Ricky Hatton has repeated that he does not want to face Junior Witter, saying that he wants to deny his long-time British rival the biggest payday of his career. Since losing to Floyd Mayweather Jr last month, Hatton has faced pressure to box Witter, the WBC light-welterweight champion. Boxing News even wrote an open letter to Hatton, likening Witter’s insults towards Hatton to Hatton’s behaviour towards Mayweather.

“Witter has made a career for himself on slagging me off,” Hatton said from South Africa, where he is on holiday. “When someone slags you off, you don’t repay them by giving them their best payday. But you can never say never. Fair play to Junior – he’s won a world title and is looking really good.”

Hatton also cast doubt on a bout against Oscar De La Hoya, which, he said, would have to be at a catchweight of about 10st 10lb. “I don’t know if that would be suitable because I’m a 10st fighter,” he said.

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