Ricky Hatton of England is looking at a megabuck matchup with Manny Pacquiao.
Not this year, but in early-2009.
Hatton, who fights in the super-lightweight class of 140 lbs, has a confirmed fight in November against Paul Malignaggi of the US but is looking at either Pacquiao or Oscar De La Hoya for his farewell fight in the first quarter of 2009.
“I don?t want to go on forever and would have done everything I dreamed off so two more fights and then I think I?m done,” the 29-year-old Hatton told the BBC. “I will fight Paul Malignaggi in November in Las Vegas so I?ll be able to take my wonderful fans over there again.”
“In the new year, I?m hoping to fight either Manny Pacquiao or Oscar De La Hoya at Wembley Stadium in front of 100,000 people and after that I?ll probably retire,” added Hatton, who holds a 44-1 win-loss record with 31 knockouts.
Pacquiao also has Hatton on his radar screen but is set to fight unbeaten knockout king Edwin Valero of Venezuela first on Nov. 8, according to Bob Arum of Top Rank, who holds promotional rights over the famed Filipino southpaw.
Upon his arrival in the country on Friday following his masterful ninth-round stoppage win over David Diaz of the US, Pacquiao did not hesitate in saying that he is not intimidated by the rugged Hatton, whose only loss was a knockout to the now-retired pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, in a bold attempt to win the world welter (147 lbs) title.
“I am willing to go over to England and fight him there,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, who stands 5-6 is evenly matched physically with Hatton, who is 5-7, although the British bomber is accustomed to fighting in the 140-lb division.
Pacquiao started out as a light-fly (108 lbs) and later won world titles in the fly class (112 lbs), super-bantam (122), super-feather (130) and lightweight (135).
The Manchester-bred Hatton is widely recognized as the best 140-pounder in the world today even if he is not the WBC, WBA, IBF or even WBO champion in the division.
