By Ben Dirs

Leonard also dismisses Mayweather's chances against Oscar de la Hoya

Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard believes Ricky Hatton has what it takes to defeat Floyd Mayweather, should the two rivals meet next year.

Mayweather launched a savage attack on Hatton on Monday and hinted he might delay his retirement to fight him.

"The Ricky Hatton that beat Kostya Tszyu in 2005 can beat Floyd Mayweather," Leonard told BBC Sport.

"He was so focused and in such amazing physical shape that he would have given anybody at that level a tough time."

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Leonard, like Mayweather a world champion in four weight divisions, is a big admirer of Manchester's Hatton, who regained the IBF light welterweight belt last month.

And his words of support were in sharp contrast to Mayweather's stinging attack, about which Leonard was dismissive.

Oscar de la Hoya has enough of the proper physical attributes to take Mayweather to the limit Sugar Ray Leonard

"I dealt with trash-talk in my career and did the same myself," said Leonard, now 50.

"I wasn't as abrasive as Floyd Mayweather, but it's fun and it adds to the sport."

Leonard, in London promoting Frank Warren's new TV reality boxing series The Contender, is often compared to Mayweather as a fighter.

But Leonard believes his fellow American may have bitten off more than he can chew in Oscar de la Hoya, whom Mayweather meets in a super-fight in May.

"Originally, I thought, hands down, Floyd Mayweather would be victorious," said Leonard.

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"But I've changed my mind since then. I've been analytical, observed things from a fighter's stand-point and I think Oscar de la Hoya's stronger and he's bigger.

"I don't think he's faster because, without question, Floyd Mayweather is super-fast.

"But I think Oscar de la Hoya has enough of the proper physical attributes, with hands and with power, to take Mayweather to the limit."

The clash between Mayweather and his compatriot De la Hoya is set to be the richest non-heavyweight fight in boxing history.

Mayweather, 29, was expected to retire after that encounter, but has since hinted he could be tempted into a grudge-match with Hatton.