Former WBC cruiserweight ruler Tony Bellew has predicted how a fight between former super-lightweight world champions Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton would go, if they were to collide in their primes.

Khan picked up the WBA super-lightweight crown when he outpointed Andreas Kotelnik in 2009 and went on to unify the titles by knocking out IBF titleholder Zab Judah, before a split-decision defeat to Lamont Peterson looked to have ended his reign in December 2011.

He was then reinstated as the WBA world champion due to Peterson failing a drug test, only to lose the belt in a knockout defeat to Danny Garcia the following year, never again returning to the throne.

Meanwhile, Ricky Hatton famously stopped Kostya Tszyu to claim the IBF super-lightweight marble back in 2005 and then knocked out Carlos Maussa to add the WBA strap to his collection.

The Mancunian icon then vacated his title in favour of a move up to the welterweight scene, where he trumped WBA champion Luis Collazo. He then regained the IBF super-lightweight title and vacated it again, moving up to 147lbs for a second time.

There, in his 44th professional bout, Hatton suffered a first career defeat as Floyd Mayweather ended his impressive win streak, with Hatton never recapturing another major world title.

On the Fight Your Corner Podcast, Bellew predicted that ‘The Hitman’ would have come from behind and halted Khan late.

“Amir is so fast, like Ricky’s face would be a mess. When Ricky finally gets to Amir, he would have been beaten to a pulp, I think.

“I think that he would be behind on points, but I think Ricky comes from behind to get rid of him.”

Despite Bellew’s view, the friendship between Khan and Hatton – and their timelines – meant that the clash never happened.

Sadly, Hatton passed away last September. He will always be remembered not only as one of Britain’s greatest ever boxers, but also as one of the most beloved figures the sport has ever known.