Boxing: Hatton tempted by Khan showdown

(PA)

Ricky Hatton has given the clearest indication yet that he would be willing to fight Amir Khan, as long as he is able to promote the fight himself.

Hatton has been focusing on promoting since his second-round knock-out against Manny Pacquiao at the Las Vegas MGM Grand in May. Many thought the defeat would spell the end of Hatton's career, and the 30-year-old is still yet to confirm whether he intends to fight on. But retirement seemed to be the furthest thing from his mind as he talked up the possibility of combining his new line of work with a comeback against Khan, the WBA light-welterweight champion.

"If I do decide to make a comeback and he [Khan] is still world champion and he's still at that level, then obviously being a light-welterweight, it is a possibility," Hatton said. "But with the greatest of respect, it would only be if I promoted it. But, yeah, if I choose to fight again and he's still up there – which I certainly hope he is, as a personal friend – then it's a possibility."

Doubts remain over the eagerness of Khan, who on Saturday reaffirmed his desire to fight in the United States as soon as possible.

But even if a "Battle of Britain" does not materialise, the signs are clear that Hatton, who formed Hatton Promotions in January, feels that he still has something to offer as a fighter.

"I'm not making any decision [yet]. One day I might just wake up in the morning and think, 'Let's give it another go,'" he said.

"At the moment I'm busy with the promoting, enjoying what I'm doing working with all these former champions and prospects I've got coming up. But us boxers – it doesn't take us long to get itchy feet again."