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RICKY Hatton is aiming to move back down to the light-welterweight division - unless a showdown with Floyd Mayweather appears on the horizon.
The new World Boxing Association welterweight king says that Saturday night's close-run victory over Luis Collazo in Boston has convinced him that 10 stones is his natural division.
Now he is seeking a clash with the winner of the WBC lightweight clash between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas on June 3. Both men would be willing to move up five pounds for a lucrative pay-day against the Hyde Hitman.
That fight would be Hatton's first choice, although Castillo is already pencilled in to face Miguel Cotto for the WBO light- welterweight title in November.
"I would like to fight the winner of Corrales v Castillo," Hatton told M.E.N. Sport after arriving back at Manchester Airport. "Unless it is worth my while, I would like to campaign at light-welterweight now.
"I felt stronger at welter, but because I am a natural light-welter I am giving the opponent a head-start."
A clash with the winner of the clash between Mexican Castillo and American Corrales would be box-office attraction in the States.
Both men made a big reputation with an explosive bust-up a year ago, which Corrales won in the 10th - only for Castillo to KO his opponent in a re-match five months later.
But another option would be for Hatton to fight in England for the second of his three-fight deal with the American sports channel HBO - with a mandatory defence against German fighter Oktay Urkal and even a showdown with domestic rival Junior Witter being mentioned.
Decision
"I am sure I will be back in the States soon, but if they want me to have a mandatory over here it would be no problem whatsoever," said Hatton.
Hatton says the Collazo fight, when he was given the decision by all three judges, was the hardest of his career.
He said: "I am not saying I won't fight at welterweight again, because I have to keep my options open and have just won a world title at that weight, but light-welter is my division."
Hatton's camp had misgivings about Collazo from the off-set. In fact, they turned him down as an opponent once, as trainer Billy Graham felt the New Yorker's slick, spoiling southpaw style would be a poor choice for his man's American championship debut. But a succession of misfortunes meant it was Collazo or no fight, and Hatton is always willing to fight anyone.
He explained: "Seven weeks ago I was due to fight Juan Lazcano at light-welter, and then it changed and I had to move up to welterweight in seven weeks.
"Normally you need two or three fights to develop into the weight, but I had seven weeks. So I won a world title out of my weight division, which gives me a buzz.
"Collazo will be avoided like the plague from now on - no-one will want to fight him."
Hatton has tired of talk about Witter over the years, although it is a fight British boxing fans would love to see. But the Bradford fighter can land the scrap he says he has been chasing for six years if he beats DeMarcus Corley when they meet for the WBO light-welterweight title in the summer.
The question is whether HBO would accept Witter as an opponent, and the Yorkshireman has done little to impress Stateside audiences so far.
But time is running out for Hatton if he sticks to his vow to be retired by the age of 30.
"I think I will give it three years, at the very outside, and then I will be done," he said. "In that time I want to fight Mayweather, and fight in Vegas and Madison Square Garden - I would be disappointed to retire without that happening."
The new World Boxing Association welterweight king says that Saturday night's close-run victory over Luis Collazo in Boston has convinced him that 10 stones is his natural division.
Now he is seeking a clash with the winner of the WBC lightweight clash between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo in Las Vegas on June 3. Both men would be willing to move up five pounds for a lucrative pay-day against the Hyde Hitman.
That fight would be Hatton's first choice, although Castillo is already pencilled in to face Miguel Cotto for the WBO light- welterweight title in November.
"I would like to fight the winner of Corrales v Castillo," Hatton told M.E.N. Sport after arriving back at Manchester Airport. "Unless it is worth my while, I would like to campaign at light-welterweight now.
"I felt stronger at welter, but because I am a natural light-welter I am giving the opponent a head-start."
A clash with the winner of the clash between Mexican Castillo and American Corrales would be box-office attraction in the States.
Both men made a big reputation with an explosive bust-up a year ago, which Corrales won in the 10th - only for Castillo to KO his opponent in a re-match five months later.
But another option would be for Hatton to fight in England for the second of his three-fight deal with the American sports channel HBO - with a mandatory defence against German fighter Oktay Urkal and even a showdown with domestic rival Junior Witter being mentioned.
Decision
"I am sure I will be back in the States soon, but if they want me to have a mandatory over here it would be no problem whatsoever," said Hatton.
Hatton says the Collazo fight, when he was given the decision by all three judges, was the hardest of his career.
He said: "I am not saying I won't fight at welterweight again, because I have to keep my options open and have just won a world title at that weight, but light-welter is my division."
Hatton's camp had misgivings about Collazo from the off-set. In fact, they turned him down as an opponent once, as trainer Billy Graham felt the New Yorker's slick, spoiling southpaw style would be a poor choice for his man's American championship debut. But a succession of misfortunes meant it was Collazo or no fight, and Hatton is always willing to fight anyone.
He explained: "Seven weeks ago I was due to fight Juan Lazcano at light-welter, and then it changed and I had to move up to welterweight in seven weeks.
"Normally you need two or three fights to develop into the weight, but I had seven weeks. So I won a world title out of my weight division, which gives me a buzz.
"Collazo will be avoided like the plague from now on - no-one will want to fight him."
Hatton has tired of talk about Witter over the years, although it is a fight British boxing fans would love to see. But the Bradford fighter can land the scrap he says he has been chasing for six years if he beats DeMarcus Corley when they meet for the WBO light-welterweight title in the summer.
The question is whether HBO would accept Witter as an opponent, and the Yorkshireman has done little to impress Stateside audiences so far.
But time is running out for Hatton if he sticks to his vow to be retired by the age of 30.
"I think I will give it three years, at the very outside, and then I will be done," he said. "In that time I want to fight Mayweather, and fight in Vegas and Madison Square Garden - I would be disappointed to retire without that happening."
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