CONTRAST IN THE RING, ON THE DAIS.

Byline: ROBERT MORALES

BOXING

Perhaps Ricky Hatton said it best Monday when describing his upcoming fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Dec. 8 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"It's going to be a wonderful clash of styles, a wonderful clash of personalities," Hatton said during a news conference at Universal Studios' City Walk that began a week-long promotional tour that culminated Friday in Hatton's hometown of Manchester, England.

From a style standpoint, we'll see the defensive wizardry of Mayweather attempting to thwart the non-stop offensive onslaught of Hatton. In the personality department, we'll have the mouthy Mayweather and the respectful Hatton.

During his time on the dais Monday, Mayweather's egomaniacal spirit was on full display.

"I'm dedicated to the sport of boxing," Mayweather said. "I'm hungry. Like I said before, it's not cocky if you can back it up. And I done backed it up for years."

Mayweather turned it up a notch.

"When I was a young kid," Mayweather said, "I can remember what my mother used to always tell me: 'Floyd, you special.' I never knew what she meant when she used to tell me I was special. I was like, 'Do I need to be on a small bus?' But then I found out what she really meant. I was born to be a fighter. I love boxing. Boxing is my job and I do my job well.

"I take the least punishment in this sport, but make the most money. It's about being smart. You last long that way. I'm truly, truly blessed to be where I'm at.

"We all know God don't make mistakes. So I'm meant to be where I'm at. You mention Floyd Mayweather, you already know you're messing with the creme de la creme, the top dog, the head honcho."

Mayweather has won world titles in five weight divisions. It's difficult to argue with his assessment of himself.

Then again, if he engaged fighters a bit more, he might be as good as he thinks he is.

Then there is Hatton. To say his personality is in direct contract with Mayweather's would be putting it mildly. Now, Hatton has not accomplished what Mayweather has, but he has won titles in two weight classes.

And, like Mayweather, he is undefeated. Hatton, 28, is 43-0 with 31 knockouts. Mayweather, 30, is 38-0 with 24 knockouts.

"I just never really dreamed that these days were really going to happen," Hatton said to reporters and hundreds of fans who had gathered to watch the proceedings. "I must admit I was delighted when I won a British title. And then when I won a world title, I was obviously over the moon. And then to win three world titles and then get the chance to fight the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, I mean, it's beyond my wildest dreams."

Hatton has won the same junior welterweight belt twice. He has also won a welterweight championship and will be trying for another when he challenges Mayweather for his belt.

No question, there are striking differences in everything the respective fighters will bring to this promotion and ultimately into the ring. Whereas Hatton on Monday tried hard to be complimentary to Mayweather, there was no reciprocation.

Mayweather referred to Hatton as "a bum," at one point. This did not sit well with Hatton, who afterward held court with about 10 reporters under a tent behind the dais.

"Floyd says that he doesn't rate me and stuff like that," Hatton said, "but about three years ago he said, 'I'll come back to England and I'll fight you in your back yard and I'll knock you out.' And then when I beat Kostya Tszyu and started doing what I've done over the past few years, he suddenly changed his mind.

"He can't fool me by saying that he doesn't rate me or anything. If I wasn't any good, I wouldn't be getting this shot."

Hatton is right. He has earned this opportunity to defeat the fighter many experts -- though not this one -- believe to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

But to be fair to Mayweather, he should not have to go to England the first time he fights Hatton. Mayweather is a much more established star, even if Hatton is gaining ground.

With so many over-the-top decisions these days, fighters are understandably wary of fighting an opponent in his country.

Since Mayweather has star seniority, so to speak, their first fight should be here. If there is a rematch, it should be in England. Mayweather, of Grand Rapids, Mich., on Monday made that promise.

State Hall of Fame inductions today

The California Boxing Hall of Fame will play host to its annual induction banquet at 11:30 a.m. today at Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City.

All 516 tickets have been sold.

On the list of fighters to be enshrined are Oscar De La Hoya, "Sugar" Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, Albert "Tweety" Davila, Art Frias, Chicanito Hernandez, Armando Muniz, San Pedro heavyweight Jimmy "Wildman" Harryman and former amateur standout Richard "Cali" Martinez of Los Angeles.

De La Hoya, Mosley and Vargas are still active. But a fighter does not have to be retired to make this Hall.

Posthumous inductees will include fighters Diego "Chico" Corrales and Henry Armstrong, trainer Larry Soto and Howard Steindler, the longtime owner of the Main St. Gym in Los Angeles. He was murdered in March 1977. As of today, no one has been charged with the crime.

Corrales was killed May 7 at the age of 29 in a motorcycle accident in Las Vegas. He will be forever remembered as coming back from two 10th-round knockdowns to stop Jose Luis Castillo in the 10th on May 7, 2005. It is considered one of the great fights of recent times and one of the most incredible comebacks in history. Corrales died on the two-year anniversary of that epic bout.

Among those to be inducted into the expanded category are Richard Schaefer, CEO of De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, promoters Don and Lorraine Chargin, historian David Martinez, manager Frank Espinoza, Spanish-language broadcaster Carlos Avilas and trainer Frank Baltazar Sr.

The event has been sold out for weeks, said Toluca Lake's Don Fraser, longtime president of the California Boxing Hall of Fame.

"What surprised me was that the non-boxer category sold so many tickets," said Fraser, who said friends of those inductees bought more tickets than those of the fighters.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Floyd Mayweather, left, has kept up the chatter against Ricky Hatton, who has shown restraint in promoting their Dec. 8 welterweight fight this week.

Jon Super/Associated Press

(2) MOSLEY

(3) VARGAS

(4) DE LA HOYA

Box:

Etc.