BoxRec

RICKY HATTON will keep a close eye on the action when Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto clash in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Hitman is still weighing up whether to box on after his brutal second-round defeat to Pacquiao earlier this year.

But he admits his feet are beginning to itch again — and the prospect of a mouth-watering clash with Cotto could be enough to lure him back into the ring.

Hatton, 31, told SunSport: "If Cotto wins, I don't see any reason why I wouldn't fancy a fight with him.

"I've faced the best pound-for-pound fighters in Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao, so I've never shied away from a challenge.

"If Cotto becomes the pound-for-pound king, I don't see any reason why we couldn't fight."

Despite his brutal knockout at the hands of Pacquiao, Hatton insists he hurt the Filipino during their showdown in Las Vegas.

And he believes Cotto's punching power could be the deciding factor when he puts his WBO welterweight title on the line at the MGM Grand.

Hatton added: "I'd like to think Pacquiao will win as I've got a lot of time for him both as a fighter and as a person.

"But Cotto's strong and powerful and you can't discount him at all.

"I know Pacquiao knocked me down twice in the first round but I came back and he commented that I hurt him before he caught me.

"He said I hurt him twice so Cotto's definitely going to do some damage with his power.

"When you look at it that way, you've to say Cotto is a good bet to win."

Although a bout with Cotto would be hard to turn down, Hatton revealed he has no intention of fighting Amir Khan.

The WBA light-welterweight champion's career is guided by allegedly and Hatton can never see himself working with the promoter again following their acrimonious split a few years ago.

He said: "I can't see a fight with Amir ever happening. He's a friend of mine and he's also promoted by Warren.

"There's history between myself and Warren so I can't see us working together.

"The only way that fight might ever happen is if I promoted it — and that's because I'd like the money to go in mine and Amir's pockets!"

KO-KING wrote:when will hatton realise that hes yesterdays news and no tv company will pay him millions because he is now out of the frame as far as the big fights go and the sooner he realises that the better

stujones wrote:I wouldn't fancy Hatton's chances, but why ridicule him for being dellusional for saying he wouldn't mind it.

He talks alot of sense about the fight.

I wouldn't write off Hatton in securing these fights. There is a depth at Welterweight but its not never ending. If Mayweather and Mosley are busy, and the likihood is they are, then there aren't that many Welter options for Cotto.

Horse wrote:

KO-KING wrote:when will hatton realise that hes yesterdays news and no tv company will pay him millions because he is now out of the frame as far as the big fights go and the sooner he realises that the better

How do you know this?

KO-KING wrote:when will hatton realise that hes yesterdays news and no tv company will pay him millions because he is now out of the frame as far as the big fights go and the sooner he realises that the better

SnoopyLoopy wrote:Cotto would always have given Hatton a severe hiding.

coghaugen11 wrote:He was actually counter-punching Pac very well in the 2nd round, showing that he didn't need to jump in.

Watched it again lastnight.

Random comment, but anyway.

hurlock wrote:hatton is sh1t.

rhino222 wrote:how on earth did hatton hurt pacman... .... did he fall on his foot !! .... DD

BigGar wrote:Take a look at Pac / Hatton again. Looks to me that Hatton appeared to hurt him twice bit take a look at their feet. Pac got hit foot stuck and he trips.

teddy007 wrote:Dellusional.