By William Mackay: WBA Super World light welterweight champion Amir Khan (25-1, 17 KO’s) wants to make the same kind of impact that former two division world champion Ricky Hatton briefly did in the United States when he fought there in fights against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Luis Collazo, Paulie Malignaggi, Juan Urango and Jose Luis Castillo during the last three years of Hatton’s career. Khan wants to make it big like Hatton.

However, Khan probably would like to have longer term success than Hatton, because Ricky only had six fights in the United States and lost two of them by knockout. In contrast, Khan has fought only twice in the U.S against Malignaggi and Marcos Maidana. Khan looked good in the Malignaggi fight against a weak puncher, but then fought poorly in the Maidana fight and was almost knocked out in a fight that Khan did a lot of running and holding.

Khan said this to Sky Sports News about Hatton: “He came to American and I’m here trying to fill his boots. It’s great to have someone like him to look up to because he’s a great champion.”

I wouldn’t go so far as to describe Hatton as great. He was knocked out by the best fighters he fought during his career, and struggled to beat Lazcano. I’d say Hatton was one of the better fighters during a weak period in the light welterweight division. He’d have problems if he were fighting at that weight now, although not against Khan. I think Hatton would have destroyed Khan during his prime.

Khan’s time as a champion will last only as long as he avoids big punchers. Once he gets back in with Breidis Prescott or takes on Maidana in a rematch, I see Khan getting knocked out. He’s still good a fighter when taking on fighters that doesn’t have much power. He beats those guys all night long, but big punchers are Khan’s problems and why ultimately he’s going to have difficulties during his career.

Khan faces IBF light welterweight champion Zab Judah on July 23 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Khan sees this as a fight he’s going to win and then he wants to either go after Floyd Mayweather jr. in his next fight or take on a couple of guys and then move on a fight against Mayweather next year.