Hatton relishing fresh start at 30

10:19pm Monday 6th October 2008

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Ricky Hatton celebrated his 30th birthday on Monday with a gruelling training session and a defiant declaration that he was right to axe Billy Graham and join forces with Floyd Mayweather Snr.

Hatton will return to the scene of his only defeat, which came against Floyd Mayweather Jr at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, to take on IBF light-welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi on November 22.

Hatton has enlisted the help of Mayweather Snr as he seeks to reap the benefits of the American's wealth of world-title experience and said: "Floyd has come in and given me a new lease of life."

The move follows Hatton's split with Graham after 11 years, and Hatton has been hugely impressed with Mayweather Snr after just two training sessions - despite being forced to shelve his birthday celebrations.

Hatton added: "He's slowed me down and given me a more subtle approach.

"I was up at 6am this (Monday) morning, Floyd came to my house and I ran five miles around Gee Cross in Hyde with dumb bells in my hands.

"Floyd was side by side with me all the way - in a Range Rover I might add - saying, 'Come on, jab, jab, step off, one-two!'. It was hard because it's very hilly where I live but because it was new I got a buzz from it. As soon as we got back to my house he jumped out the car and we did a little bit of sparring.

"I've got to get used to him calling the shots and the different combinations, plus I need to get to know him as a person and as a coach."

Hatton admitted he should have changed trainers sooner, and revealed that only his friendship with Graham preventing him from doing so.

He said: "Billy thought he could continue training me but I had to be man enough to say no because it just wasn't possible."

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