LOS ANGELES ? Manny Pacquiao is leaving all windows open as far as his scheduled fight on Nov. 8 is concerned.
First, he welcomed anybody who would want to challenge him for the World Boxing Council lightweight crown, which he took away from David Diaz with a ninth round knockout last Saturday in Las Vegas.
Then he said he?s open to fighting the pride of Manchester, Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton, at 140 lbs or the super-lightweight division.
?Whoever it is I don?t know. I haven?t talked to Bob Arum yet,? said Pacquiao Monday evening inside his LA apartment packed with friends who vied for a lovely kitty put up by the boxer for a mini-darts tournament.
?If you ask me I?d fight anybody. If I can challenge someone who?s bigger than me (like Diaz) then why not someone who?s smaller than me (like Edwin Valero). Whoever is out there as long as we fight at 135 lbs,? he said.
Pacquiao said he had great fun fighting at 135 lbs, his new fighting weight, because there was no problem making the weight, as compared to when he was at 130 lbs, and barely making weight.
Then he said he?s ready even for Hatton.
?There?s no problem with me even with Hatton at 140 pounds,? he said.
?That?s a $20-million fight,? said Freddie 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.?
Whoever it may be, for his scheduled Nov. 8 return to the ring, Pacquiao said he?d be ready as he vowed to keep his weight in check, and his training program, at least six to seven weeks in LA, set.
Aside from Hatton and Valero, looming in the horizon for Pacquiao are possible fights with Nate Campbell, Joel Casamayor, Humberto Soto or even Juan Manuel Marquez.
