Saturday, December 8 2007

By Albert Howell and David Robinett at ringside

WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) scored a tenth round knockout over IBO light welter titlist Ricky Hatton (43-1, 31 KOs) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Hatton was very aggressive early and controlled the tempo of the fight. Mayweather adjusted and had success pot-shotting "the Hitman," then quickly clinching. Hatton was cut over the right eye in round three by a Mayweather right hand. Hatton had success early in the fourth, but Floyd landed some clean shots that hurt Hatton as the round progressed. Hatton had a good round five punishing Mayweather on the ropes. Referee Joe Cortez took a point from Hatton in the sixth for hitting Mayweather on the back of the head but Hatton still outmuscled him for most the round. Mayweather had a big round eight landing many clean shots and continued to pull away by outboxing Hatton in the ninth. Mayweather floored Hatton with a left hook in the tenth and dropped him again with the follow up barrage and the bout was over. Time was 1:35. Before the sudden end, judges were overwhelmingly favoring Mayweather by scores of 89-81, 89-81, 88-82.