Amir Khan says Ricky Hatton should fight again, as long as he chooses the right opponent.

Khan himself has been linked with a blockbusting all-British showdown with the Hitman, but was non-committal about that prospect.

However he does believe that it would be wrong for the final chapter of Hatton's glorious career to be that devastating second-round knockout by Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas in May.

The WBA light-welterweight king, currently preparing for his first title defence against Dimitry Salita in Newcastle on December 5, said: "You don't want to walk away with a defeat. I know a lot of people want to see that fight in Britain between me and him. We'll see how the Salita fight goes and we'll see where we are.

"I think he should come back and at least get over that knockout against Manny Pacquiao by having maybe one more fight. That was a bad knockout - just to get over that, I think it would be good for him to come back."

Hatton has been knocked out twice at elite level - by Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. But despite that Khan believes he can prosper at the right level.

"He's young, he's not too old yet, I think he's still got it in him. On that day Manny was just too strong and too sharp when he fought him, Manny was on a different level. If he comes back I'm sure he can fight somebody who he knows he can beat.

"He doesn't need a very hard fight if he wants to get back into it. If he fights somebody like Manny again, with speed and power, I think he'll take him out again."