Ricky Hatton has backed Amir Khan's claims that he deserves a fight with undefeated triple-welterweight world champion Floyd Mayweather.
Khan claimed a unanimous points victory over Chris Algieri in New York on Friday and asserted afterwards that he was fully focused on securing a bout with 38-year-old Mayweather.
The American is set to fight once more before retirement - having won through in a much-anticipated bout against Manny Pacquiao earlier this month - and former two-weight world champion Hatton backed Khan to cause Mayweather problems.
Asked whether Khan deserved a shot at Mayweather, Hatton told Perform: "Very much so. When you look at the fighters out there who could fight Mayweather I think Amir is one of the best out there.
"He's beaten practically everyone. Maybe Danny Garcia [is another option], but then you're struggling so Amir deserves it. He's moved to welterweight and has had two wins against former world champions [Luis Collazo and Devon Alexander].
"After another good win against Algieri, he's paid his dues. When you look at who's next to face Mayweather, he's got to be in with a shout."
Hatton - beaten by Pacquiao and Mayweather during his illustrious career - feels Khan could have the perfect style to inflict a first career defeat on the five-division world champion.
"They're very similiar fighters who both like to box on the back foot," Hatton added.
"I don't think it would be an exciting clash of styles but I do think Khan has the style to possibly beat Floyd.
"People like to try and put the pressure on Floyd and he likes to just sit back and defend and do what he does best. I just wonder if the style to beat him is someone going on the back foot, where he has to cut the ring down for a change.
"Mayweather can sometimes make fights boring, he's very good technically and defensively like in the Pacquiao fight. It was brilliant but it wasn't exciting.
"I don't think Amir would want to get stuck into Floyd, he'd rather box him so it wouldn't make for a good fight I don't think."