Ricky Hatton has made it clear that an exhibition fight with Floyd Mayweather is unlikely to happen, citing unresolved issues and lingering “bad blood” as the main reasons.

Hatton and Mayweather famously clashed in Las Vegas in December 2007. The British boxer gave Mayweather a tough fight but was ultimately stopped in the tenth round. Following the bout, Hatton expressed his frustration with referee Joe Cortez, accusing him of not allowing a fair fight by constantly breaking up the action.

Now, years later, Hatton still feels a sense of injustice about that night. “I wouldn’t need Mayweather to sell out a fight, but if it was with Floyd then without doubt the tickets would have gone,” Hatton told Prime Casino. “Although I don’t know if an exhibition would work between me and Floyd, I don’t know if there’s too much under the table and too much bad blood.”

Hatton did not hold back his feelings about the 2007 fight, saying, “I was p***** off at the referee in our fight, I thought he was s***. I’m not saying I would have beaten Floyd anyway because it’s Floyd Mayweather, but there was an understanding between me and Marco [Antonio Marco Barrera] that this was an exhibition.”

He continued, “Marco is a respectful person and so am I. But I don’t think there would be that ‘wink, wink, nudge, nudge’ between me and Floyd. But it would sell out in an hour for sure.”

Rumors of a potential rematch between Hatton and Mayweather had gathered pace in 2023, but Mayweather, who remains undefeated with a 50-0 record, dismissed the idea, citing potential health risks and a preference to avoid fighting past opponents. Instead, Mayweather has participated in non-professional contests against influencers such as Logan Paul, Deji, and Aaron Chalmers.

Hatton, on the other hand, returned to the ring in a one-off exhibition against his friend Marco Antonio Barrera in November 2022, offering a final farewell to his loyal fanbase in Manchester. Despite the rumors, a showdown between Hatton and Mayweather now seems highly unlikely, given the unresolved tensions and their current stages in life.

Reflecting on his fight with Mayweather, Hatton mentioned in 2022 that he still felt “cheated” by the circumstances surrounding the match. This lingering sense of injustice seems to be a significant barrier to any potential exhibition bout between the two former rivals.

As both fighters move further from their prime, it appears the much-anticipated rematch will remain a topic of speculation rather than reality. Hatton’s candid remarks highlight the deep-seated issues that continue to prevent a reconciliation and a return to the ring with Mayweather.