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Ricky Hatton will travel to Las Vegas this weekend to discuss defending his world titles next May.

Hatton added the WBA light welterweight belt to his IBF title by beating Carlos Maussa on Saturday but had surgery for two deep cuts over his eyes afterwards.

However, according to his father Ray, Hatton will return to training in February as originally planned.

"People are throwing loads of names at us, including [ex-WBC champion] Arturo Gatti," Hatton Snr told BBC Sport.

"Gatti has been mentioned strongly because of the way they both fight - they're both warriors and it would be a fabulous fight for the fans.


Ricky will be back in training in February - the surgery hasn't altered his plans in any way
Ray Hatton

"But Ricky's destiny is in his own hands and there are so many fights out there. Ricky will fight who and where he wants to fight."

The Hattons will be ringside at the middleweight showdown between Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Vegas.

But the main purpose of the weekend will be business, and they will meet with some of America's top promoters.

"We've been invited over [to Vegas] by Oscar de la Hoya and everyone wants a chat. We'll sit down and make a fight in May.

"Everything's all right with Ricky's face. He'll be back in training in February after a family holiday, so the surgery hasn't altered his plans in any way."

Gatti, 35, is an all-action fighter but received a battering in losing his WBC crown to Floyd Mayweather in July.

Hatton Snr said his son had been offered an "astronomical" amount to fight Gatti in his adopted home town of Atlantic City, while Madison Square Garden in New York has reportedly offered £300,000.