RICKY Hatton has advised dethroned champion Amir Khan to swerve a fight with Floyd Mayweather this year.

Khan is keen to meet Mayweather despite losing his WBA and IBF light welterweight belts to Lamont Peterson in a controversial bout in Washington last month.

But retired double-weight champion Hatton, who suffered one of his two defeats against Mayweather in 2007, believes Bolton superstar Khan would be better served to restore his reputation before taking on the man who is regarded by many as the best fighter on the planet.

He said: “I think a Mayweather fight would be too soon for Amir. He is just coming off a defeat and does he really want to fight the number one fighter right now or later this year?

“I think Amir needs two or three fights to get himself re-established and get his confidence back. Then maybe he’ll fight the winner of (Manny) Pacquiao and Mayweather next year.

“If Amir could put in a good performance against Peterson he will improve his position when he sits down at the negotiating table.”

Mayweather is currently trying to secure a May 5 fight with Pacquiao, Khan’s training partner, to determine who is the best poundfor- pound fighter in the world.