Boxing: Ricky Hatton today scoffed at "insecure" Floyd Mayweather's claims to be the "greatest fighter in history".
Meeting in Hatton's hometown of Manchester on the fifth and final day of their trans-Atlantic promotional tour for the December 8th WBC welterweight super-fight, Mayweather once again hyped up his importance to the sport, declaring: "I am boxing, there isn't nobody out there with my record.
"Forget Sugar Ray (Leonard) and the rest, I am the best boxer that ever lived."
But Hatton took exception to his welterweight rival's claims and warned Mayweather - regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world - to show more respect to the sport's greats.
He said: "I think Floyd Mayweather is a terrific fighter, the best pound-for-pound in the world. His record of people he's beaten says that, but he needs some respect.
"He has crossed the line with me a few times this tour, but I don't mind. I can do something about it. It's when he starts saying he is the best ever that gets to me.
"He's an insecure man. That much is obvious, look at the amount of bodyguards he carts around with him. They are everywhere, wearing their jewellery, flashing money and shouting their mouths off. It may be promotion, but it's his way of masking stuff.
"So is this business of saying he is the best fighter that lived. It's all nonsense. It disrespects the genuine greats, people like (Mohammed) Ali and Leonard.
"Sure, he has a place in history, he has been a terrific boxer and is certainly one of the best. But to say he is the best ever is way off the mark."