Hatton happy to be tested

Ricky Hatton celebrates his win over Mikhail Krivolapov

By BBC Sport Online's Sanjeev Shetty in Manchester

Ricky Hatton has admitted he was pleased to have gone a few rounds before beating durable Russian Mikhail Krivolapov in Manchester.

The 23-year-old retained his World Boxing Union light-welterweight title with a ninth round stoppage and said that the tougher-than-expected fight was what he needed.

"I think this was the sort of opponent I needed to bring me down-to-earth," Hatton said in his dressing room.

"It was a good performance but I know that I will get better than this as well

Ricky Hatton

"I was thinking at the start of each round that he won't be able to take anymore of this.

"It was a good performance but I know that I will get better than this as well."

When Hatton was informed that he had thrown nearly 500 punches at a success rate of 49%, he answered with a smile "that's not enough!"

With a world title shot at Australian Kostya Tszyu still some way off, Hatton is focusing on a potential domestic challenge.

"Eamonn Magee put on a good performance tonight (beating Jon Thaxton in six rounds) and that makes a fight with him a possibility."

Hatton's promoter Frank Warren confirmed that a Magee-Hatton fight is something he is considering.

"I'd like to see that fight," said Warren.

"My objective is keep Ricky busy - the reality is that Kostya Tszyu has two fights lined up already," Warren added, in reference to a potential Tszyu-Hatton fight.