The burden of being described as Britain's best young prospect has made little difference to Ricky Hatton.

The 23-year-old Mancunian remains one of the most accessible people in the boxing business despite increasing demands on his time.

Expectations about Hatton's potential mean that he is bound to suffer criticism if his performances do not improve.

The light-welterweight was simply sensational in 2001, winning all five of his fights inside of five rounds.

The man in the opposite corner on Saturday, Russian Mikhail Krivolapov, is expected to ask much sterner questions of Hatton than any of his previous 27 victims.

And Hatton told BBC Sport Online that he relished the challenge.

"He's a very good boxer, a very fast puncher with good footwork.

"He's a fair puncher but not a murderous puncher. I'll have to cut the ring down and try catch up with him - it might take me a few more rounds than usual."

It is his ability to punish fighters below the chin and above the waist which has brought Hatton the plaudits so far.

Ferocious fighter

His trainer Billy Graham said that the ferocity of Hatton's attacks to the body had brought gasps when the pair traveled to the famous Kronk Gym in Detroit.

The gym wars at the Kronk are famous in boxing, with legends such as Thomas Hearns having graduated to the higher level only after proving themselves in those confines.

It was also in Detroit that Hatton learnt what it is like to take the sort of punch that he more often lands himself.

"It was a fella called Gilbert Quiros - I only found out I was fighting him four or five days beforehand," Hatton added.

"I knocked him out in two rounds and he wasn't the best fella I fought but he was the biggest puncher."

But taking punishment does not seem faze this young man, whose fights always seem to feature ferocious toe-to-toe action.

Hatton probably does not believe he will find himself on the canvas anytime soon and he believes that there is more to his game than just the body punching.

"I always try and get to the body, no matter what the style of the opposition. But I hit just as hard to the chin," he said.

The fight everyone wants to see is Hatton against WBC, WBA and IBF champion Kostya Tszyu - but Hatton does not seem bothered that the fight might have to wait for another year.

"The opportunity is not there at the moment.

"In the meantime, I'll keep myself busy, moving up the rankings. And then sooner or later my chance will come.

"I think I'm ready now and by the end of the year, I'll be better still and then I'll have an even better chance of winning."