BOXING/Title Fight:Ricky Hatton's trainer Billy Graham admits he is haunted by the prospect of the Manchester "Hit Man" succumbing to cuts in the fight of his life, against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Hatton's career has been hampered by facial injuries but disaster has always been averted by the sterling work of veteran cuts man Mick Williamson in his corner.

But Mayweather's slashing shots present their own particular danger and it is one Graham believes poses the biggest threat to Hatton's chances of leaving the United States undefeated.

Graham said: "Every time Ricky fights, I think about cuts. He's had some really bad cuts in the past but Mick is a great cuts man and Ricky is always very calm when he gets cut.

"I hope the referee will be as calm as we are. Obviously, if the cut is bad enough and is going to injure his eye permanently, I'd want it stopped. But this is a super-fight so they should give him every chance."

Hatton's last significant cut came in his title defence against Colombian Carlos Maussa in Sheffield in November 2005, when he shrugged off the early setback to finish off his opponent in round nine.

Graham added: "I actually think cuts is the only way Floyd can beat him, unless he gets foolish and walks onto a big shot. That truly is the only way I believe Mayweather is going to win this fight."

Graham has sought to play down the impact of the two fighters' head-to-head shoving match yesterday in which Hatton appeared to rile his opponent by refusing to back down.

Graham insisted he missed the incident because "I went outside for a smoke", but added: "If you're telling me Floyd pushed him, I'm surprised Ricky didn't push him back flat on his arse given the way he feels about Floyd.

"Ricky's not one to dislike anybody. He respects his opponents and all this trash talking is not really our style.

"But he (Mayweather) has said quite a few things to Ricky and Ricky genuinely doesn't like him at this moment in time."

The momentum behind Hatton received another big push yesterday when the former pound-for-pound king Bernard Hopkins backed him to win.

Mayweather may claim opinions will mean nothing when the pair step into the MGM Grand Garden ring, but the words of a modern great like Hopkins carry weight.

He compared Hatton's furious, yet multi-faceted come-forward approach to that of the legendary Henry Armstrong and believes his stamina will help him maintain his pace throughout and emerge victorious.

Hopkins said: "Ricky Hatton is like the Energiser Bunny. I have never seen the man get tired. I am looking for some blood from Ricky early on but at the end of the day he out-hustles Mayweather for a unanimous decision.

"Ricky Hatton is not just a slugger. There's a difference between a guy who is going to put pressure on you and is willing to take four or five punches to give one or two. That's not Ricky Hatton.

"Ricky Hatton is willing to be that slugger but he is also willing to throw punches in bunches and that is rare in boxing today.

"Henry Armstrong fought that way. That is a dangerous guy because you can't keep him off you."

Hopkins, who reigned unbeaten as world middleweight champion for a decade and is now in line for a light-heavyweight scrap with Joe Calzaghe, also believes Mayweather's perceived over-confidence could prove crucial.

"It is a fight for Ricky to win and Floyd to lose," added Hopkins.