BBC SPORT | Boxing | Hatton must box smart

Hatton v Mayweather
Date: Sunday, 9 December
Starts from: 0100 GMT
Location: Las Vegas
Watch: Sky pay-per-view
Listen: BBC Radio 5 Live Updates: BBC Sport website and mobile

Honeyghan pulled off one of the sport's biggest-ever upsets when he beat American Don Curry for the undisputed welterweight crown in 1987.

"I didn't just go in and chuck punches. It's got to be educated pressure, with lots of lateral movement."

Honeyghan, now 47, was given little chance against Curry, who, like five-weight world champion Mayweather, was considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world at the time.

Honeyghan added: "Nobody gave me a chance going into my fight against Curry. They gave me even less chance than they are giving Ricky.

"They said Curry's slick skills would be too much for me to cope with. But I always knew it was never just going to be all about strength.

"If Ricky watches my fight against Curry, he'll see me constantly going forward but moving, moving, moving. I've seen Ricky fight like that before.

"That's what he needs to do again. There's no question that Ricky's strong enough to chase Mayweather down and close him down all night.

"Ricky might like a few more drinks out of training than I ever did, but we were both obsessed with fitness when we were getting ready for our fights. "Everything I did from the age of 11 was geared towards one day becoming champion of the world.

"I see the same in Ricky. He had a great amateur career and he always knew he'd make it, and so did everybody else.

"For Ricky, too, it's not about the money and the fame. It's all about loving his sport and wanting to be the best"