The now-retired Hatton, who went the distance with Mayweather’s last opponent Saul Alvarez, is hopeful that compatriot Khan gets the nod over the Argentinian for the spring showdown, but just can’t see how the Bolton man runs the pound for pound king close.
“I would prefer Amir Khan to get the fight, after all he does have a win over Maidana,” Hatton told World Boxing News.
“That’s my personal choice as I also think style-wise Khan has a better chance to test Floyd in May. I think that Amir’s speed could pose Floyd a few minor problems early, but don’t think either Amir or Maidana has a realistic chance of beating Floyd.
“That’s no disrespect to either man, but more a testament to Floyd’s fantastic ability. I would even back Floyd to stop either man around the halfway mark,” he added.
The whole saga of whom will earn the right to take home a mammoth paycheck has dragged on and on in recent weeks, even after the conclusion of an official poll held by Mayweather, which Khan claimed a hollow victory in.
Hatton, 32, sees the outcome, which is certain to be made public this month, as something of an anti-climax though – as he is convinced that only a further move up in weight would see any fighter come close to ending the longest unbeaten record in the sport.
“It’s my opinion that there is anybody to touch Mayweather at 147 or 154,” said Hatton. “The only people I could see testing him are physically much bigger men like (middleweight champion) Gennady Golovkin, but why should he give away natural size simply because he is so good?
“I think when Mayweather does hang up the gloves he will be an all-time undefeated great and the likes of Khan and Maidana will just be part of his legacy.”
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