By Chris LaBate
Former world champion Ricky Hatton believes WBA/IBF 140-pound champion Amir Khan is capable of beating Floyd Mayweather Jr. Back in 2007, Hatton was stopped and lost his unbeaten record against Mayweather in the tenth round of their Las Vegas clash. Hatton, speaking with talkSPORT, gives Khan a good shot of pulling off a major upset. Mayweather returns on September 17th against WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz.
When comparing his own ring abilities, Hatton admits that Khan's style of fighting is better suited to defeat Mayweather.
“A few years ago you wouldn’t have mentioned Amir Khan in the same breath as Floyd Mayweather but his performances now certainly warrant it. Floyd Mayweather is an exceptional talent – but Amir Khan is getting better and better and better with every single fight," said Hatton.
"It makes me feel proud to call him a friend. He’s starting to fly the flag similar to what I did all them years ago. A few years ago you wouldn’t have mentioned Amir Khan in the same breath as Floyd Mayweather but his performances now certainly warrant it.
"Floyd Mayweather is an absolute unbelievable talent but Amir’s getting better and Floyd's getting older so it’s not beyond the realms of impossibility. He's an exceptional talent but Amir's doing everything in order to get that fight and I’d like to see Amir with a chance. My style was a little made for Floyd because I’m hundred miles an hour. I fight like I've had Red Bull on my cornflakes but Amir Khan is a little bit more patient and his style might be more suited to Mayweather."