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Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan expects a fiery, high quality contest when Ricky Hatton defends his IBO light-welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night.
The 22-year-old Briton is perhaps better placed than most to judge the showdown as a compatriot and friend of Hatton and a stable mate of Pacquiao.
Khan finds the outcome too tough to call, and, like most people in Las Vegas, just cannot wait to see what happens when the two contrasting styles collide.
"It's a 50-50 fight," Khan said. "It's going to be hard because you've got Ricky Hatton who can punch hard and Pacquiao who is very quick.
"Ricky Hatton has always fought guys who run away from him so I think he can cut the ring and get him on the ropes, whereas Manny Pacquiao has always fought guys who come to him and who want to fight him so it's going to be a 50-50 fight we just have to see who wins.
"This fight is going to be explosive. You've got two great fighters at the peak and the prime of their career.
"I think it's going to be all about who can get who first, who settles down in the fight quicker and the best man is going to win."
Pain game
Khan disagrees, however, with his trainer Freddie Roach's forecast, that former four-division world champion Pacquiao would beat Hatton in three rounds.
"I think he's probably just saying three rounds as a mess-around," said Khan (21-1-0), who has fought mainly in the lightweight division.
"If there is going to be a stoppage from either fighter, I think it will be in the later rounds. It won't be early.
"This fight is going to be explosive and if it does go to 12 rounds, both fighters are going to be in pain the next day. I know that for a fact."
Although Hatton has established a reputation for being a brawler more than a boxer, Khan believes the Briton has become much more astute in the ring since linking up with trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr last year.
"I think Ricky has improved in that area," Khan said. "He is thinking more about what he throws and he's a pressure fighter. He has improved big-time on that."
SOURCE:SkySports
The 22-year-old Briton is perhaps better placed than most to judge the showdown as a compatriot and friend of Hatton and a stable mate of Pacquiao.
Khan finds the outcome too tough to call, and, like most people in Las Vegas, just cannot wait to see what happens when the two contrasting styles collide.
"It's a 50-50 fight," Khan said. "It's going to be hard because you've got Ricky Hatton who can punch hard and Pacquiao who is very quick.
"Ricky Hatton has always fought guys who run away from him so I think he can cut the ring and get him on the ropes, whereas Manny Pacquiao has always fought guys who come to him and who want to fight him so it's going to be a 50-50 fight we just have to see who wins.
"This fight is going to be explosive. You've got two great fighters at the peak and the prime of their career.
"I think it's going to be all about who can get who first, who settles down in the fight quicker and the best man is going to win."
Pain game
Khan disagrees, however, with his trainer Freddie Roach's forecast, that former four-division world champion Pacquiao would beat Hatton in three rounds.
"I think he's probably just saying three rounds as a mess-around," said Khan (21-1-0), who has fought mainly in the lightweight division.
"If there is going to be a stoppage from either fighter, I think it will be in the later rounds. It won't be early.
"This fight is going to be explosive and if it does go to 12 rounds, both fighters are going to be in pain the next day. I know that for a fact."
Although Hatton has established a reputation for being a brawler more than a boxer, Khan believes the Briton has become much more astute in the ring since linking up with trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr last year.
"I think Ricky has improved in that area," Khan said. "He is thinking more about what he throws and he's a pressure fighter. He has improved big-time on that."
SOURCE:SkySports
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