Hatton's heroics have Khan dreaming of glory

Amir Khan today revealed how watching Ricky Hatton deliver one of the greatest displays by a British boxer has given him new motivation to become a world champion.

Khan was ringside at Manchester's MEN Arena on Sunday morning to see Hatton force Kostya Tszyu, the IBF light-welterweight title-holder, to retire just before the 12th round.

The Olympic silver medallist found himself caught up in the emotion of the moment and joined in as a sell-out crowd of 22,000 chanted Hatton's name.

"Now I want a piece of that," said Khan as he prepared for a professional debut in Bolton on 16 July. "I want to be a world champion just like Ricky, and I want to do it just like Ricky. He boxed brilliantly and I can learn so much from the way he went about the fight."

Khan's career mirrors that of Hatton. Both men were successful as amateurs, Khan will fight as a paid boxer for the first time at 18, the same age as Hatton when he made his pro debut, and they both train in Manchester, albeit in the company of rival trainers.

Khan insists he will offer the same commitment to training that enabled Hatton to outlast Tszyu. He said: "Ricky's fitness was brilliant, he was strong and he kept his composure. That was down to his training and his confidence. He didn't give Tszyu a break.