Shortly after Pacquiao demolished Oscar de la Hoya here Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila), Hatton said now that the Golden Boy is out of the way, he’s the next big ticket seller in boxing.
“Manny did an outstanding job against Oscar,” said Hatton. “It’s obvious I’m next in line. I think it’ll be a great fight. Manny has a great following among the Filipino people and I have a great following with the English people. If we get it on, imagine the people of both our countries going crazy.”
Hatton said fighting Pacquiao would be “an honor,” considering the Filipino icon is the world’s No. 1 fighter, pound for pound. But he mentioned a possible problem in the negotiations is the weight limit.
Hatton, 30, fights in the 140-pound division. Pacquiao, 29, tipped the scales at 142 for De la Hoya and showed up in the ring weighing 147 1/2, a fraction over the welterweight limit.
Pacquiao’s lawyer Franklin (Jeng) Gacal confirmed that he has spoken with Hatton’s lawyer about the possibility of a showdown, perhaps at the Wembley Stadium in London where over 100,000 fans could jam the open-air football field.
Gacal said from what he knows, Hatton is under a two-fight contract with Golden Boy. Pacquiao, on the other hand, has a promotional contract with Top Rank until 2010, stipulating at least two fights a year.
Hatton was a TV commentator on the British broadcast panel that covered the Pacquiao-De la Hoya fight. He was introduced as a Golden Boy fighter during the weigh-in last Friday.
Pacquiao’s trainer Buboy Fernandez, who joined the fighter and Freddie Roach on stage for the weigh-in rites, said he overheard Hatton wishing the Filipino good luck.
“Hatton came up to Manny and told him, good luck in your fight (against De la Hoya) and see you in England,” said Fernandez, inferring the Hitman gave notice of his availability.
Hatton has won two in a row since losing to Floyd Mayweather on a 10th round stoppage last year. Last month, he halted Paul Malignaggi to raise his record to 45-1, with 32 KOs.
“Hatton is perfect for Manny,” said Fernandez. “He’ll come straight at Manny. He’ll be an easy target. It will be a war because you’ll find both fighters engaging right at the first bell.”
Hatton is an inch taller than Pacquiao but has a two-inch reach disadvantage.
Before the Pacquiao-De la Hoya fight, Hatton was seen conversing with Marco Antonio Barrera who said he wants nothing to do with the Filipino anymore after suffering two losses to the Pacman.
“I’ll continue to fight,” said Barrera. “But Manny’s too big for me now. I can’t fight at his weight category. The same with Erik Morales who’s now training for a comeback at junior welterweight. “
Barrera weighed 137 1/2 for his most recent fight, a fourth round knockout over Sammy Ventura in China last month.
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