Tony Bellew Backs Prime Ricky Hatton to Stop Amir Khan Late

Tony Bellew has thrown his hat into one of British boxing's great what-ifs, and he's siding with Ricky Hatton. Speaking on the Fight Your Corner Podcast, the former WBC cruiserweight champion imagined prime versions of Hatton and Amir Khan sharing a ring at super-lightweight — and predicted The Hitman would come from behind to stop Khan late.

Bellew's read is a brutal one. He figures Khan's speed would carve Hatton up early, leaving the Mancunian's face a mess and behind on the cards. But once Hatton finally closed the distance, Bellew thinks the pressure would break Khan down for a late finish. It's a plausible script for two men who both won and lost belts at 140lbs.

The Résumés Behind the Fantasy

Khan announced himself at world level in 2009, outpointing Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA super-lightweight strap before unifying with a knockout of IBF champ Zab Judah. His reign wobbled with a split-decision loss to Lamont Peterson in December 2011, then briefly resumed when Peterson failed a drug test — only for Danny Garcia to knock him out in 2012. He never held a major 140 title again.

Hatton's ledger at the weight is the stuff of legend. He stopped the fearsome Kostya Tszyu in 2005, added the WBA belt against Carlos Maussa, then bounced between 140 and welterweight, beating Luis Collazo and reclaiming the IBF strap along the way. The wheels only came off in his 44th pro bout, when Floyd Mayweather ended his unbeaten run — and Hatton never lifted a major world title again.

The catch, as always with dream fights, is that this one was never realistic. Khan and Hatton were friends, and their timelines didn't line up for a genuine prime-versus-prime clash. Bellew's verdict is affection dressed as analysis, but it's hard to argue against the idea that Hatton's relentless body work would eventually tell.

Hatton passed away in September 2025, and tributes have poured in for one of the most beloved figures the sport has produced. Bellew's pick keeps his legacy alive in the way British fight fans love best — arguing over a fight that lived only in the imagination.