All the Hub-ub in Manny Pacquiao?s surreal world, where boxing crazed Filipino?s across the globe follow his every move, surrounds his proposed fight with Ricky Hatton.
Promoter Bob Arum has said he wants the fight, Ricky Hatton says he wants the fight, and all interested parties are set to make tons of cash on an event which would attract the Manny-Maniacs and Hattonites ? two of the most supportive fan bases in current boxing.
It had been reported by Boxing Confidential?s Michael Marley that Hatton?s promotional outfit might have offered Promoter Lou DiBella a buy-out/go-away offer. DiBella is promoter of junior welterweight Paulie Malignaggi who is inline and has contractual rights to a bout against Hatton this Fall.
No buy-out may be needed as Hatton?s trainer and father Ray, informed the Manila Standard that while his son is interested in a fight it will likely take place in May or June or next year and is committed to challenging Paulie.
A major fly in Arum?s fistic ointment.
The leader of Top Rank?s three ringed circus had planned for Pacquiao to fight Edwin Valero in the fall, if not Hatton, and then pit the Filipino against the British star in 2008. Manny Pacquiao is an active fighter, fighting three times a year, and a November to May or June layoff may not be to his liking or his trainer?s ? Freddie Roach?
Enter Colombian slugger Ricardo Torres, who is putting his WBO championship in the junior lightweight division on the line against Kendall Holt in a rematch broadcast on SHOWTIME this Saturday night.
Torres might not know it, but the Colombian could be fighting not only to retain his belt but at a crack against one of the most lucrative paydays in boxing ? Pacquiao. You can buy a lot of arepas with a million bucks.
If Manny fights in the Fall and is successful against Valero, which is a MAJOR if, being that Valero is a stiff challenge at lightweight, and then has a Hatton fight scheduled for May or June of 2009 at junior welterweight, one would think the Filipino would want a tune-up or introduction fight to the division. Torres would be a prime candidate, being that he would hold a championship (luring Pacquiao with a 6th championship in six divisions before even stepping into the ring) and promoted by Top Rank.
For fight fans, Torres would present the sort of fire power that could test Pacquiao at the junior welter limit and provide a sizzling firefight for the world to see. Meanwhile, Bob Arum holds the promotional options of both men and takes the lion?s share of the promotional profit.
