RICKY Hatton still has his sights set on the world's top-rated boxer Floyd Mayweather, even if it means moving back up to welterweight.
The Hitman fights Juan Urango on January 13 in a bid to regain his old IBF light-welterweight title, but he says that his eyes are no longer fixed on the array of world title belts, but on the pound-for-pound rankings.
And unbeaten Mayweather sits proudly at the top of that particular pile, with Hatton ranked in seventh place. The man one place above Manchester star Hatton is Jose Luis Castillo - and he is next in the firing line for Hatton next summer, if he comes through against Urango.
In his new autobiography, `The Hitman', Hatton is confident he will still face Mayweather, in what would be a é10m mega-fight.
"I know that fight will happen one day and I hope as many fans as possible can make it for what will be a memorable night," said Hatton in the book.
The boxing world has held its breath about a classic showdown between the flash, fast Mayweather and rugged pressure fighter Hatton ever since the `Pretty Boy' Floyd moved up to the 10st limit and Hatton shocked the States by pummelling the great Kostya Tszyu to an unexpected defeat in 2005.
Touted
But the chances of it happening appear to have receded, with Mayweather again moving up a division to become the world's top welterweight and being touted for big-dollar fights with Antonio Margarito or even Oscar de la Hoya.
Hatton moved up to the 10st 7lbs limit at short notice against Luis Collazo and almost got his fingers burnt and vowed to remain at 10st. The exception to that rule would be if a fight with Mayweather came along.
That fight ensure the financial future for Hatton and his family and cement his place in boxing history.
Said Hatton: "I suppose the obvious step forward for me after Tszyu was to go for the fighter who has now become recognised as the best pound for pound operator in the world. Although Mayweather is massively talented, I don't think he's been really tested by someone like me.
"People say to me `I think Mayweather would give you a licking' and my reaction is `that's your opinion, mate, not mine'.
"To be able to beat me you have got to have some serious firepower to keep me off and, no matter how much talent he has got, I don't think Floyd could do that.
"Tszyu couldn't, and there is no way Kostya is a lighter puncher than Mayweather.
"Floyd has got great hand speed and some brilliant combinations, but if anyone can beat him it's me."
The Hitman is published by Ebury Press, priced é17.99.
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to be quite honest i don,t hold much hope of rick ever meeting floyd ,cos first he has to beat urango a young hungry fighter with a big punch if he comes through that one ok ,then he will be facing castillo who is a different kettle of fish entirely castillo has had more ko,s than rick has had fights (47) and will be a very hard nut to crack believe me ,so instead of delving into the realms of fantasy lets just see how rick performs in his next 2 fights and take it from there
i just wish sometimes that ricky would stop using kostya tszyu as a yardstick for his talents ,kostya was 2 months short of his 36th birthday had had not fought for more than 2 years or so ,he was lured of of virtual retirement by the promise of one big last payday by frank warren and as happened so many times in the past was found wanting ,remember pedrosa vs mcguigan ,stracey vs napoles,the immortal suger ray robinson vs paul pender, the sport of boxing is littered with the bones of once great fighters who fought one fight too many , so lets get things in the right perspective before talking about taking on what many good judges think is the best fighter pound for pound in the world today ,,i,ve no axe to grind with rick at all infact i think he,s a credit to the sport inside and outside the ring ,and i can only wish him all the best for his upcoming fight with urango in jan .