LAS VEGAS ? Trainer Freddie Roach said yesterday promoting fights isn?t his business but if anyone cares to listen, he prefers newly-crowned WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao to face IBO lightwelterweight titleholder Ricky Hatton of Manchester as his next opponent in November.
?That?s a $20-million fight,? said Roach. ?Why wait to fight Hatton next year? That?s the fight all the fans want to see. The Filipino fans will be solidly behind Manny and the English fans will be solidly behind Hatton. Let?s go straight to it.?
But Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said Hatton will take his turn next year. He mentioned a Pacquiao title defense in November and hinted the challenger will be unbeaten knockout artist Edwin Valero, the WBA superfeatherweight champion from Venezuela.
There was talk that Pacquiao?s next fight will be either at the Pond in Anaheim or Staples Center in Los Angeles if Las Vegas isn?t available. Macau was ruled out as a venue because of the gambling habits of Asian patrons who aren?t used to watching boxing events in the daytime. If Macau hosts Pacquiao?s next fight, US pay-per-view operators will demand a prime time screening.
Hatton, 29, is slated to take on IBF 140-pound champion Paul (Magic Man) Malignaggi of Brooklyn before the year ends and while no date has been set, it appears to be a done deal. Malignaggi?s promoter Lou Duva will likely ask a stiff step-aside fee if Arum pushes for an early Pacquiao fight against Hatton.
Roach, however, said paying a step-aside fee shouldn?t be a problem.
?If that?s what it takes to get the fight, why not?? he said. ?There?s a chance Hatton could lose to Malignaggi and if that happens, the box office attraction of a fight against Manny is gone. I think we shouldn?t take a chance on Hatton losing to Malignaggi. Manny should fight Hatton next.?
Roach said Pacquiao won?t find it difficult to move up to the lightwelterweight division. He proved it wasn?t a problem jumping from superfeatherweight to lightweight in disposing of David Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino here Saturday night.
?Manny will take his speed and power to the next level,? said Roach. ?I wouldn?t suggest this fight if I didn?t think Manny could beat Hatton. Manny will beat Hatton like he beat Diaz. Hatton is hittable and Manny?s just too fast and too strong for him.?
Hatton has a 44-1 record, with 31 KOs, and his only loss was a 10th round stoppage to Floyd Mayweather last December. He bounced back from the defeat to outpoint Juan Lazcano last May.
Roach said Pacquiao?s new training regimen, designed by strength and conditioning coach Alejandro Ariza, was a plus in building his stamina for the late surge that turned the lights off on Diaz.
?Manny?s ready to fight at 140,? said Roach. ?He was strong at 135 and he?ll be stronger at 140.?
Pacquiao scaled 145 when the bell rang to start the Diaz fight. He regulated his food intake after the weigh-in and allowed himself only a 10-pound limit to avoid a bloated condition which could affect his mobility.
?Manny didn?t tire out,? said Roach. ?He paced himself well. It was just a matter of time. I told Manny in between rounds to just pick his spots, not to get impatient because sooner or later, the knockout will come. Before the ninth, I told Manny to finish him off. I predicted a knockout in the ninth and it happened. It was one of his best fights ever although I think he was awesome in knocking out Fahsang (3-K Battery) in Manila a few years ago.?
