De la Hoya wants three more fights before hanging up his gloves

The 34-year-old American has mapped out a three-fight plan before quitting boxing for good and it could end with him facing Briton Hatton next autumn.

De la Hoya's plan needs Hatton to beat Floyd Mayweather in their upcoming clash on 8 December in Las Vegas.

"Let's put it this way, I'm crossing my fingers for Hatton," De la Hoya told BBC1's Inside Sport.

Inside Sport: Oscar De la Hoya

"I believe that Ricky Hatton has a wonderful shot."

De la Hoya's Golden Boy company is promoting the sell-out clash between Mayweather and Hatton at the MGM Grand Arena.

But he still has plans to continue his career inside the ring.

It isn't out of the question that I'll meet Ricky Hatton next year Oscar de la Hoya

"I'm not retired and I believe that my body can still handle the big fights," he said.

"I want to fight three times next year, with two big fights in May and September. It isn't out of the question that I'll meet Ricky Hatton next year.

"I'm used to fighting once a year. I'm at the tail-end of my career but I feel that if I can have one tune-up fight first, get the ring-rust out of me, get into the rhythm of things, then I can have two other big fights in May and September.

"Then I think we'll be good for hanging up those gloves and calling it a career."

Mexican-American hero De la Hoya has won 10 world titles in six divisions across 43 fights and suffered just five defeats in his illustrious career, all of them to genuine top-grade campaigners in their respective weight divisions.

His last win came against Ricardo Mayorga for the WBC light-middleweight title in May 2006, but he subsequently lost the belt in the richest fight of all time to Mayweather, almost a year to the day.