And the man who rates the unbeaten boxer from Manchester so highly should know what he is talking about.

Former IBF lightweight champion Freddie Pendleton was on the end of Hatton's trademark body attacks on Saturday night.

He lasted just five minutes, 40 seconds in a bruising encounter and he believes Hatton is ready to take on Kostya Tszyu or Zab Judah.

The two boxers, who are the WBC and WBA and IBF champions have a unification fight on Saturday.

Hatton, who feels he is four fights away from being the finished article, will be ringside.

But Pendleton said he believed Hatton was good enough already to be fighting either man.

He said: "Tszyu or Judah? Of course he can take care of these guys as far as I'm concerned, either one of them.

Impressive

"Hatton looked great, he did everything he had to do. He's a strong fighter and throws a thousand punches.

"I wasn't all there, fighting at 140lb is too light - but even if I'd been 100% it would have been a hell of a fight because this kid is just plain good.

"He did exactly what he was supposed to do."

Hatton needed to be impressive before the cameras of American network Showtime, and the Manchester City fan did everything just about right.

He displayed hand speed, economy of punch and self-belief against an opponent who was expected to pose a few problems.

"Freddie is 38 and the question was `How much has he got left?'

"But one of the first things you lose is your punch, and I expected him to be at his sharpest in the early rounds," said Hatton.

"To get him out of there in two rounds was very good for me. He said if you can do that to me, you can do that to anybody, and that is a big compliment.

But Hatton remains patient. He said he was a year away from facing the men rated the best light welterweights in the world.

"In 12 months time I'll be getting in the ring with Tszyu and Judah, I'm creeping up behind them. It probably was my best performance."