Hatton weighs in on De La Hoya vs Pacquiao fight

Briton Ricky Hatton is eyeing a fight with the winner of tonight's welterweight clash between Oscar De La Hoya and WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

"Oscar said that he would love to come to England," Hatton, the IBO light-welterweight champion, said.

"He's never fought in England and he's said it's something he'd like to do before he hangs his gloves up.

"But Manny Pacquiao could move down and challenge me for my world title if he were to win."

Hatton successfully defended his title with an 11th-round stoppage of American Paulie Malignaggi two weeks ago, in the same Las Vegas ring where Pacquiao and De La Hoya will meet.

It was, Hatton said, probably his best performance since he won the IBF title in 2005.

"I don't want to sound too disrespectful to Paulie but I felt like I hurt him with every punch I threw," he said.

"I think the old Ricky Hatton would have been a little over-eager trying to finish him, but I think it was a pretty composed performance."

Hatton credited new trainer Floyd Mayweather for helping him improve on some of his recent performances after he lost his unbeaten record last December when he was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather Jr in a bout for the WBC welterweight title.

"He showed me a few things, a bit more head movement, a few more jabs, more feints as I was going in," the Manchester fighter said.