Ricky Hatton is a puncher who loves to throw punchlines as well.
The British boxer is embarking on a tour of England and Wales and is set to go on a Caribbean cruise with his family late this month before reporting for training camp for a May 2 date with Manny Pacquiao, Hatton?s agent and adviser Paul Speak has told the Bulletin.
“He will be in theatres in England and Wales, will talk to the audience about his life and career,” said Speak, stressing that the 30-year-old Manchester native has been doing standup comedy.
Even if Hatton is on vacation, Speak pointed out that “he will train whilst on the cruise and the start serious training from February.”
In an interview with the Daily Mirror last year, Hatton revealed that boxing remains a passion although he has enjoyed having after-dinner shows whose proceeds oftentimes go to charity.
“Nothing compares with climbing into a boxing ring and being punched on the nose, so standing up on stage telling a few jokes doesn?t worry me,” said Hatton, who is coming off a smashing stoppage win over Paulie Malignaggi of the US in late-November last year.
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said everything points to a lucrative duel between the Filipino pound-for-pound king and the British superstar either at the Thomas and Mack Center or MGM Grand in Las Vegas as he and counterpart Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions have agreed in principle to stage the 12-round super-lightweight/junior-welterweight tiff.
Even Pacquiao has shown his approval for a showdown with the rugged Hatton, who trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. said has what it takes to derail Pacquiao?s win streak against the big names of the sport, the last being Oscar De La Hoya.
Pacquiao is currently spending the holidays in Los Angeles with his wife Jinkee, who recently gave birth to their fourth child, and should be back in the country on Jan. 10.
Arum has notified about Pacquiao?s availability for a three-city media tour with Hatton beginning in late-February. The tour will kick off in New York then will head to San Francisco and the final stop is Los Angeles.
Shortly after the tour, Pacquiao and Hatton will head off to their respective training camps.
Pacquiao will work out under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card in Hollywood, while Hatton will most likely set up camp in England with Mayweather Sr., who claims to have in his possession the blueprint for Hatton?s victory.
Exactly four months from now, the boxing world should know who gets the last laugh.
