Hatton set for unification bout without Warren
Ricky Hatton is to face Carlos Maussa in a light-welterweight unification battle in November – but could first face a fight in the courtroom.
Hatton is to make the first defence of his IBF crown against Colombian Maussa, who won the WBA version of the title in June with a shock seventh-round stoppage of Vivian Harris.
The fight is to take place at the Sheffield Arena on November 26, with Dennis Hobson serving as promoter, despite Frank Warren previously guiding Hatton through the first 39 fights of his professional career.
Warren claims he has a further three-fight deal with Hatton, who sensationally beat Kostya Tszyu in July to become a world champion.
Hatton, father Ray, Hobson and lawyer Gareth Williams all claim that was nothing more than a verbal agreement, and they are happy to have their day in court with Warren.
“I am absolutely delighted to get this fight,” said Hatton, who will be earning more from this bout than against Tszyu.
“In many ways, what is going on is difficult, but it is also making me more determined and I know I have to go out there and put in a performance.
“It’s not unusual that things don’t go smoothly in the build-up to a fight, and this looks like that will be the case.
“But that is when you have to show what a champion you are, and if it does go to court it might prove a distraction, but then I am just as confident I will win that battle.
“It’s a shame things have come to this because we’ve previously had a good relationship with Frank.”
Father Ray added: “Ideally, it’s not a good thing.
“But if his 40th fight has to be in the courtroom, then I have no doubts it will be a 40th victory.”
Hatton knows Maussa will serve as a difficult opponent, but he was not willing to take any easy pay-days, despite the fight of his life against Tszyu.
“I said after I beat Tszyu that my next fights would be unification matches,” added ’The Hitman’.
“Dennis has put his money where his mouth is and put this deal on the table for me because he said he could get me what I wanted.
“This is going to be quite a tricky fight. I saw him beat Vivian Harris, and like me with Tszyu, I think people were expecting him to come off second best.
“But you only have to look at his record. He is a very dangerous puncher with a lot of knockouts, and he has a very unorthodox, unconventional style.
“He throws punches from awkward angles and he will be a bit of a nightmare, but people are regarding me as the number one [in the division] and I have a chance to grab another belt.
“It’s the best fight for me, and the harder the fight, the better I perform.”
