Hatton hoping to even Mayweather score

8:41am Thursday 20th November 2008

Ricky Hatton insists he would rather get knocked out again by Floyd Mayweather than grow old and bitter about failing to secure a rematch with his nemesis.

Hatton meets American Paulie Malignaggi to defend his Ring magazine light-welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, the same venue where he suffered the first defeat of his professional career against Mayweather last December.

Hatton knows a rematch with Mayweather could be on the cards if he defeats Malignaggi in style, saying: "I wouldn't mind another crack at Floyd. I don't want to be an old man moaning in a few years' time about that fight, I'd rather he knock me out another time."

He added: "If I have another cracking performance on Saturday then I will put myself in the shop window for another fight with Floyd.

"I'd like to fight either him, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao or Juan Manuel Marquez. He (Marquez) is one of the best fighters in the world and he has said he would like to move up a weight.

"But I will only be in the firing line for these fights if I put in a big performance on Saturday."

Hordes of Hatton fans have travelled to Vegas to lend their support, and the Manchester fighter has promised not to disappoint them.

"It will be just the usual Ricky Hatton barnstorming fight," Hatton told PA Sport.

"I'm going to be all over him like a rash. I won't be taking any backward steps.

"The day Ricky Hatton fans leave a fight without being entertained is the day I hang up my gloves. That's certainly not what is going to happen on Saturday."