In a telephone interview with FanHouse, Manny Pacquiao, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, talked about his dominant win over Oscar De La Hoya, his upcoming fight with Ricky Hatton (Saturday, May 2 on HBO pay-per-view) and what it’s like to be the biggest star in the Philippines.
Michael David Smith: We’re a few months removed from your fight with Oscar De La Hoya. When you look back on that fight, are you surprised at how thoroughly you dominated him? Manny Pacquiao: Well, before the fight I believed, of course, I was going to beat Oscar — but not in an easy fight like that. I am surprised that it was an easy fight.
Most people consider you the best boxer in the world. Do you consider yourself the best boxer in the world? I don’t want to think about that, whether I’m the best in the world. I want to focus on my career and give a good show in my fight with Ricky Hatton.
The person who was considered the best boxer in the world before you was Floyd Mayweather Jr. Do you think Floyd is really retired, or will we see him in the ring again? I think he’s going to fight again. He’s not really retired.
Do you think you will fight him some day? That’s possible. Maybe after this fight. I heard from Floyd Jr.’s camp that he’s coming back to the ring.
So people around Floyd have told you that you should expect him to return? Yes, that’s what I heard from the people around Floyd, that he’s not really retired.
Do you think he would want a tune-up fight against an easier opponent or would he jump right in and fight you if you beat Ricky Hatton? For me — if I’m Floyd — I would fight a tune-up fight and then fight me. That’s for me, but I don’t know what his plan is. He might want to fight me right away.
Obviously, before you can fight Floyd you’ll need to beat Ricky Hatton. What kind of challenge does Ricky Hatton pose to you? Ricky Hatton is a strong fighter, a good fighter. He’s the top guy, and he’s never lost at 140 pounds. I would never underestimate Hatton. I consider this fight the toughest fight of my career. I’m not looking past this fight.
