LONDON ? Although Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says it could happen before the year ends, a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton doesn?t seem to be in the Englishman?s agenda.
Hatton, 29, is booked to stake his IBO lightwelterweight title against Juan Lazcano in Manchester on May 24 or at Wembley Stadium here on May 31 and if he wins, the Hitman will likely face popular Italian-American Paulie Malignaggi in September at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Down the road, he hopes to meet Floyd Mayweather in a rematch.
Pacquiao isn?t in Hatton?s radar despite Arum?s recent mention that the bout may take place in November in Las Vegas or Dubai. A source in Pacquiao?s camp mentioned the princely purse of $30 million for the Filipino icon in the event he battles Hatton.
?This is going to be a year for Manny that if he comes through (against Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15), he will be guaranteed the Fighter of the Year,? said Arum. ?He?s going to have three big fights this year if all?s well. If he beats Marquez, he fights in Macau at the end of June against (WBC lightweight champion) David Diaz. And if he beats Diaz, he then is going to fight Hatton in November either in Las Vegas or Dubai.?
For his part, Pacquiao said he?ll go where the money is.
?My New Year?s resolution is to focus on my boxing because I?m facing big fights,? he said, quoted by Steve Kim in Boxing Digest magazine. ?Not only the Marquez fight but also Diaz and Hatton.?
But facing Hatton appears improbable because the rugged brawler is a legitimate lightwelterweight and Pacquiao has never weighed in more than 130 pounds for a bout. The weight disparity will clearly favor the bigger Hatton.
Hatton moved up to the 147-pound welterweight division to challenge Mayweather in Las Vegas last December but lost on a 10th round knockout. It was the first loss in his career.
Pacquiao, 29, turned pro in 1995 weighing only 107 pounds. He has since bulked up to fight as a flyweight (112), superbantamweight (122), featherweight (126) and now, superfeatherweight (130). If he takes on Diaz, Pacquiao will make his 135-pound debut.
Hatton turned pro in 1997 weighing 138 pounds to knock out Colin McAuley in the first round. He also weighed in at 138 for a win over Dillon Carew two years later. Hatton has never fought weighing less than 138.
Both Pacquiao and Hatton are 5-6 1/2 tall. The Englishman has a two-inch reach advantage. His record is 43-1, with 31 KOs, compared to Pacquiao?s 45-3-2, with 35 KOs.
Hatton said the other day he will be ?stronger, wiser and better? in his next fight. If he beats Lazcano, Hatton is expected to sign a three-fight contract with HBO.
?I have never been in this solely for money,? said Hatton. ?It has always been about challenges. I?ve gone past all my wildest dreams in boxing. The last few things I want to do are to top the bill at the world?s largest football ground (in Manchester). I want to top the bill at Madison Square Garden and I would like another crack at Floyd.?
Hatton said HBO wanted his next fight to be held in the US but he rejected the offer. ?I insisted on fighting in England for the fans,? he said. ?There were more than 30,000 of them in Las Vegas when I fought Floyd and only a few thousand were able to get in to watch. So I owe them the chance to see me. I?ll be damned if the last fight I have is me lying flat on my back.?
Another future opponent for Hatton is WBC lightwelterweight titlist Junior Witter, also from England. Witter, 33, puts his crown on the line against Demetrius Hopkins in California on March 22 and has a 36-1-2 record, with 21 KOs.
?I don?t need Witter,? said Hatton. ?Witter needs me. I?m not saying the fight won?t happen. It?ll happen if it happens when I want it.?
Other opponents in the queue for Hatton include WBA lightwelterweight champion Gavin Rees of Wales (27-0, with 13 KOs), IBF titleholder Malignaggi (24-1, with five KOs) and top contender Ricardo Torres (32-1, with 28 KOs).
Pacquiao is not in Hatton?s list but in boxing, when the money?s right, anything can happen.
