The big fight verdict

The Sky Sports experts gave us their big-fight predictions. See who was right to side with Floyd Mayweather.

It's the fight of the decade and in the build-up Sky Sports' boxing experts have been sharing their thoughts with us here on skysports.com. We've asked them where this fight sits in the history of British boxing, we've asked them just how good Floyd Mayweather is and what effect fighting at 147lbs will have on Ricky Hatton. We know where they think the Hitman can hold the upper hand and just what the Pretty Boy can do to keep that '0' in tact, but with fight night almost upon us it is time for a prediction. Here, our former champions Jim Watt, Johnny Nelson, Glenn McCrory and Nicky Piper, as well as commentator Ian Darke and our reporters in the field, Adam Smith and Ed Robinson, all give you their take on Undefeated - and finally stick their necks on the line...

Jim Watt - Former lightweight world champion

If the Hatton plan doesn't involve getting hit by Floyd Mayweather I'd be surprised, shocked and worried. He will get hit on the way in, we know that. He knows that, Floyd knows that. It happened against Kostya Tszyu and it will happen here. But - and this is a big plus point in his favour - Mayweather is nothing like the puncher Tszyu was. Of course, his precision is better and there will be times when Hatton, as he tries to hit Mayweather, will get hit at the same time. He has to be prepared for those exchanges. We all know how good Mayweather is defensively and there's every chance he will make Hatton miss, but if he can't catch him cleanly, the bottom line is Ricky has to deliver more shots. He has to be aggressive but he cannot afford to be reckless. No matter how frustrated he might get and no matter how many times Mayweather makes him miss, he has to keep calm. He can't just keep running in throwing crazy punches, because Floyd will pick him off all night long. What I would suggest is that he fights in short, sharp bursts. He doesn't have to fight for every second of every round, just get in, let off a barrel-load of punches and get out - and then maybe do nothing for the next 10 seconds. But when he does go to work it can't just be a few shots, he has to let loose with six, seven even eight punches at a time and then settle back down again.
PREDICTION: My head says no, so I suppose I have to go with that, but my heart and my hopes say yes. You've got to side with the champion and his skills, but if anyone out there can beat Floyd Mayweather, it is Ricky. But he'll have to stop him.

Johnny Nelson - Former cruiserweight world champion

I have to stick with Mayweather. Everything indicates that Ricky can go in there and pull off the impossible, the unthinkable and unbelievable but I'm afraid I've got to listen to my head. And that tells me Floyd is far too sharp, far too accomplished, far too technical a fighter. In Ricky's favour, he has been in more situations, been hit, been cut, been hurt and been dropped, compared to Mayweather. But one word will decide this for me: welterweight. If this fight was at 140lbs I would have no hesitation and backing Ricky, simply because he is the best light-welterweight in the world. I know Mayweather is not the bigger man necessarily, but the issue for me is how Hatton does at the bigger weight. Against Luis Collazo, who is not outstanding never mind world-class, he struggled. I just don't think he will be as physically effective. Floyd has boxed at welter and above for the last two years and not only won, but won comfortably. Ricky will be the bigger puncher though. Speed does generate power and Floyd has that in abundance, but I can't see power being a decisive factor. Floyd will try and draw Ricky in and force him to make a mistake. He won't try and bully him and he won't stand and trade because for all the noise coming out of his camp, there is no way he has been under-estimating Hatton. There is no way he thinks he is a fat, one-dimensional, club fighter. If Ricky is going to win he has to answer every Mayweather shot and he has to answer it fast and furiously, with two or three-punch combinations. He is an excellent pressure fighter and he can take the pace away from the Pretty Boy, but if he lets him get in full flow this fight will drift further and further from his grasp. And that means Floyd will grow in confidence and when he does that, he can really start to show off.
PREDICTION: I am going to go for Floyd Mayweather on points and in doing so, I am letting my head rule my heart. Of course I would love to see Ricky do it, but if he does it will be by stoppage.

Glenn McCrory - Former cruiserweight world champion

At the start I was a little dubious that this may be a step too far for Ricky, particularly after his last move up to welterweight. But I think he under-estimated Luis Collazo and there's no way he will do that with Floyd Mayweather. He knows what he's taken on and is in the best shape of his life. He thinks he can win and he has that strength of mind because he has never lost before. Remember, after beating Oscar de la Hoya, Mayweather retired, so does he really have the heart for this if it turns into a real war? I do think there is going to be all sorts of drama: Floyd will be complaining about Ricky being rough and I can see this being a tetchy fight with plenty of needle. And I actually think that is what Hatton needs to stop Mayweather showing his style and finding his rhythm. He needs room to do that so Hatton can't afford to give him an inch; he has to get on the inside and hope he doesn't get caught on the way in. If Hatton can do what he did against Kostya Tszyu - and it takes a hell of a lot to keep him off - I am convinced he can grind Mayweather down. Floyd is not going to like what he sees come that first bell and I just think that, having spoken to him, Ricky's sense of purpose will see him home as much as anything else. And don't forget those bad hands of Mayweather. The way to keep a fighter off and at distance is to throw loads of punches and if he does that, those hands have to come into question. They could provide the drama that I am sure we are going to see.
PREDICTION: I am going for Hatton on points or a late stoppage. I just think that whatever happens, whoever wins, we are going to be in for one hell of a dramatic night.

Nicky Piper - Former Commonwealth light-heavy champion

As every day goes by I do fancy Hatton more and more, but I am going to have to go with Mayweather. Ricky is very fit, but I am not sure he is going to get to Floyd and enjoy any real success. He's such an exciting mover I just can't see how he is going to pin him down for long enough and I do worry that those fast feet and that terrific handspeed are going to be too much for Hatton. And this is nothing to do with any deficincies on Ricky's part: in Mayweather we are talking about far and away the best fighter in the world. He's so fit, so fast, moves so well and I do worry that this could turn out to be a nightmare for Ricky. If he boxes like he did against Kostya Tszyu and if he can get those bodyshots off, he might wear Mayweather down, but I just can't see him getting close enough for long enough to do any real damage. He will have go right at it and jump on him from the very first bell and go non-stop. On the positive side, Ricky is a much better boxer than many people give him credit for, as we saw against Ben Tackie, so Mayweather can't afford to under-estimate him. But at the end of the day - and I hate to say it - I think Hatton is going to be out-reached, out-boxed and out-manouevred.
PREDICTION: I am going for Mayweather on points, or if my worst fears are fulfilled, a late stoppage. The worry is Ricky won't even get close to him; I can see it happening, but I don't envisage it happening. Of course I would love nothing more than for Ricky to prove me wrong!

Ian Darke - Sky Sports commentator

Ricky Hatton looks as good as we've ever seen him working out here. He has got himself to maximum physical condition and psychologically is not at all fazed by the size of the task in hand. Believe me, he is primed to give a massive performance - whether that's good enough is what we're all here to find out. The interesting point I want to make and that Ricky can draw encouragement from, is that Mayweather seems to think he has already had his defining fight against Oscar de la Hoya and regards Hatton as a routine defence. His view is that he has fought pressure fighters before but what he hasn't taken on board is that Hatton applies a different kind of pressure. It's more intense, it's going to be much, much faster than anything he's faced, he won't just come straight in on tramlines, he will switch angles all the time. I do think Mayweather might be under-rating his skills. The big question is what damage does Hatton accrue on the way in? He's got to get on the inside but will he walk into too many shots doing that? Mayweather has had 38 fights, won five world titles and has very rarely had an uncomfortable moment, never mind round, or fight. He has been shaken by the odd shot, but that has been all too rare and we are kidding ourselves if we think there is a weakness to his armoury he hasn't shown.
PREDICTION - As a commentator I have to remain neutral, so I am not going to call this one way or the other. What I will say is that Hatton can win the fight by doing more, out-working Mayweather and throwing more leather to get rounds in the bank. But of course, it's easier said than done!

Adam Smith - Sky Sports commentator/reporter

I gave him an outside shot at first, now I give Ricky Hatton a much bigger chance. It's that unflappable nature, the burning desire, the seemingly endless supplies of ferocious aggression. And if he can use his jab to effectively set up attacks, his hopes raise, along with the tempo. Try those little screw shots up the middle too, Ricky. He is more ring savvy than opponents think and he can also be nasty, spiteful and a real handful. But don't for one minute think that Floyd Mayweather, the consummate professional, will have truly underestimated Hatton. This is Floyd Mayweather, best gym fighter I have ever seen, best ring craftsmen of his generation, and an outstanding five-weight world champion. But there's just a hunch in me somewhere that says I can't possibly ask you to bet against him, there's a feeling of something special this weekend. I just can't completely foresee Hatton as a winner this time, but that doesn't mean he can't find a way. If anyone on earth can do this it's Ricky Hatton. It is not an impossible ask. He has ample tools, and if Mayweather is not absolutely right, he could be taken. If anyone deserves this Ricky does.
PREDICTION - It has to be Mayweather points. But I have been swayed so much by Hatton's build-up and belief, that I advise backing against Ricky. The heart v head 'ometer' has moved nearer heart, but not quite enough

Ed Robinson - Reporter

There's an obvious logic that says Mayweather should win, there's no doubt he's an incredible talent. Floyd is unquestionably fast, slippery and experienced, but this fight is about so much more than just logic. Hatton will bully Mayweather, move in fast and shock the Pretty Boy with his speed and controlled ferocity. The crowd will lift Ricky through the rough patches, through the counter punches and through the fatigue. I see a close thrilling fight, but I also see Hatton become a British sporting legend with a memorable points win.