MANILA, Philippines?Manny Pacquiao won?t back down from a showdown with Ricky Hatton even if it?s held in London.
That?s granting the Filipino World Boxing Council super featherweight champion prevails over Mexican-American lightweight titlist David Diaz on June 28 in Las Vegas.
?After we win the 135-pound title, I see the next opportunity for us with Ricky Hatton,? said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao?s celebrated trainer, Thursday. ?That?s a huge, huge fight for us.?
So big (financially) that Pacquiao is willing to give the Briton the homecourt edge.
?Yes, I think we would have to sacrifice that,? Roach told Bob Cooney of boxingconfidential. ?The thing is when Hatton?s people came to Vegas, they had a great time over here, so it could go back to Vegas.?
Hundreds of Britons flew to Las Vegas last year to watch Floyd Mayweather Jr. stop Hatton in the eighth round of their world welterweight title duel.
Stressing that Pacquiao isn?t taking Diaz lightly, Roach said his prized ward had agreed to return to Los Angeles and train eight weeks before the bout. The same time Pacquiao spent preparing for his rematch with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez for the super featherweight crown on March 15.
?To all the Pacquiao fans, we are going for the 130lb title, the 135lb belt, and the 140lb belt,? Roach added. ?That?s our goal!?
Meanwhile, Pacquiao announced in his Philboxing Column on Thursday that he?s going to Cebu on April 21 to attend a fight card to be staged by MP Promotions and Rex ?Wakee? Salud Int?l Promotions.
The main bouts pit Randy Suico versus Thai Sornkom Jockeygym in a 10-round, non-title match and Eden Sonsona against Richard Olisa for the Philippine super flyweight title.
Pacquiao will also join the ?Kadaugan sa Mactan? festivities, where he and wife Jinkee will be playing the part of Lapu-Lapu and wife Bulakna in the reenactment of the Filipinos? triumph over the Ferdinand Magellan-led Spaniards on April 27.
