Ricky Hatton's birthday began yesterday the same way it does most years, with a run around the streets of Hyde in his native Manchester. More often than not, it has fallen when Hatton has been in training, although, given the 30-year-old's fondness for a drink, he has never really needed to use the day as an excuse for a party. But for now there is no drinking, only limited helpings of cake and boiled vegetables for dinner.

If there was a change this year, it was in the accent of the man in his corner. Floyd Mayweather Sr, the American, flew to Manchester to take over Hatton's training on Friday. Yesterday he was in the car behind Hatton, bawling instructions. “He had me out at 6.30 doing a five-mile run, which isn't the best on your birthday,” Hatton said. “And he was shouting from the Range Rover, 'Slip, jab.' I felt like I'd done 16 rounds of shadow-boxing, let alone the run. I've not felt as knackered as I did for ages.”

Turning 30 is a landmark for any sportsman, particularly a boxer with the toe-to-toe style of Hatton. It was the age at which he had always thought that he would retire and the millions he has made in the ring have not changed that opinion.

This time last year Hatton was preparing to face Floyd Mayweather Jr, his trainer's estranged son, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a bout that resulted in Hatton's first defeat. He is training to face Paulie Malignaggi, another American, at the same venue on November 22, but this time next year he is hoping to have his feet up.

“I'd like to think I'd be retired a year from now,” Hatton said. “I'll have two more fights max after this one and that will be it. My body has gone through enough with all the ups and downs in weight and stuff like that.

“I've already gone past what I thought I would achieve in my wildest dreams. My heroes Barry McGuigan and Naz [Naseem Hamed] never had 45 fights and so one more big name and that will be it.”

None of the “main four” world titles will be on the line for Hatton's light-welterweight bout against Malignaggi; instead it will be for the fringe IBO title and The Ring magazine's belt. Hatton has moved into the level of stardom where titles mean little and, with Mayweather Jr having retired, believes that he is capable of being rated as the best boxer in the world. Hence his interest in facing the winner of the welterweight bout on December 6 between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Such a superbout, it was revealed in The Times last week, could take place at Wembley Stadium.

“The winner of Oscar and Manny Pacquiao will be seen as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and so I'd like to fight the winner,” Hatton said. “In saying that, fighting the loser would also be a great fight. There's also Juan Manuel Márquez [a two-weight world champion], who could step up to light-welterweight to face me. I've said before I'd love to fight at Wembley and [to box] one of those guys [there] next year would be something else.”

Mayweather Sr has had only a few days in charge of Hatton's training, but it has been enough for Hatton to know that he made the right decision to switch trainer from Billy Graham. “Since the Luis Collazo fight in 2006, my training hadn't been right and I was going into training with Billy not knowing if he could get through the session,” Hatton said. “I could see him in his office before training, having a cigarette and trying to psych himself up, saying, 'I can get through this.' That's not a good way for me to be.

“With Floyd, there are subtle differences and he's always giving me advice. I've not felt this good six weeks out from a fight for years. He's not changing my style, he's helping me to tweak it. All fighters do that as they get older.”

Explore More Sport

• Athletics

• Boxing

• Cycling

• Sailing

• US Sport