Khan Says Hatton Showdown Possible For 147 Debut

By Phil D. Jay

WBA and IBF 140-pound champion Amir ‘King’ Khan has spoken for the first time about a possible clash with former world light-middleweight title challenger Matthew Hatton at 147-pounds in March 2012.

The 24 year-old faces Lamont Peterson in his final bout at light-welterweight on December 10th in Washington, USA and is moving up to the higher weight win or lose, with big plans to meet Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the latter part of next year.

The Bolton-born fighter has expressed his desire to fight at home this coming March and has been linked to a bout with undefeated Sheffield star Kell Brook. Khan’s close ties with Hatton Promotions paint a different picture though and younger Hatton brother Matthew is the firm favourite to meet Khan.

"I want to step up to welterweight after I fight Peterson and there's been a lot of talk about who I might fight first at welterweight," Khan told The Mirror.

"That fight could be against Ricky Hatton's brother Matthew. They've approached us and said they would be happy to take that fight if I move up to 147-pounds. I want a fight like that at 147 before I have the big fights just so I can get a feel for it, so my body can get a feel for it."

Hatton, 30, must first come through his anticipated interim-WBA title bout with Israel El Massoudi later this year and can then look forward to a huge North-West bout with Khan at the MEN Arena in Manchester.

Phil D. Jay covers the boxing scene for worldboxingnews.net