Magee makes light of Hatton boast
Belfast hard man Eamonn Magee has laughed off Ricky Hatton’s boast that he can become the new Naseem Hamed of British boxing.
Magee and Hatton meet at the MEN Arena on Saturday night in what will be the Mancunian’s sixth defence of his WBU light welterweight title.
Hatton has long since been hailed as the brightest prospect of his generation and sees this long-awaited clash as the chance to elevate himself to superstar status.
Magee, however, believes he will burst the 23-year-old’s bubble in the same way as Marco Antonio Barrera exposed Hamed’s shortcomings at world-class level.
‘‘Hatton says he wants to be the new Naz, but Naz was booed out of the ring after his last fight and lost the one before that,’’ said Magee.
‘‘Hamed was totally out-boxed by Barrera and let’s see what Hatton is like when he starts getting hit back.
‘‘Throughout his whole career I haven’t seen him get seriously hit and he’s just been knocking over guys who were there to get beat.
‘‘This time he’ll be getting hit back hard and often. Let’s see then who has the biggest heart for a battle on the night.’’
Hatton will have home advantage and will be cheered on by the vast majority of an expected 20,000 sell-out crowd.
Magee, though, insists he revels in fighting in other boxers’ backyards and claims he will also be well supported on the night.
The 30-year-old said: ‘‘There will be at least 1,000 fans travelling over from Belfast, which I don’t think Barry McGuigan had in his heyday.
‘‘I’ve also heard reports that the Irish bars in Manchester are bubbling ahead of this weekend, what with the football and the fight coming up.
‘‘I’ve not had much respect from the Manchester fans in the build-up to this fight but it’s been totally different back home in Belfast and I won’t lack support on the night.’’
Magee has hit out at the decision to appoint Mickey Vann as referee, as the Leeds-based official has amazingly been in charge of Hatton’s last six WBU title fights.
The Irishman’s manager Mike Callahan also complained to the WBU over the original choice of judges, successfully having two Englishmen replaced.
However, despite the fact there will now be judges from South Africa, Australia and America, Magee still believes he will need a knockout to win.
‘‘I’m still convinced that if I win 12 consecutive rounds I still won’t get the decision,’’ said Magee.
‘‘That means I’ve got to go in there and stop him at all costs.’’
