Showtime chief Jay Larkin on whether claims Ricky Hatton was pound-for-pound number one were wrong: "Nonsense! Kostya Tszyu was the undisputed light-welterweight champion of the world coming into this fight. He was stripped of the belts because of politics. He was regarded as the best by everyone in this room but now the number one is sitting right there.”

Hatton on the danger of Tszyu’s power: “The punch Kostya Tszyu had was dangerous all the way through but right from the outset I was dealing with the right hand pretty well, slipping it and closing the gap. When Tszyu boxed Sharmba Mitchell and Zab Judah they gave away too much ground. I knew the right hand was dangerous but I manoeuvred him. I expected to take a few shots like I did but main objective was to take it out of him, sap his strength come on in the later stages. I had plenty in the tank in the last four or five rounds. I felt I had the energy, I felt I could really go for it.”

On not having to fight that last round: “I was just happy to win. It was a hard physical fight. He was very, very strong.”

On how he felt at the moment of victory: “I went back to my corner and Billy Graham said to me I needed the last round to make sure. H e said we need you to do it, have you got it in you do it. I just asked for some water to be poured over my head and then suddenly Billy said he wasn’t coming out for the last. To be honest I nearly shot my bolt! I think Tszyu’s corner did the right thing.”

Promoter Frank Warren: “Ricky is now the man they all to have beat. He is the number one. We’ll go wherever the money is. I was always confident Ricky would win and I spoke to Billy Graham about possible fights in the future because I was that confident. Ricky will have a long rest now - and he deserves – before his next fight. Lots of people are trying to make matches, but we are in the driving seat.”

Larkin on Hatton’s next fight: “I’d like to see Ricky fight Diego Corrales, and I would like to see that fight go ahead in the States,”

Ricky Hatton on whether Tszyu was the best: “He became number one in the world when he beat Zab Judah and he has remained number one because he has been taking apart his mandatories.

On a rematch: “I would fight him again. I have just got to my peak. I’m 26-years-old, I have had 39 fights but I have just reached my peak. I have not had too many competitive ones, I’m a fresh for a man with 39 fights.”

On being asked whether Tszyu was the hardest puncher he had faced: “I don’t want to sound disrespectful but no. Vince Phillips shook me up in the fourth round with an uppercut.”

On the reaction of the crowd: “It’s unbelievable, it makes you so proud. I’m no different to the man in the crowd and I think that is why I get the respect I do. People think Ricky Hatton is one of the lads and I think that is why they are so passionate. The one thing that hurt me was when people said I didn’t want to fight this guy or that guy. I’ll fight absolutely anybody. I have shown that tonight.”

On whether he had cheated by hitting Tszyu low in the ninth: “It’s not a tickling contest. He was whacking me on the back of the head, he was hitting me low, I was hitting him low.”

On whether the punch affected the outcome of the fight: “I hope so!”

On keeping his weight down: I’m going to try and work on that part of the game, I’m making things difficult for myself.”