Former WBA welterweight and IBF light welterweight champion Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton told ESPN.com Thursday that "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather would overwhelm Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao should the two prizefighters ever clash.

Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs), one of the most popular and recognized English boxers ever, was only trumped professionally by the two brilliant pugilists noted above.

"I've boxed the two of them and I would consider them two of the best fighters of our recent generation," said Hatton, 33, the 2005 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year. "I would think Mayweather. Manny is a nice guy, he's down to earth and I would like Manny to win, but I would have to go with Mayweather."

"The Hitman," who never fought again following his vicious second round knockout loss to Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) in May 2009, officially retired as a prizefighter last summer.

Sadly for Hatton and boxing fans alike, despite an estimated purse that could pay both scrappers in excess of $50 million apiece, the uncompromising and insatiable camps for both Pacquiao and Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs) have prevented the much-anticipated bout from materializing.

Hatton, whose most impressive triumph came when he captured the IBF light welterweight championship from International Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu by TKO in June 2005, expressed hope the prizefighters can agree to terms. 

"It would be a crying shame for boxing fans to miss out on that," said Hatton. "There seem to be a lot of stumbling blocks in the way at the moment, and they're not getting any younger, so I think it's time that somebody puts their foot on the gas and gets together to really make it happen."

Pacquiao retained his WBO world welterweight title with an extremely controversial majority decision victory over WBA, WBO and The Ring lightweight king "Dinamita" Juan Manuel Marquez in their third fight November 12 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

Conversely, Mayweather badly outclassed, and essentially embarrassed, "Dinamita" with a shutout unanimous decision in September 2009.

Hatton noted how differently the two boxers fared against Marquez (56-3-1, 39 KOs) in an interview with boxingscene.com last November.

"I thought Manny had problems with Marquez's style and maybe he would always have problems with that style," said Hatton. "Pacquiao is a pure fighter. On the strength of that contest and performance, it is hard to see how Manny would beat Floyd Mayweather if they actually ever meet in a ring."

Venerable boxing trainer Roger "Pit" Perron from "The City of Champions" agrees with Hatton and predicted Mayweather would easily conquer Pacquiao.

"If and when they fight, put your money on Floyd," said Perron, 75, who worked with International Boxing Hall of Famer Marvelous Marvin Hagler at Petronelli Brothers Gym in Brockton.  "He (Mayweather) must be frothing at the mouth after watching Manny's last fight."

"Pretty Boy" is scheduled to gain weight and battle Puerto Rican icon and WBA world light-welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto on May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Approximately a month later on June 9, "Pac-Man" will defend his crown against WBO light welterweight titlist "Desert Storm" Timothy Bradley in "Sin City."

Mayweather, a ten-time titlist in five separate weight classes who was named The Ring "Fighter of the Year" in 1998 and 2007, is an utter defensive wizard and one of the most indomitable prizefighters ever.

"Pretty Boy" is basically a bigger, stronger, far more talented version of Marquez and it's hard to envision that Pacquiao could penetrate his seemingly impenetrable guard.

The Hitman's stance is bullet-proof that "it is hard to see how Manny would beat Floyd Mayweather if they actually ever meet in a ring."

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