Roach: Bring on Hatton

Trainer would be happy to send Khan in against former champion

Last updated: 25th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Roach: Bring on Hatton

Khan with Hatton

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Trainer Freddie Roach has confirmed he is preparing Amir Khan for a title defence against Marcos Maidana.

And the Canadian believes Khan's split from promoter Frank Warren will speed up the chances of the Bolton boxer taking on Ricky Hatton later this year.

The match-up with Maidana has still to be confirmed by Golden Boy Promotions but Roach has been keen to talk up the fight, and the quality of the mandatory challenger.

"Golden Boy has options on Maidana," Roach said, "and we want to build that fight up and make it bigger. Maidana's a good fighter."

As for Khan's move to Golden Boy, he added: "I think it's a very good move. They're good operators and he's happy, so as long as he's happy with it I think it's a good move."

Roach masterminded Hatton's downfall at the hands of Manny Pacquiao last year and subsequently urged the former two-time champion to retire.

Unsurprisingly, it seems he would be quite happy for Khan to fight Hatton, too.

"Ricky asked me if I would train him when I was in the UK the last time and Ricky's a good guy, but I can't say I think he should retire one moment and then train him in the next, so I won't be training Ricky.

"But if he is going to fight again I would like Amir to fight him, yes."

Comments (17)

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Jae Laurent says...

I think there both good fighters and it shall be a good fight if it takes place. The thing is you can't say hatton would destroy kahn even thou alot of people think it, if kahn box's smart keep his distance uses his range and lands them sorta bombs he likes to land then he'll do fine. HOWEVER! and this is a big however, if ricky, being ricky, decides to start pounding that mid section slow him down and bully fight as we all know he loves to do, then to be perfectly honest, kahn will get destroyed. Rickys overly powefull, and them belly shots can really take it out of a fighter, which he as proved many a time. Its all about whos game plan is more rehursed as apposed to whos the better fighter i believe. Personally ide wouldnt like to see either loss (if saying that is possible) Kahn as hes the future, but Ricky as hes not the past but hes the history, the foundation. If i had to pick, Kahn.

Posted 17:00 10th February 2010

Danny Healy says...

being english and a big big boxing fan i would love to see this bout go ahead, but i do think it would be a massive mistake for khan to take this fight. ok, so ricky hatton has lost his unbeaten record and has not looked the old ricky we all love to watch, but remind yourself who he lost to! he will train hard get into shape and tear khan in half, hes too experienced loves a tear up and is too powerful for khan who has speed but limited power, bring it on let ricky hatton smash him and go out on a high and a big payday, hopefully it wont be the end of khan

Posted 09:44 5th February 2010

Johnny Brasco says...

amir khan will rip him apart. have you seen ricky hatton lately, hes a fat pig. how can you call him a boxer.

Posted 10:08 21st January 2010

Dave Lovell says...

I think people are too quick to judge Ricky Hatton. His last loss was plain to see that he wasnt firing on all cylinders and he has been written off. Khan is fast and relitavly powerfull however, Micheal gomez who is a pressure fighter asked a lot of questions and he is not in the same class as hatton. Yes, Khan has improved a lot under freddie roach but if the fight was made this year, I can see Hatton walking through Khan in the first half of the fight.

Posted 09:13 21st January 2010

Paul Jones says...

this would be a big risk for ricky. on paper he'd probably have the edge with his experience. khan though is improving all the time and with roach behind him, who knows hatton's game inside out (lets face it he will never change now) he could give hatton a lot of problems. add to that the fact hatton will be working with a new trainer and the shape he's in at the moment, he should say no to this one.

Posted 09:07 21st January 2010

Sam Gosling says...

I agree, Khan has too much for Hatton. It will be an easy victory for Amir. Hatton will lose his head and go steaming in as usual and get dropped early in the fight, Khan's hands are too quick for Hatton. Hatton needs a slower opponant if he is to have any chance of winning a fight again.

Posted 09:02 21st January 2010

Mohammed Asim says...

I love both Khan and Hatton and love to see that fight and most off all I would love ta see Hit man droppin Khan but fink Khan will be too fast for him now...

Posted 02:56 21st January 2010

Thomas Neill says...

This would be a really good fight if it does happen, but let¿s look at this seriously, Ricky will not be like a washed up Marco Antonio Barrera who does not train , Ricky will probably do has usual 12-14 week training camp and not just up like Barrera did. Freddie is one of the world¿s best trainers, but even he cannot train Khan to beat Ricky. I really do thick Khan will bite off more than he can chew if the fought does go ahead.

Posted 00:45 21st January 2010

Callum .... says...

khan speed against hatton who has speed and alot of power and doesnt mind being hit khan wud crumble being hit so hard and being constantly attacked would be a good fight but if khan wants to build up a run of victories i wudnt fight hatton.

Posted 00:20 21st January 2010

Sticky Fatton says...

Im not sure id like to see this....Hattons loss via KO v Mayweather and then Manny, i think has really taken its toll on Hattons ability to take a punch. He did well VS Malignaggi, but i just think Amir will be too quick and make Hatton look laboured.....he needs to take an easy fight in Manchester for his home fans and then retire! Khan needs to also get past Maidana 1st no easy task!

Posted 23:59 20th January 2010

Jonathan Oleary says...

i would love to see this fight...i think the two english boys would do their country proud as the whole boxing world will tune in to this one if it happens of course but i suspect it will so aslong as the purse is right.the winner??? i still think ricky is the guy to to the job.he needs to learn the harsh lessons of the previous fights but i think he has too much power for kahn.i like ricky,,he's an honest decent ordinary joe who loves what he does and in my opinion is good at what he does..ok he lost a couple but done it in style

Posted 23:54 20th January 2010

Hank Wilson says...

You British fans are the coolest. I wanted to be in Vegas for Hatton/Paq just to hang out with you crazies. If Hatton/Khan were to be at Wimbley I would have to catch a flight, or a boat like my ancestors. If they knew Hatton would be coming a couple hundred years later, I like to think they would have bit the bullet and hailed the crown.

Posted 23:17 20th January 2010

Stephen Stokes says...

Im a Big fan of Hatton I'm looking forward to seeing hatton comeback, If this fight happens couldn't see this going the whole 12 rounds and with Ricky's body punches sooner or later Khan would drop the hands leaving him open for a ko Never under estitmate the hitman

Posted 22:58 20th January 2010

Santa Claus says...

I think the Ricky Hatton story is going from sad to tragic. He has been comprehensively battered by two of the hardest guys on the planet. This is humiliation enough for most folk! Even he is not stupid enough to take on another opponent in that league so if he defeats a lesser opponent it can only be to increase his bank balance. His legacy has already gone down the toilet! If he takes another battering then shame on all the people who handle him.

Posted 22:54 20th January 2010

Benny B says...

All these khan fans seem to forget that whilst Hatton has lost only to the two best pound for pound boxers in the world, he was sparked clean out by a nobody. Khan hasn't the class, heart or chin to beat Hatton.

Posted 22:33 20th January 2010

Jamie Macdonald says...

Please don't do it Ricky. Roach has the beating of Hatton tactically down to a T. Khan has the accuracy and hand speed to execute the game plan. I like both fighters, but have no desire to see a changing of the guard with Ricky out on his back somewhere like Wembley. It'd be no way to end a great career. Khan should look to unify with Bradley or Alexander if he stays on track after the Maidana bout.

Posted 22:07 20th January 2010

Tom Bolden says...

Id like to see this. It would be a good fight but i see Khan being the victor. Be a good fight but i think Hatton is past it and wont be able to keep with Khans speed.

Posted 21:24 20th January 2010
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