Ricky Hatton has been warned to be ready for a war when he takes on Ben Tackie at the MEN Arena in Manchester on December 13.

Hatton will defend his WBU light-welterweight title for the 11th time against the tough-as-teak Ghanaian.

And the 27-year-old challenger intends to make sure his undefeated opponent has his hardest test to date.

Tackie has never been stopped or dropped in his 28-fight career, not even by the undisputed 140lb king Kostya Tszyu or former WBA champion Sharmba Mitchell in two points defeats.

He said: “I am grateful to Ricky for giving me the opportunity to fight him for his title.

“No-one else wanted to fight me and I respect him for taking me on. He is the man at the moment and if I beat him then I will be the man. We will see who is best on the night.”

Tackie hails from the legendary fighting district of Bukom in Ghana’s capital of Accra, which has previously thrown up great champions like Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey and Alfred Kotey.

He added: “I am so intent on winning I am literally starving to become champion. I have had to fight to survive all my life.

“Like most youngsters in Bukom I worked on a fishing boat with my younger brother and cousins. After a day at work my mother and grandmother would makes us fight each other for our dinner.

“The winner got the largest servings and the losers got the smallest. When you fight for survival like that there isn’t anybody who can beat you.

“We used to sleep on the streets with only cardboard to lie on and my mother used to fight for her territory. In some areas of Bukom just to cross the street you have to have a fight.

“We are a family of warriors and Ricky has never faced anyone like me before who is fearless and relentless.

“When I fight Ricky it will be more than just a fight. I will be defending the honour of my family, country and tribe.

“Everyone in Ghana will be listening on the radio if they cannot get near a TV.”