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Ricky Hatton, a former world champion, returned to the ring last year for an exhibition fight with fellow former champ Marco Antonio Barrera.
Hatton is interested in having more exhibition fights, but he does not want to face any YouTubers.
The retired fighter, on the other hand, is open to participating in an exhibition fight with former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather.
Hatton suffered his first defeat in his career in 2007, when he was knocked out in ten rounds by Mayweather.
Mayweather retired from the sport in 2017, but he participated in three exhibition fights last year alone.
Unlike Hatton, Mayweather has no problem sparring with social media stars, but the Manchester legend wants to spar with other retired boxers.
“Floyd seems happy to fight the YouTubers, if I'm going to do an exhibition, I want to do it against Floyd Mayweather or Miguel Cotto, or Juan Manuel Marquez, or someone like that where I'm getting something from it, not just a few quid in my pocket. I'm actually getting something from it, I'm finding out firsthand how good Miguel Cotto, or Marco Antonio Barrera was, or having another move about with Floyd Mayweather. That’s something that’s not just about the money. That's something special," Hatton told Mega Casino.
"But if I'm offered a YouTuber called Billy Bungo or Billy the Kid or whatever I’d say why the f--- would I want to do an exhibition with someone I don't know? As a former champion, you want to have a little move about with other former champions and boxing legends.”
And, despite Jake Paul's 6-0 professional record, Hatton would not consider facing him in an exhibition due to the size difference. In his exhibition fight with older brother Logan Paul in 2021, Mayweather gave up a significant amount of size.
Hatton has no problem with Paul's approach to his boxing career.
“I would not fight Jake Paul, he's massive. He's much too big for me. I don't think he's particularly good, and I think he's picking his fights very, very carefully, which he's getting a bit of stick for, which I think is a little bit unfair because give him a break, he is actually a YouTuber, not a boxer. You shouldn't expect him to go in there with former world champions right from the get-go. He's fought basketball players and mixed martial artists, and I think he's just going to dip his toe in the boxing world now isn’t he with a professional boxer,” Hatton said.
“I think Jake Paul's going the right way about it. Don't forget, he's coming out of his comfort zone. He's a YouTuber with a passion for boxing. And people saying, “Well, he should be fighting him, he shouldn't be fighting him.” I disagree first, let him get his wings first, let him fight and the minute he feels he's got a bit of experience under his belt and he feels that he can go that extra step then dip his toe in the water that little bit deeper.”
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