LAS VEGAS -- England's Ricky Hatton figures if he cannot beat Paulie Malignaggi in their junior welterweight fight here Saturday, he might as well hang up his gloves.But Hatton also says that if he does down the American for the lightly regarded International Boxing Organization crown, he should have a chance to fight the winner of next month's Manny Pacquiao-Oscar de la Hoya showdown. "With the performance I expect to put on, I will be well and truly worthy of a fight with Oscar de la Hoya or Manny Pacquiao," Hatton said. "I would love to fight the winner. "I would like to think I'd be in the shop window. How much more I would be in the shop window will depend on how I do Saturday." If the "Hitman" cannot handle Malignaggi, 25-1 with five knockouts, it could be time for him to retire. "If I don't beat Paulie Malignaggi, it's something I should look at," Hatton said. "In my heart I know I should beat him." Hatton carries a 44-1 record with 31 knockouts into the same city where he suffered his only loss, coming last year to Floyd Mayweather Jnr in a showdown bout that was rocking with thousands of supporters in town from Europe. "I expect them to come in droves again," Hatton said. "For 10,000 fans to come halfway around the world with the other fights coming up and the credit crunch, they are the best fans in the world. It makes me feel very proud." Hatton hopes that unlike last time, the US anthem will not be booed when played before the fight as traditional at US sports events. "It's an English soccer thing," Hatton said. "I don't think that did me any favors on the night and this time I think fans will respect it." Hatton is in his first fight under new trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr after splitting with Billy Graham, his trainer for 11 years, back in July. Hatton credits Mayweather with adding "method to his madness". "Some people think my best fights are behind me," Hatton said. "That's certainly not the case." Malignaggi has felt no pain from a broken right hand suffered in a prior fight and is confident he can defeat Hatton. "I'm more than ready for the fight. Feeling sharp. Feeling good. Feeling confident," he said. "Ricky Hatton has absolutely no sense of anticipation about what's coming his way. Teach him all you want. Defensively he's horrible. I'm going to be the best Paulie Malignaggi possible. It's more than Ricky Hatton can handle. "The basic plan is to beat his ass." Malignaggi could help his own future fight plans by downing his highest-profile foe. "He wanted the prom queen but he had to get past all the ugly girls first," Malignaggi trainer Buddy McGirt said. "He's finally got the prom queen. Now he has to take her home and take care of business." | 
