Former world champion Ricky Hatton believes Ryan Burnett is in big trouble in this weekend’s world unification title fight.

Ricky Hatton is gearing up for this weekend’s big showdown himself except this time not as a fighter, as a trainer.

His charge WBA super-bantamweight Zhanat Zhakiyanov takes on Belfast’s IBF 122lbs champion Ryan Burnett at the famous SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

As fate would have it ahead of this weekend, Hatton’s fighter goes up against a fighter that he once trained himself.

Prior to Ryan Burnett training with Adam Booth of the UK and becoming world champion he once was a Hatton trained fighter.

Whether this gives Hatton and his fighter a tactical edge in terms of inside knowledge ahead of Saturday night remains to be seen.

Speaking ahead of the fight, Hatton has warned Burnett that he is in big trouble when the first bell goes but mentioned firstly there are no hard feelings:

“I wasn’t the trainer I am today. I understand why he left. There are no hard feelings. The Ricky Hatton of today is in a miles better place than the Ricky Hatton back then.”

He added:

“Ryan hasn’t fought anyone as good as who Zhanat has been in with. He’s beat Karim Guerfi for the European who is a very, very good fighter – potential World class. Rau’shee Warren is an absolutely outstanding fighter. As good as Lee Haskins and Ryan Farrag are, they aren’t big power houses who can pack a huge punch.”