Boxing Betting / Joe Dyer / 05 December 2007 /

Joe Dyer is hoping the Hitman humbles the King of Bling...

It's one of the first golden rules of gambling not to bet on a sport about which you know very little. But the build-up to Ricky Hatton's WBC Welterwight clash with Floyd Mayweather and the excitement surrounding the bout is tempting me to wade in with a heavyweight punt of my own on the Englishman.

Such is the contrast between the two men, that even forgetting any patriotism of my own, I would want Hatton to defeat the American any day of the week because Pretty Boy's ego is bordering on the unacceptable.

Much is made of the Mancunian's down-to-earth style and reading through the press there is very little reason to doubt it's genuine.

And that is so refreshing for boxing - a sport which is doused in so much bull**** it really does stink.

Trash talk has been de rigeur ever since Ali burst onto the scene. The only problem is that Ali was more than just a boxing genius with genuine poetry, humour and originality to his words. In short, he was one of the greatest characters of the 20th century, a true legend who shames the majority of the fighters to have followed in his path. Most have attempted to out-psyche opponents with their talk - a la Ali - only to bring dishonour to the sport with their utterly charmless chatter.

Which brings us to Mayweather. The run-up to the fight has been littered with trash talk of the very lowest manner. Most famously he said to Hatton: "I wish I was in prison, I'd make you my bitch." Do comments like that do anything for the sport other than delight the idiots while turning away the genuine sports fans?

Throughout the long build-up, the American has been dishing out this stuff (with added crotch grabbing and other annoying physical extravagances) like a playground bully which is why I want to see our boy knock the arrogant blighter out. And that would be all the more enjoyable with my money riding on it.

Compared to Mayweather, Hatton has been his usual gregarious self. His putdowns of Mayweather have highlighted his rival's insane ego: "He probably thinks they could stick King Kong in the ring with him and he'd still win."

Part showman, part comedian - Hatton is the charmer with a common touch showing that you don't have to spout insulting rubbish to triumph in the game.

Most experts are calling it as a Mayweather victory. His fast feet and faster hands thought to be too much for Hatton's rampaging style. Ricky disagrees of course and as I stated earlier on, a victory for the Englishman would be all the sweeter if it came with a financial return.

Hatton is [3.0] for the win but if he does conquer Mayweather it will surely be through a knockout. That currently trades at [5.1] but I'd ask for something a bit bigger, wait to get matched and then, when Floyd hits the canvas, your joy won't just be that the better man won but that you did too.

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