Ricky Hatton has backed Kell Brook to earn a shot at the IBF welterweight title as long as he uses skill to overcome Vyacheslav Senchenko at the Motorpoint Arena a week on Saturday.
The 35-year-old urged the Sheffield fighter not get involved in a war with the former WBA World welterweight champion, and pointed to Paulie Malignaggi's masterclass in Ukraine last year to show that Senchenko can be out-boxed.
"He's a lot tougher than he looks," Hatton told reporters. "He's a tall boxer-type but he's not a skilful boxer.
"Kell is a really good boxer and Paulie showed that Vyacheslav can be out boxed so if Kell chooses to box him rather than go to war with him like I did, and picks his moments when to put it to him, I think he will do the business."
Hatton was stopped in the ninth round of his comeback fight against Senchenko in November of last year.
