By William Mackay: Ricky Hatton, former IBF light welterweight champion, believes that WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO’s) can soon be at the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound list if he keeps progressing. Khan himself believes that he’ll be at the top of the pound for pound list, and hopes to take on Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley to get to that level.

In an article at morningstaronline.co.uk, Hatton said “Since losing to Breidis Prescott in 2008 he’s turned his career around and more. He’s not sat back on his laurels, he’s gone from strength to strength. If he continues ticking all the boxes and progressing and improving as he is, I don’t think it will be long before he’s on top of that pound-for-pound list. I really do strongly believe that. When you see the story of where Amir’s come from in his career it is a massive success story. He was written off in many ways and how he has rammed it down his critics’ throats by turning his career around is a credit to him.”

Khan recently barely survived a 12 round fight with Marcos Maidana, escaping with a 12 round decision. Khan is incredibly lucky that referee Joe Cortez didn’t stop the fight in the 10th when Khan was staggered by a right hand from Maidana. Khan then spent the remainder of the fight getting pummeled and holding onto one of Maidana’s arms with an arm clamp, but not being penalized for it.

Hatton might want to take another look at the Maidana-Khan fight before he starts making future predictions of greatness for Khan, because if Khan is barely escaping fights against guys like Maidana, it kind of suggests that Khan isn’t really pound-for-pound material.