By Mark Vester

Ricky Hatton revealed to the UK Mirror, that he wants three fights in 2007, a January scrap with unbeaten Juan Urango for the IBF junior welterweight in Atlanta, about against Jose Luis Castillo in June, and a showdown with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. before the year is over.

"That's my aim now, to climb the pound-for-pound ratings and be regarded as the No.1 in the world. I'm disappointed I won't fight again this year, but HBO have guaranteed me three fights in 2007. I'm going back down to 10 stone and I don't think anybody can live with me at that weight from a physical strength point of view. First up is Urango and my old IBF belt. That's no foregone conclusion and he's a southpaw, who's like a mini-Mike Tyson. But I expect to win and should I win, then I'll make my first defence against Castillo. He's above me in the pound-for-pound ratings so that would boost me if I could beat him," said Hatton.

If all goes as planned, the road forward is against Mayweather.

"Then the obvious step forward for me will be Mayweather, who is recognised as the best operator in the world pound for pound. Although I accept that Mayweather is massively talented, he's never been tested by someone like me," he said.

Hatton does not think Mayweather is able to beat him because of the lack of firepower. Hatton admits that it would take a very stong fighter to keep him off, and he feels that Mayweather does not have the physical strength to make that possible.

"If he's going to beat me, he's got to have some serious firepower to keep me off and I don't think he could do that for all his talent. Mayweather wouldn't like my body shots, no-one in the world does, and they are what I would have to bring into play," Hatton said. "He's got some great hand speed and some brilliant combinations, but I stand by my belief that if anyone can beat him, it's me."

After beating Mayweather, Hatton hopes to achieve his dream of becoming the number one pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

"He may be ranked by all the best judges as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, but when I beat him they will have to think again. Maybe it will be the Hitman at the top of the pile!''