Hatton and Malignaggi get pally

Everyone is Ricky Hatton's mate, but he is not really the kind of guy that makes too many enemies. Indeed even Paulie Malignaggi, whom he faces on Saturday, is the kind of person Hatton might like to hang out with one day. At Wednesday's head-to-head press conference, Hatton even said as much, once the action is over.

"I think we could be friends," he said. "But not on Saturday."

When this bout was made, it should have been for the IBF light-welterweight title, held by Malignaggi and twice held in the past by Hatton. But the IBF, in their endless non-wisdom, said that the winner had to face Hermann Ngoudjo, a boxer Malignaggi beat in January. So Malignaggi gave up the title and it will now be for Hatton's IBO belt and The Ring magazine title. "This fight doesn’t need belts," Hatton said. "Unfortunately Paulie got stripped of his belt. I’ve been there. I’ve been stripped of most of the belts I have won. I think this is the No 1 and No 2 in the division."

Richard Schaefer, the chief executive of Golden Boy, said Ricky would be aiming for a clean sweep of British boxers over United States opposition in the past few weeks. Joe Calzaghe beat Roy Jones Jr at Madison Square Garden on November 8, then David Haye stopped Monte Barrett.

"The UK has emerged as the leading nation when it come for excitement in the ring,” Schaefer said. “After Joe Calzaghe and a great win by David Haye, it’s up to Ricky to complete the clean sweep.”

Few have pushed for this fight as much as Lou DiBella, Malignaggi's promoter. "Paulie has wanted this fight his whole life," he said. "When Paulie turned pro, after about three fights he mentioned two names, Miguel Cotto, who we had the chance to fight, the other name he mentioned was Ricky Hatton. Paulie is really the most difficult style for Ricky. I’m real confident I know how well prepared my fighter is and I know how good he is.

"He’s a prodigy and a gym rat. No fighter is more respected in the gyms of New York." But while everyone said they were happy to be there, that didn’t quite go for James “Buddy” McGirt, the former double world champion who is Malignaggi’s trainer. "I wish the fight was last week,” he said. “Because I’m ready to get the hell out of Las Vegas, I’ve been here five weeks. I hate this damn place.”

The odds on Hatton to win have shortened this week. Hatton was already a short-priced favourite at –240 (5/12), but his odds have tightened further to –260 (5/13). Meanwhile, Malignaggi’s odds drifted from 2/1 to 11/5.