Ricky Hatton has called on Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather to fight each other to see who the better boxer is.
The 33-year-old Pacquiao and Mayweather, 35, have failed several times to set up a fight.
Pacquiao, from the Philippines, is regarded by many as the best boxer, pound-for-pound, in the world. Mayweather, an American, is undefeated.
"If you want to be the best then you fight the best. Those two should fight each other," Hatton, 33, said in Hong Kong on Thursday.
The Briton, a former “world” champion, said, "I was never shy of wanting to fight the best and I refuse to believe that Pacquiao and Mayweather are avoiding each other.
“If they are, they are not the champions I thought they were," Hatton, now a promoter, added.
"One thing I wanted to do from day one was fight the best," said Hatton whose only professional defeats were against Pacquiao and Mayweather.
The former welterweight and light-welterweight champion lost to Mayweather when he was knocked out in the tenth round in Los Angeles in December 2007 and was knocked out in the second by Pacquiao almost two years later.
"I know first-hand how good they actually are," he said, "Floyd Mayweather was the best in my career and I wanted to fight him."
Hatton insisted the two should fight soon while both are at their. "You don't know what's going on in their minds but it's an obvious decision. I would just say, '50-50, let's fight each other.'
"They ought to fight each other now while they are at their prime. There's no point in saying when they are 38, 'We'll get it on now.' We want to see who is best while they are both at their best."
In February, Pacquiao described as "embarrassing" an offer by Mayweather to give the Philippine star a $40 million lump-sum payment if Pacquiao agreed to let the American keep the pay-per-view television earnings.
Mayweather is scheduled to meet Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas next month for Cotto’s WBA super-welterweight title. Pacquiao is set to fight unbeaten American Timothy Bradley on June 9.
Pacquiao, who has won 54, lost 3 and drawn two of his fights, will defend his WBO welterweight title against Bradley.
