.

Regardless of one’s opinion, when Mayweather and Hatton step into the ring on Dec. 8, it will be a bout destined for the history books and an early Christmas present for fight fans.

 

Richard Sturm, president of Sports and Entertainment for MGM MIRAGE, stated, “What an exciting way to end 2007.  This thrilling match-up between two sensational and undefeated champions, Mayweather and Hatton, will certainly bring an unprecedented and electric atmosphere to the MGM Grand Garden Arena and to the fans worldwide who will be witnessing the event.”

Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View agreed, “Mayweather-Hatton is a world-class showdown between two undefeated superstars in their prime.  The storylines of both fighters are compelling and they have truly earned the recognition and praise they are receiving.”

            Mayweather vs. Hatton, is being compared to “Fight of The Millennium,” the September 18, 1999 bout between Oscar de la Hoya (31-0 at the time) and Felix Trinidad (35-0 at the time) which had the sports world buzzing for months, and set a record for most pay-per-view buys for a non-heavyweight event.  The record was shattered this past May in the bout between De La Hoya and Mayweather.

             Mayweather, 30, is 38-0 (24 KOs) and the reigning world and Ring Magazine welterweight champion.  He is a six-time world champion in five weight divisions including super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight.  An accomplished fighter who capped off his amateur career with a Bronze Medal in the 1996 Olympic Games, Mayweather turned pro later that year and by his 18th fight was a world champion having stopped Genaro Hernandez in the eighth round to win the WBC super featherweight title October 3, 1998 at the age of only 21. 

The Grand Rapids native defended his 130-pound title eight times, capping off his stay in the division with wins over world champions Diego Corrales, Carlos Hernandez and Jesus Chavez.  Just months after his last super featherweight fight, Mayweather won the WBC lightweight title on April 20, 2002 with a 12-round win over Jose Luis Castillo.  Three lightweight title defenses followed before Mayweather moved up in weight again, stopping Arturo Gatti in the sixth round to win the WBC junior welterweight title in 2005.  He added the IBF welterweight title to his resume in 2006 by defeating Zab Judah.

In 2007 Mayweather continued his legacy with a spectacular victory over De La Hoya for the WBC junior middleweight title in May – the largest grossing event in the history of boxing.  Now, “Pretty Boy” Floyd, one of the most gifted fighters to ever step between the ropes, is looking for a repeat performance when he takes on Hatton on Dec. 8.

            “I am the best fighter in boxing today and I am going to prove it once again against Ricky Hatton,” said Mayweather.  “He has done an excellent job of defending his undefeated record by beating everyone they have put in front of him.  But come Dec. 8 I am going to put an end to his unbeaten streak.” 

            28-year-old Hatton, is 43-0 (31 KOs) and hails from Manchester, England.  A multi-division champion and universally recognized world junior welterweight champion, “The Hitman” has been packing arenas in England since his early days as a pro.  A relentless force in the ring whose pressure and body punching has broken down championship caliber fighters for years, Hatton turned pro in 1997 and hasn’t looked back since.

            “The Hitman” won his first title, the WBU 140-pound crown, in 2001 with a win over Tony Pep, and he defended that belt an amazing 15 times.  Along the way he defeated world class fighters like Vince Phillips, Ben Tackie and Freddie Pendleton, while becoming a staple on American television.  Hatton didn’t truly arrive until June 4, 2005 when he stopped the dominant Kostya Tszyu in the 11th round to win the IBF junior welterweight crown. 

Since then, Hatton has defeated Carlos Maussa (KO 9), Luis Collazo (W 12), Juan Urango (W 12) and most recently scored a spectacular fourth round knockout over Jose Luis Castillo in June of this year.  On Dec. 8, Hatton will be tested like never before, but if history has proved anything, it’s that he will be ready, willing and able to walk through fire for the victory.

            Hatton said, “I can’t wait to get in the ring with Mayweather.  I feel I have the perfect style to beat him and to prove that I am the pound for pound best fighter in the world today.  I heard he’s going on ‘Dancing With The Stars’ this fall, which suits him perfectly because he’s always on back foot.  He’s never faced anybody that has given him the pressure that I am going to give him Dec. 8.”

            Tickets for “UNDEFEATED,” priced at $1,000, $750, $600, $300 and $150, are on sale and available for purchase by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or to charge by phone with a major credit card call (702) 474-4000.  Ticket sales are limited to two (2) per person.

 

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events.  The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound.  Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Oscar de la Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather and George Foreman vs. Michael Moorer; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, Gloria Estefan, Janet Jackson, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync, Sting, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert.  The MGM Grand Garden Arena also is home to annual events including the FOX Billboard Music Awards, the Andre Agassi Grand Slam for Children Benefit and the Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMA).

 

The Mayweather vs. Hatton pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 61 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For your Mayweather vs. Hatton fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

 

For more information on Mayweather vs. Hatton, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.