Ricky Hatton knows he cannot afford to take anything for granted when he steps into the ring for his big light-welterweight world title unification fight with Carlos Maussa in Sheffield tomorrow night.
Hatton is widely expected to enjoy an easier task against the Colombian WBA champion than he endured in June when he claimed the IBF title after an epic tussle with the then world number one Kostya Tszyu.
But having been ringside to watch Maussa upset Vivian Harris to claim his own belt in June, Hatton knows he can ill afford to take any chances against an unorthodox opponent who can clearly punch.
Hatton said: "I've been fortunate enough to see in the flesh how heavy his punches were and how quick he actually was.
"He has a very good chin and a very high workrate and throws a lot of punches, so he is a handful for any fighter in this division and I am under no illusions about that.
"I feel I have got a lot more in my armoury and I am superior in every department. But I'm sure Harris felt the same and I have not worked so hard to get this far then blow it."
Maussa battered Harris into a shock seventh-round submission in Atlantic City and insists he will do the same again to Hatton, whom he derided as simply a "stepping stone" on his way to bigger fights.
