IF he wins impressively in his next fight, Manny Pacquiao, in all likelihood, will have a strong contention in setting up a huge bout versus British superstar Ricky “Hitman” Hatton.
The mega bout, initially thought as absurd by a number of boxing observers because of weigh disparity, is now being talked about in a more serious manner after both fighters have publicly expressed their respective desires to make the dream fight a reality.
On June 28 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, Pacquiao will vie for the World Boxing Council (WBC) against defending champion David Diaz.
“After Diaz, I want to fight Ricky Hatton. That will be a good fight,? Pacquiao recently told Ring Magazine. “I’m 150lbs right now. My sparring partners are always 140 to 150lbs. It’s not problem for me. And I’m not getting any younger. So why not?”
The match-up was first revealed by revered American trainer Freddie Roach to the daily morning radio show “Sports Chat” in an interview on December 10, 2007.
At first people though it would be close to suicide for Pacquiao to challenge Hatton, a longtime super lightweight ruler, even at a catch weight.
But Hatton?s father and business manager Ray thinks otherwise.
“Pacquiao’s big at his weight and it would be a wonderful fight. They’ve just about got the two biggest followings in the world – where would you stage a fight like that??said the elder Hatton in an interview with BBC Sports.
But of course, first things first, Pacquiao must prove his competitiveness in the heavier ranks by winning a crown in the lightweight division, just five pounds under Hatton?s territory.
“We were approached by Manny Pacquiao after the Mayweather fight and it’s on the cards,” Hatton added.
Interviewed by the daily morning radio show ?Sports Chat? late last year, Roach said a bout with Oscar Dela Hoya may be too good to be true but at the same time revealed about talks of a Hatton-Pacquiao square-off in the near future.
?I don?t believe Oscar can go down to 147. I?m not that sure if that will work out. But against Ricky Hatton who?s maybe just as popular in his home country, it will be a huge fight for everybody,? Roach told the show.
Hatton?s camp is now on the lookout for possible marquee match-ups after their most cherished rematch against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. may never happen or that it may take a while as the longtime pound-for-pound king recently announced his retirement. Hatton lost via 10th round TKO December of last year.
Mayweather-Hatton II is still not remote since the flamboyant American fighter has twice already announced similar retirement statements only to come back few months later.
“And you can never say never with Floyd, maybe if the money was there in 12 months he would change his mind,? added Hatton, Sr. “Obviously, Richard would have liked to have gone over that ground again because he thinks he never gave it his best shot in the first fight. If Mayweather beat him again, he could live with that.?
The older Hatton added that his son?s fight against Dela Hoya is something that they still need to discuss.
“An approach has been made but it would be too soon, Richard only fought two weeks ago,” Hatton Sr. said. “Oscar likes to fight in September because of Mexican Independence Day, but Richard’s chilling out at the moment and doing dad things.”
