LIVE: Ricky Hatton v Floyd Mayweather: FINAL: Mayweather wins by KO

By April MacIntyre Dec 9, 2007, 0:29 GMT

Ricky Hatton - © Terry Thompson / Photorazzi

LIVE EVENT***REFRESH THIS PAGE TO SEE UPDATED RESULTS***WE BEGIN BLOGGING THE PPV HBO FIGHT AT 5:30 pm PACIFIC COAST TIME

"It's not a tickling contest, is it..." - Ricky Hatton

"Look at my necklace, look at the diamonds in my ring..."- Floyd Mayweather

MAYWEATHER WINS FIGHT.....KNOCKOUT

Hatton v Mayweather

We've been waiting for this one.  If you were with us for the last Live Cotto Mosley fight, you know the drill, refresh the page to see what transpires.

Mayweather in arrivals in Vegas

Manchester boy Ricky Hatton steps into the ring to fight Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas tonight, Saturday, the vast majority of the fans cheering him on will be on the mother ship side of the Atlantic and tuning in at 4 a.m.

Hatton is unbeaten in 43 fights, has a huge following both in Britain and in the USA for his ferocious body shots.

He scored a memorable victory over Kostya Tszyu to capture the IBF light-welterweight title in June 2005, when the Russian-born Australian didn't come out for the final round.

Now he takes on a tough champion - Floyd Mayweather -  also unbeaten in 38 fights and gained a split decision over Oscar De La Hoya back in May in boxing's biggest fight in years, and we were live blogging that one too.

There's even delicious rumors in the British press about Hatton taking on Golden boy De La Hoya.

Coverage in American press has been overwhelmingly pro Hatton, the Americans love his gutsy style.

Bookmakers say that Hatton, who is the 13-8 underdog, is the heaviest backed British individual ever. William Hill expects more than US$20.7 million to be bet on the fight.

The BBC reports that near 4,000 British fans are scheduled to fly out to Las Vegas, and Hatton also will have plenty more American-based supporters at ringside.

Hatton even believes he is more popular in America. He said he was cheered when he arrived at his hotel in Las Vegas on Tuesday while Mayweather was booed.

"If I got a reception like that in Manchester," the British fighter said, "I'd hang my head in shame."

The Blue Collar man counting on heart and tenacity versus The Bling Bling expert technician, expecting to dance his way away from danger and into another win...

If he wins...

Will he have the balls to finally fight Cotto?

If Hatton wins...who becomes the pound-for-pound champion?

And then, does Cotto finally get his deserved match with Mayweather; the spoil of Hatton to the winner?

The wild card of Oscar De La Hoya looms too.

The key to this fight will be if Hatton gets inside and difuses Mayweather's reach advantage...the expert opinions say that Hatton will take too much punishment from Mayweather's jabs while trying to get into his body...

From this writer's perspective, it appears that the majority of Americans have forgiven King George and fallen into the Hatton camp...

Mayweather is quoted as saying, "You're going to see the same Floyd Mayweather."  This writer hopes that is not the case - we would like to see him fight rather than dance.

Soon, we'll see if Ricky can make Floyd see stars instead of dancing with them...

{Where are my retired dudes from the last fight?}

WELCOME TO THE SHOW

WE ARE LIVE

3 FIGHTS BEFORE THE MAIN EVENT-

Jim Lampley announcing "It's going to be a terrific night"

Ferguson versus Cherry undercard fighting at 134...

Cherry defeated Ferguson... Ferguson is seeking redemption...scheduled for 10 rounds of boxing...who wrote that song, "Slap and tickle.."..I'll let you know when something interesting happens...go, paint drying is more interesting than this fight-I'll tell you what Harold Lederman says for the winner...he thinks it is an interesting fight, Lampley says otherwise, and would like to see mutual headbutts result in mutual knockouts thus ending this torturous fight...A true boxing fan will be interested to see the judge's assessment of this fight, unfortunately they are all asleep - judges and boxing fans...Cherry seems to think something just happened, with a lucky punch... Ferguson doesn't seem to be on the same page...thank god Lampley says time is running out...Ferguson is really hurt

Ferguson knocked out by big left hook, Cherry lands a bomb.  Thank you Cherry for ending this fight.

Ringside doctors are assessing the "havoc" in Ferguson's brain (Havoc is written on his trunks backside)  Our wishes are with Ferguson and are hopes are that he chooses another vocation.  Let's move on.

De Leon and Escobedo are next.  12 round fight. Championship featherweight fight

two Mexican warriors, one title on the line, who is el Mas Macho?

Fighting at 122, current title holder is De Leon.

Lampley tells us De Leon and Escobedo are Mexican, but Ponce De Leon is Mexican indian and Escobedo is Spaniard roots, Escobedo is throwing better punches...1st round to Escobedo...Escobedo fights with menace...punches very hard from all angles...Lampley says De Leon has heart...Ponce just woke up...good fight...Larry Merchant is pontificating once again on HBO, I am trying to ignore him...Lederman  has it 2-1 Ponce, we have it 2-1 Escobedo...round 4 great left great jab by Escobedo...now Ponce is trying to inflict punishment...Escobedo will not back down...oh god now Larry Merchant is going on about what drinkers all the Brit fans are...he needs a drink...De Leon "is letting his punches flow like water" says Lampley...Ponce has taken control of this fight after 5 rounds...Ponce is cut..and gets hit with 2 big rights...but shows no effects...Escobedo tumbles to the canvas on his own volition...Lederman has the fight 5-1 through 6 for Ponce...his voice is a trip BTW...this writer thinks he missed one round but it doesn't matter...onward...

Mayweather has begun his pre-fight routine the first step of which is the 15 minutes required to remove all of his jewelry...Hatton has already broken a sweat....

of course, so did Mayweather.

back to the Mexicans.  Wow the Brits are singing at the top of their lungs for Hatton

"Walking in a Ricky Hatton wonderland.." the Brits are serenading the Manchester boxer whilst the Mexicans battle each other...Lederman has it 78-74 for Ponce, we have it closer...is Escobedo would stand up to fight we may know how good he is...Paul from New Mexico you are right-bring back George Foreman HBO!!!

Great camera pan to a group of squiffy Brits singing in their chairs...clearly Lederman dropped acid before coming to this fight-still has Ponce as the leader, 7 rounds to 2...I have Ponce as leader but not by this margin...this a poorly referee-ed match...

Floyd Mayweather is being told rules by officials...in his dressing room..the guy Joe Cortez-giving instructions..God bless good luck...

Steward and Merchant are discussing Escobedo's lousy crouching position...Lampley says in Vegas a ref can get a reputation by one fight...they are discussing the ref who seems to give Escobedo a pass for crouching the entire fight...Escobedo instructed by his corner: "Jose, fight for your family"...

Lampley quotes Dizzy Dean and said De Leon looks like a guy who is trying to eat soup with a fork...ha! Larry Merchant thanks heaven for the end of the long fight...

official score card 115-113, 117-111, 118-110 for the winner Ponce De Leon. Escobedo's crouching tiger routine failed him, and now the Brits are singing loudly again...for their would-be champion

Lacy - Manfredo fight now before the main event

Lacy outweighs Manfredo by 2 pounds...10 rounds of boxing in super middle weight division...hall of famer Robert Bird referee...wearing Italian green white and red...Pete Manfredo...star of season one contender series -yay! go Providence Rhode Island!!!

Red corner, Jeff Lacy - former super middle weight champ, from St Petersburg Florida

I hate Florida. 

Your journalist appreciates the Hatton fervor, but Ricky MUST avoid Mayweather's jabs on his way to inflict damage...and more importantly, cuts, blood may bring a quick end to Ricky's chance to solve Mayweather...

Brits are singing again...hopefully Manfredo and Lacy are quick...judging from 1st round action..we will not be afforded such a luxury...1st round ends, difficult to tell it even started...Brits are singing something to Jingle Bells ...Emanuel Steward has decided he is in love with Manfredo this fight...your writer has decided that valium won't be necessary tonight, I'll just replay this fight...the most exciting thing about this fight so far are Manfredo's pants...

Now Graham, Hatton's manager is speaking in that funny English manchurian accent-Cortez is trying to understand him...God bless good luck....

Back to little Rhodey...he has really trippy Italian flags hanging off his trunks...would one of you please send some talkbalk to wake me up when this fight ends? Because its clear that while nothing interesting will happen in the next 30 minutes in this bout barring surprise, Manfredo will win through his superior skill...Larry Merchant says there are a whole mess of Brits outside watching the fight in Vegas that couldn't afford to get in...

4th round - LACY just landed the lucky punch-unexpected punch...God is smiling on us, Lacy is going in for the kill...anybody wearing trunks that read American something.com on the back (Manfredo) deserves to be knocked out...Manfredo has found his legs once again....

Brits have once again broken into song...the Guiness has taken its hold....walking in a Hatton wonderland...they are loud-damn-why arent US fans loud like that?

By virtue of Lacy's 10-8 4th round (as a result of his knock down of Manfredo w/surprise right to nose) now Lacy has a 1 point lead thru 4 rounds....

Brits sing Oh Britannia-the Brits are clearly as bored with all this pugilisitic hors d'eouvres and want the meaty main course toute de suite...bring on Hatton!!!

After 5 rounds silence has befallen the ring and the arena, as the combination of the Lacy - Manfredo fight and the Guiness has put everyone to sleep...we can only hope for a quick knockout...Paul, whatever you are smoking please share...this just in, Lacy and Manfredo still in the ring, nothing is happening, Brits wake from their stupor and break into their Hatton wonderland song.

Flash to cameras showing Mayweather-dead silence...camera pans to Hatton, cheers...

Even Lampley on HBO is mocking the Manfredo - Lacy fight...he snoozed through last round as well...as soon as the Lacy-Manfredo snore fest is over, a reminder that we will be live blogging every round blow by blow in real time so refresh page constantly-warning there will be some typos... so Rene...save your talkback hectoring...we will fix at end of rounds during break...Manfredo and Lacy begin 9 of 10 rounds, still unclear what is written on back of Manfredo's Italian flag pants...Lampley is rhyming butt with cut, but no blood is evident...Merchant once again mispronounces Manfredo's name...fortunately we are now in final round...Interestingly enough both fighters are now bleeding as they come out...Lederman has Lacy with 2 point lead...clearly Lederman hasn't had his Geritol this evening...Lacy appears to own the 10th and final round with a minute left...tough to tell who moves more slowly...Lacy? Manfredo? or the 80 year old ref Bird...Mercifully, the bell sounds. 

Two bleeding plodders...95-94, 96-93, 97-92 winner by way of unanimous decision: Lacy wins.

Right, everyone get their drinks refreshed, the main course is about to be served.

Wayne Newton and Helio Castrosomethingorother are smiling on camera...Hatton and Mayweather are nose to nose right now-sorry that was some pre weigh-in B-roll...

The arena is HAIL Britannia time baby, what great fun noise the crowd is making! Love the British...now Lampley and Merchant are rowing down Mayweather fight memory lane...Merchant is extra pontificate-y (is that a word?) and muses Hatton may run out steam, Lampley says Mayweather is brilliant, but Hatton iis dynamic inside fighter...Steward is putting his 2 cents in, Mayweather has advantage because of his defensive skills, but he wouldn't bet against Hatton...

Michael Buffer -one of the highest paid white men in sports -is saying "God save the Queen" will be sung by TOM JONES-get the f out!!! WOW...

Now the US anthem sung by Tyrese Gibson (Booes erupt) that is flat rude, you drunken Brits!  We kicked your ass-just remember that...

Lots of stars, Jude Law, David Beckham, Jeremy Piven, Gwen Stefani, Brad and Angelina to Will Ferrell..and a million others.

6 inch arm advantage for Mayweather. Weight too, 147 to 145 (Hatton)

Here comes Blue Moon, traditional theme song of Manchester soccer club-where his Da played football, HATTON EMERGES

Crowd is nuts for him. 

Mayweather comes in to sound of BORN IN THE USA-Springsteen rules

SOMEBODY'S "O" HAS GOT TO GO - LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE SAYS BUFFER

Round One: Lets begin...GOOD CLEAN FIGHT...crowd erupts, Hatton goes into the body, Mayweather deflects, crowd is singing at top of lungs...Mayweather hook first punch did no damage..Hatton is clealry the agresor...the Brits encourage him with song..Cortez is clearly going to make this a clean fight...typical Mayweather... stumbled by Hatton left--Hatton continues to advance...Hatton continues to attack...Mayweather isn't accustomed to this kind of attack, Hatton wants to fight, Mayweather wants to dance...tough round to call, Hatton was agressor..Mayweather got a few good shots too...Lederman gives round to Hatton

Round Two:  Hatton comes out on attack again, crowd overreacts, booes Cortez ruling, Hatton is agressively pushing Mayweather around Mayweather is counting on throwing the lead right and clinching to win on points..Hatton continues to attack...Cortez keeps breaking it up...we are all annoyed at him for this...Lampley calls round scratch and sniff affair, not sure what that means...Steward agrees with our assessment on Mayweather right for the clinch...

Round Three: Cortez keeps stopping Hatton, it seems Mayweather is holding...Left hook by Floyd, Hatton has him against the ropes...Inside battle in round 3 if Cortez would get out of the way we can see a fight...cut over Hatton's right eye- its bad-some London taxi driver cutman fixed it-solid right hand by Mayweather opened up a small cut over Hatton's right eye-against a technician like Mayweather it could be the beginning of the end, still, Hatton is the aggressor and if Cortez would let them fight...Lederman gave 3 to Hatton despite cut

Round Four:  Hatton breaks out like a bull wont give Floyd room to breathe...Mayweather continues to hold landing accurate shots...Hatton is getting creamed...Mayweather just teed off on him...blood is coming again...Cortez breaks them up again...if Mayweather would keep his head up and fight instead of ducking...Lederman gave this round to Mayweather

Round Five: Mayweather won't stand up and fight...Hatton has him against rope, all over Mayweather, won't give him room to breathe...can't get off ropes...Hatton pounds him good, Mayweather shoves him off...good round for Hatton so far says Lampley...Cortez breaks them up, ***camera pans to Ricky's mum, she looks worried***Hatton wins this round

Round Six: Hatton is fierce...Lampley talks about Mayweather's right hand...Mayweather runs away from the fight...over the ropes...rabbit punch penalty by Hatton and Cortez takes point away-bullshit-Mayweather was running away...Hatton is dominating Mayweather this round...Mayweather throws elbows while Hatton throws punches...Lederman gives it to Hatton

Round Seven: Hatton in clinch with Mayweather...against ropes...Hatton continues to control the real estate in the ring...crowd sings...weird round...low energy...

Round Eight: Hatton controls the pace again, Hatton close to Mayweather..Mayweather upper cut good punch...Hatton...OHHHchh Mayweather clocks Hatton-he's hurt...against ropes together....Hatton cannot get tired, Floyd will kill him...Mayweahter going in for kill...huge round for Mayweather in 8, Hatton in big trouble...Mayweather has crowd at their feet...round went to Mayweather per Lederman

Round Nine: This is a do or die round...Hatton is being jabbed by Mayweather...huge difference in % of connects between Floyd and Ricky...Hatton has Mayweather at ropes...Mayweather is more agressive...straight right hand again...Lampley is commenting on Floyd's technique, Brits are now on their feet singing for Ricky..Lederman gives round to Mayweather

Round Ten: Maybe this is do or die round...Hatton is staying away more from Mayweather...Mayweather knocked him out with a left hook - this fight is over-Floyd has a knock out win over Hatton

HATTON LOSES- MAYWEATHER WINS