British bomber Ricky Hatton is also on Manny Pacquiao?s radar screen.
“It might be Hatton,” said Pacquiao yesterday afternoon just before the fighter flew to Boracay to shoot portions for his weekly television show when asked who among several high-profile fighters is being eyed to face him for a fight in October or November.
“After Diaz, I would fight just one more time (in 2008),” added Pacquiao.
But before contracts are signed, Pacquiao must first deal with rugged southpaw David Diaz of the United States.
Diaz will stake his World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown when he fights Pacquiao on June 28 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao currently holds the WBC superfeatherweight title and it appears that he and trainer Freddie Roach are on the same page as to who to fight after Pacquiao disposes of Diaz.
Roach said the other day that Hatton, who is 29-year-old like Pacquiao, is somebody who can bring out the best of Pacquiao.
Roach added that Team Pacquiao can demand that should they sign up for a fight, the weight limit will be 137 or 138 lbs.
Hatton was stopped by Floyd Mayweather in his last fight and is raring to bounce back when he returns to the ring against Juan Lazcano of the US on May 24 in Manchester.
Hatton, a right-hander, holds a 43-1 win-loss mark with 31 knockouts and has close ties with Oscar De La Hoya?s Golden Boy Promotions.
Meanwhile, Top Rank chief Bob Arum told yesterday that “Manny is going to have his hands full with him (Diaz) and it should be a terrific fight.??
“It?ll be a huge thing for Manny if he can win four titles in four different weight divisions,” said Arum from the US East Coast where another Top Rank star, Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, is starring in a slambang slugfest this weekend.
Arum warns Pacquiao that “it won?t be easy because Diaz is a very determined fighter. You can outspeed him, but you can?t hurt him.??
Pacquiao, who struggled in carving out a 12-round split decision over Mexican counterpuncher Juan Manuel Marquez last March 15, is slated to report for training at Roach?s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood in the first week of May.
