Jose Mourinho 'equivalent of Floyd Mayweather' & Pep Guardiola a 'nuisance' but who would win boxing fight? Ex-world champion & Man City fan Ricky Hatton discusses manager feud

Former world champion and passionate Manchester City fan Hatton is not convinced that current boss Guardiola would want to lace up a pair of gloves and step into the ring with outspoken Portuguese Mourinho, despite previous differences between the pair.

Both men have never backed down from a challenge and continue to talk a good game, with Mourinho famously billing himself as ‘The Special One’ during his memorable first stint at Chelsea while Guardiola has shattered records with Barcelona and City.

Hatton told Action Network when asked for his take on a potential clash between two born winners: "Pep Guardiola looks very passionate on the touchline flying in there, here and everywhere and in the changing rooms talking to the boys, he’s also passionate so Pep may be a bit of a dark horse. Pep can be a nuisance. I’ve never met Pep, so I don’t know him personally. But it’s like Eubank vs Benn with Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.

"I remember the one time Jose was sat on the bench talking to his assistant coach and somebody pointed that a Man City player should have a yellow card, so he sprints over to the referee and puts his hands in the air demanding a card. He hadn’t even seen it but what a character he is. I don’t look at Jose as someone who could have a fight though, I think of Sam Allardyce or Sean Dyche, you think they could have it but not with Jose Mourinho scaring anyone. But he is passionate, like Pep."

Hatton added on why Mourinho, despite not being a fighter, remains box office in sporting circles: "Jose Mourinho is the equivalent of Floyd Mayweather, very confident, very arrogant, and says he is the best and the Special One while Floyd calls himself ‘Money’ Mayweather.

"They would get on well having a meal together. It would be interesting. You need characters and that’s what makes sport. We’d be lost without characters in boxing and football, it would not be very entertaining would it."

Mourinho is continuing to make headlines during a spell in charge of Turkish side Fenerbahce, as he takes aim at match officials on a regular basis, while Guardiola is readying a rebuild in Manchester after seeing City surrender their Premier League title in 2024-25.