AP
England's Ricky Hatton (right) faces Floyd Mayweather of the U.S. at a press conference at Manchester Town Hall yesterday before their forthcoming fight. Hatton and Mayweather will fight on December 8 for the world welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

THE ENGLISH are renowned for being reserved and modest. Enter American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. - dripping in bling and full of bravado - to promote his eagerly anticipated bout with Ricky Hatton.

On the final leg of a weeklong trans-Atlantic tour to promote their December 8 fight in Las Vegas, the WBC welterweight champion came to Hatton's hometown - and didn't relent with his taunting of the 'Hitman'.

"I never really knew who Ricky Hatton was. If you're not a major name in the sport I don't know who you are," the 30-year-old Mayweather said at Manchester Town Hall.

"For him to be even sharing the same stage with me is a privilege because I didn't have to come out of retirement ... I'm a legend in the sport, I could retire today and I'm going in the Hall of Fame."

Even when surrounded by Hatton - the undisputed light-welterweight champion and undefeated in 43 fights - and 4,000 of his loyal fans crowding a public square, the cocky Mayweather continued his goading - and scoffed at the idea he had landed in the lion's den.

"I'm the lion, I'm the king of the jungle," Mayweather, a six-time world champion in five weight divisions, yelled out to the hostile crowd, braving a heavy downpour.

The fans responded with a chant routinely heard in English soccer stadiums: "Who are 'ya?'

Only one Ricky Hatton

And as a band played the tune to 'Winter Wonderland', they sang: "There's only one Ricky Hatton."

The atmosphere between the undefeated boxers was increasingly similar to a soccer match. The American even donned a Manchester United jersey and cap to bait Hatton, a fervent supporter of cross-town rival Manchester City. Not even that could rile Hatton.

"He is a great fighter, the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, but everyone has seen first hand today that as a person he is seriously lacking in areas," the 28-year-old Hatton said.

"I didn't go out to play mind games, but he has. I think he will be going back on the plane and think they have backfired ... He does everything wrong the way he acts. I think he makes a fool of himself."

Hatton said his lifestyle couldn't be further removed from that of Mayweather, who likes to flaunt his wealth.

"Half of them out there I've probably had a pint with," Hatton said, looking out over the emptying public square. "They don't look at me as just a British fighter. They look at me as their mate, really, and I'm no different to them."

And neither, perhaps, is his language.

Use of expletives

Hatton used expletives during a live nationally televised news conference, forcing Sky Sports News to cut away twice and apologise for the language.

The December fight at the 16,000-seat MGM Grand casino sold out in 35 minutes.

Next up for Hatton is weeks of training in a Manchester gym.

That's not Mayweather's style.

He'll be in a television studio competing in the 'Dancing with the Stars' series.

But that isn't a sign of Mayweather getting soft.

"I'm going to punish him, you watch," Mayweather said in a parting shot. "When I stop him, I'm going to come out here and party."