Inside job boosts Hatton's fortunes

Ricky Hatton has hired the ultimate boxing mercenary as his new trainer, with Floyd Mayweather Senior today admitting he would consider preparing 'The Hitman' to defeat his own son if the money is right.

In December last year, a dominant Mayweather Junior ended Hatton's unbeaten record, which then stood at 43 wins, with a 10th-round stoppage in Las Vegas.

The five-weight world champion then hung up his gloves, insisting he was bored with the sport. Yet Hatton believes the American could be lured back to the ring for a lucrative rematch next summer, possibly at Wembley Stadium.

Were that to happen, it would seem inconceivable that Mayweather's father would be willing to plot the demise of his own flesh and blood, even if they have spent a good part of their adult lives in a state of estrangement.

But then Mayweather Snr has never been one for living a conventional life. The 55-year-old from Grand Rapids in Michigan is missing a lump of muscle from one leg where he was shot by his mother's brother, he has served time for drug trafficking, he writes poems about his fighters' opponents, and recently discovered he was the father of a teenager who happens to be a promising amateur boxer.

So would the possibility of taking the opposite corner to Mayweather Jnr offer a moral dilemma? This dandy, dressed in a fine-tailored brown suit with multicolour pinstripes set off by a spotted tie and pocket handkerchief, leaned forward in his chair and asked: "Do I train Floyd?" "No." "Does Floyd give me money?" "Probably not." "That answers your question."

There is even a price on his loyalty to Britain's most popular boxer. Over in Manchester for introductions before setting up a training camp in Las Vegas, where, on 22 November, Hatton fights New Yorker Paulie Malignaggi, Mayweather said: "Let me tell you something, I'm not here for charity work. I want you to understand that.

"Who pays me the most, that's where it's going down."

What is Hatton getting for his cash? One of the best defensive coaches of boxing's post-war generation.