Hatton wouldn't mind welterweight rematch against Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather (gray trunks) has been out of the ring since stopping Ricky Hatton in the 10th round last December. John Iacono/SI

LONDON (AP) -- If Floyd Mayweather Jr. decides to come out of retirement, Ricky Hatton wouldn't mind trying to avenge the only loss of his 11-year career.

Mayweather stepped away from the sport in June after an 18-month stretch in which he beat Oscar De La Hoya and Hatton and made more than $50 million in the ring. Mayweather stopped Hatton in the 10th round last December to win the WBC welterweight title.

"We had a conversation with a third party last night asking whether, if we were approached by the Mayweather team, would a possible rematch be on the cards," Hatton's father, Ray Hatton, said Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) hired Mayweather's estranged father, Floyd Sr., to help him defend his light welterweight title against Paul Malignaggi last month in Las Vegas.

While a rematch with Mayweather is enticing on several levels, so is a bout with Manny Pacquiao, the Philipino icon who battered De La Hoya earlier this month.

"Pacquiao is now regarded as pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world and that's a fight that Ricky would like," Ray Hatton said. "I know all the fans would like to see it as well, because you'll get the excitement."

Bob Arum of promoter Top Rank was with Pacquiao in the Phillipines on Wednesday, helping to celebrate Pacquiao's 30th birthday, and unavailable for comment.

A spokesman for Top Rank said they want Pacquiao to fight again May 2 in Las Vegas. Top Rank also has been told Mayweather and Hatton are both interested in fighting the current pound-for-pound king, but nothing will be finalized until after the holidays.

Gareth Williams, a lawyer who represents Hatton, said the British fighter also has been called out by a number of other potential opponents.

"Every light welterweight in the world wants to fight Hatton," Williams said. "We've also had approaches from people at 130 pounds -- Juan (Manuel) Marquez and Juan Diaz both want to fight him. He is a massive draw and can fight where he wants."

Williams wants Hatton's next opponent to be lined up before the end of the month.

"We're hoping that something can be agreed in principle before the end of the year," Williams said. "What we want to agree in principle is the percentage split of any fight money, be it with Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao.

"The overriding factor will be American TV money. There's never been a big pay-per-view event outside of America. I would stress that Ricky brings as much to the table as either of those two."

Hatton said in October that he had been thinking about a possible rematch with Mayweather.

"I'd like to fight Floyd Jr. again," Hatton said then. "I think he'll come out of retirement after the De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight. Floyd is all about controversy and he'll want to come out and do it."

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