By Edward Chaykovsky
Promoter and former two division champion Ricky Hatton is giving close friend and countryman Amir Khan, the WBA and International Boxing Federation light-welterweight champion, a very good shot at beating WBC welterweight titleholder Floyd Mayweather Jr. Hatton suffered his first professional loss to Mayweather by tenth round TKO in 2007. Hatton says the loss was an issue of 'styles make fights,' and he feels Khan has the style to give Mayweather problems.
Khan defends his titles against mandatory challenger Lamont Peterson on December 10th, while Mayweather has already reserved the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for a planned HBO pay-per-view fight on May 5th.
“You really have to marvel at how much Amir has come on since he lost to Breidis Prescott three years ago. He has become a formidable boxer. Amir has that in-out style which could give [Floyd] Mayweather problems," Hatton told The Daily Telegraph. “Floyd likes fighters coming straight at him and Amir has the style to challenge Floyd. I’m not saying he would beat Floyd but I think he has a good chance. I’m a huge fan of Amir and how much hard work he has put into his career to get to the top of the sport."
