Ricky Hatton warns Tyson Fury not to ‘fight like Rocky Marciano’ in Dillian Whyte showdown

Ricky Hatton has warned Tyson Fury will need to box smarter and not be too gun-ho in his approach if he is to retain his belt in the upcoming world heavyweight title fight with Dillian Whyte.

Hatton, who this week confirmed his sensational return to the sport at the age of 43, said the Gypsy King ‘is better in every department’ – but claimed he could get caught if he ‘goes to war’ with Whyte in the early rounds.

Defending WBC champion Fury is the heavy favourite for victory in the eagerly-anticipated contest, set to take place in front of a record crowd at Wembley on Saturday night.

Ricky Hatton has outlined his prediction for the fight between Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte

Fury and Whyte meet in an eagerly-anticipated world title fight at Wembley on Saturday

But Hatton feels the Body Snatcher could spring a surprise if Fury goes into the contest ‘like Rocky Marciano’ from the famous Rocky films.

‘We have to be honest and say Tyson is better in every department,’ Hatton told the Gary Newbon Sports Show. ‘He has the height and reach, the speed, the ability. Everything says that Tyson should win.

‘But what concerns me is that Tyson in his last few fights, although it has been entertaining, has turned into a six foot 10 Rocky Marciano – he is having it out with everyone.

‘Deontay has put him down and Dillian has the power to do the same. I think Tyson has to resort back to the old Tyson a little bit – let’s just break down Dillian, let’s not go to war or toe-to-toe from the opening bell.

‘If he uses his height, reach and movement, and chooses his time when to box at a distance and make him miss, choose a time when to put it on Dillian, it will break him down in the early rounds and he may get a stoppage.

‘If he goes like he did in the last fight against Wilder – where he just went to absolute war – then Dillian has a good chance of clocking him.

Fury was knocked down in his most recent victory over American Deontay Wilder

‘It all depends on – no disrespect to Dillian – what Tyson does rather than what Dillian does.’

Hatton, who retired in 2012 but is coming out of his period in exile to fight Marco Antonio Barrera at the Manchester Arena on July 2, said Fury ‘will still be world champion’ come the end of the fight.  

‘I am delighted that Dillian has finally got his shot after being the number one contender for about three or four years, the poor thing,’ he added.

‘Dillian always said he wanted to fight the best and Tyson is the best. He has got his shot now.’