BOXING promoter Frank Warren has shelved the idea that Ricky Hatton could fight world champion Amir Khan. The Bolton man made a spectacular defence of his WBA light-welterweight world title when he knocked out Dmitriy Salita in just 76 seconds in Newcastle last month. But fight promoter Warren ruled out any chance of a match-up with Hatton insisting ‘The Hitman’ should not box anymore. Warren said: “I don’t feel Ricky Hatton should fight any more. It’s crazy, you’ve only got to look at the size of him. Maybe he could get himself down to the weight, but one thing’s for sure, his reflexes and his legs are gone.
“He’s not the same fighter he was. He won’t be able to get out of the way and I don’t think it’ll be the next fight anyway. For Ricky to be able to fight it would take him about six or seven months to get himself into some shape.”
Warren, who was speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme, also believes it is unlikely Khan would face Manny Pacquiao, who knocked out Hatton in the second round of their fight in Las Vegas in May. Warren said: “They’re professional fighters and maybe a couple of years down the road if Manny Pacquiao’s still around, it may be a fight that takes place.”
But Khan hopes to take on Juan Manuel Marquez this year, a potential opponent for Hatton if he makes a comeback.
Khan has made it no secret of his desire to fight in the US and a bout with the Mexican is probably just what he needs to convince the American public he is a real boxing talent.