Magee vows to put Hatton in his place

Eamonn Magee today vowed to ‘‘expose’’ WBU light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton when the pair fight on June 1 in Manchester.

The Belfast man believes Hatton has been ‘‘protected’’ from testing himself against top-class opponents by promoter Frank Warren, but insists that will change when the pair meet and he is confident he will knock Hatton out at the MEN Arena next month.

Magee said: ‘‘Hatton has been protected right throughout his career. Frank has done a brilliant job with him the right fights at the right time.

‘‘Even the referees jump in at the right time for him but I’ll expose Ricky for what he is.

‘‘He keeps talking about wanting to fight the likes of Kostya Tszyu but you couldn’t fight him after the fighters he has boxed up to now.

‘‘He’s been knocking out blown-up lightweights and fighters past their best but I’m at my peak and I’ve been around too many corners to lose to Hatton.’’