Thursday 23 April 2015 10:27, UK
Former world champion Ricky Hatton has backed Amir Khan to topple Floyd Mayweather should the British fighter ever get the chance to take on the unbeaten American.
Khan has been trying to secure a clash with Mayweather for the last few years but all to no avail.
Mayweather, who has won all 47 of his professional bouts to date, will next step into the ring on May 2 when he takes on Manny Pacquiao in one of the most anticipated bouts in boxing history.
Hatton thinks Mayweather, 38, will come out on top when the duo clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena next month but the former world welterweight and light-welterweight champion believes Khan could cause problems for the ‘Pretty Boy’ from Michigan.
Hatton said: "I think Floyd would run a mile from Amir Khan not because of a fear factor, but because styles make fights.
"Amir is boxing with a lot more discipline lately. He's in and out and he's not getting involved. I think that type of style will cause Floyd massive problems.
"But, when you're the best, pound-for-pound, like Floyd Mayweather – and Amir's as big a name as is out there, and he's beaten pretty much everyone – he might be forced to fight Amir Khan.
"He might be running out of opponents. I say this all the time, and everybody laughs at me: I think he's got a good chance of beating him."
As for the Mayweather-Pacquiao clash, which will unify three world welterweight titles, Hatton added: "Although I think Manny's got the style to beat him, I'm still going to go with Mayweather.
"He always finds a way to win. He's a very, very clever fighter, Manny, but you'd have to say the cleverest fighter in boxing is Mayweather."
Book Mayweather v Pacquiao, Sky Sports Box Office, May 2, via your phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote from April 25. skysports.com/maypac
