As the rumours continue to roll off the mill regarding the potential of Floyd Mayweather meeting Conor McGregor for a second time, and this time under the rules of MMA, the boxing world prepares to have to go through the hype all over again.

It was without doubt the most controversial fight of last year, and potentially one of the most controversial of all time (not to mention the richest!), and it’s safe to say a fair few close to boxing weren’t happy the fight took place at all.

Former world champion Ricky Hatton, who fought Mayweather in his prime back in 2007, was certainly one who didn’t buy into the hype for their first boxing encounter.

In an interview, the Manchester boxing legend was asked if the sport of boxing was in good health, and he didn’t pull any punches by saying: "I think the McGregor vs Mayweather fight didn’t do us any favours.

"The fact they’re thinking of doing it again in the f****** Octagon as well now, it just f****** makes me furious."

Hatton didn’t stop there either and launched into a stinging attack on the behaviour of current day fighters.

"Now it’s like ‘well, you’ve not made the weight so we’re not fighting for the title. You can do it at the catchweight.’ What the f*** are you doing it for if you’re not fighting for the title?

"Stuff like that winds me up.

"You want to go into it to be the best and sometimes the catch weights and this and that, it’s rubbishing the sport I love."

As for Mayweather, it still seems unlikely that he would risk tarnishing his fighting legacy by attempting to fight in a more brutal and complex sport, and throw into the mix that this seems a golden opportunity for McGregor to get revenge.

Then again, this is a man who referred to himself as ‘Money Mayweather,’ and they’ll be many punters who’ll be prepared to shell out to see how the greatest of all time gets on in the Octagon.