You are in > manchester.com  > News > Hatton could fight Mayweather

Boxing

Hatton could fight Mayweather

01/05/2006

Ricky Hatton's promoters insist he can secure a fight with boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather if he wins the WBA welterweight title this month.

The "Hitman" is stepping up a division from light welterweight to challenge Luiz Collazo in Boston, USA, on May 13th.

The Manchester fighter has the aim of meeting IBF champion Mayweather if he can win his first fight at the new weight.

Hatton's co-promoter Robert Waterman said: "Mayweather is the prime target and why Ricky is fighting at welter."

Hatton has given up his IBF light welterweight title to fight Collazo rather than mandatory challenger Naoufel Ben Rabah.

The 27-year-old still holds the WBA light welterweight belt but is eager to cement his place as a modern great by becoming a two-weight champion.

That would thrust him further towards a future showdown with Mayweather, who Hatton himself admits is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Dennis Hobson, Hatton's Fight Academy co-promoter, added: "A good win against Collazo will be a tremendous achievement in itself.

"Mayweather has been talking about an Oscar de la Hoya fight in September but even if that happens there is no reason Ricky couldn't fight Mayweather around Christmas time."

Hatton would become the first British fighter ever to beat three world champions in consecutive fights if he beats Collazo.

The unbeaten fighter will fly out to Boston on Saturday for a week's acclimatisation before meeting his 24-year-old opponent a week later.

The American southpaw, who has won 26 of 27 fights, earned his title last August with an eighth-round TKO of Mexican Miguel Angel Gonzalez in Chicago.

© Adfero Ltd