Pacquiao-Hatton Close To Reality

[SE7EN]

PACQUIAO-HATTON CLOSE TO REALITY




By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 10 Jun 2008

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum mentioned as early as January 5 that a fight between Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao and Ricky “Hitman” Hatton was a reality.

Arum made the statement in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today. Arum said he was having lunch with Pacquiao at one of the restaurants at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino when HBO boss Ross Greenberg called. Arum put Pacquiao on the line to wish Greenberg a Happy New Year.

Arum said “it was funny because he (Greenberg) was together with the Ricky Hatton people for lunch in New York and they were talking about fighting Manny at the end of the year. So that’s a reality. Pacquiao now knows that he has the opportunity to really make history.”

At that time Pacquiao hadn’t done the rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez which happened on March 15 and which Pacquiao won by split decision to capture the WBC super featherweight title. Arum said then, in addition to fighting Marquez for the super featherweight title Manny will be fighting for the lightweight title and the 140 pound title. “This could be a big year for Manny but he’s got to win this fight against Marquez.” Now he may add, he’s got to beat WBC lightweight champion David Diaz on June 28.

Talk of a Pacquiao-Hatton fight has re-surfaced with Pacquiao telling Ring Magazine “After Diaz, I want to fight Ricky Hatton. That will be a good fight.” Pacquiao was quoted as saying at the time of the Ring interview “I’m 150 poubds right now. My sparring partners are always 140 to 150 pounds. Its no problem for me. And I’m not getting younger. So why not?”
It was noted that Pacquiao weighed 146 pounds on the night he beat Marquez and a showdown with Hatton could “pit two of the world’s most exciting and popular fighters in a mouth-watering showdown.”

Prior to Pacquiao’s departure for Los Angeles to step up training for the Diaz fight at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach, both his business manager Eric Pineda and close friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud said there had been some initial conversations with the Hatton people because Pacquiao wanted the fight.

BBC Sports quoted Hatton’s father Ray as saying they had been approached by the team of Pacquiao after Hatton’s fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr and “its on the cards.”

Hatton Sr said Pacquiao is 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?”

[Kel]

What a big fuck-off event this would be. I would just love this to be at Wembley, I'm there if it is.

[totalboxing1]

What a big fuck-off event this would be. I would just love this to be at Wembley, I'm there if it is.

Pacman vs The Hitman at Wembley would get 100,000+ including myself!!

[donnydarkoIRL]

I'd be there.
Definitely.

[Dizaster]

These are the fights that making being a diehard boxing fan freakin worthwhile... You only get a couple of these a year where fights are so anticipated. And I have no doubt this one would not let down for a second.

[donnydarkoIRL]

These are the fights that making being a diehard boxing fan freakin worthwhile... You only get a couple of these a year where fights are so anticipated. And I have no doubt this one would not let down for a second.

The amount of money this will generate will be crazy!

[KKisser]

funny how just a year ago people were thinking and saying how crazy this match-up is.

[C-Lo]

All this talking and hyping! Does anybody really think Pacquiao has a shot at beating Hatton?

Pac is my favorite fighter but I sure don't think he's invincible!

[KKisser]

All this talking and hyping! Does anybody really think Pacquiao has a shot at beating Hatton?

Pac is my favorite fighter but I sure don't think he's invincible!

no one is invincible, especially pac. in this case hatton's supposed to be the one who'd be unbeatable in this pairing.

[HattonTheHammer]

For mannys sake i dont want this fight to happen.

He`ll get himself hurt at 140, ricky hatton will hit twice as hard as anything pacquiao has ever been hit with and will destroys mannys ribs for 12rounds if neccesary.

If pac wants a title at 140 fight malignaggi, power wont be an issue in that contest.

But hatton will be too big and too strong for manny to cope with!!!

[KKisser]

For mannys sake i dont want this fight to happen.

He`ll get himself hurt at 140, ricky hatton will hit twice as hard as anything pacquiao has ever been hit with and will destroys mannys ribs for 12rounds if neccesary.

If pac wants a title at 140 fight malignaggi, power wont be an issue in that contest.

But hatton will be too big and too strong for manny to cope with!!!

like you really care about manny. lol

actually if he gets by diaz i'd like to see him against casa, campbell, kats or jd and from there have a better gauge of how well he would fare against hatton. and then there's the jmm rematch. the hatton fight would be a good last fight for the pacman if he ever starts considering retirement.

[HattonTheHammer]

For mannys sake i dont want this fight to happen.

He`ll get himself hurt at 140, ricky hatton will hit twice as hard as anything pacquiao has ever been hit with and will destroys mannys ribs for 12rounds if neccesary.

If pac wants a title at 140 fight malignaggi, power wont be an issue in that contest.

But hatton will be too big and too strong for manny to cope with!!!

like you really care about manny. lol

actually if he gets by diaz i'd like to see him against casa, campbell, kats or jd and from there have a better gauge of how well he would fare against hatton. and then there's the jmm rematch. the hatton fight would be a good last fight for the pacman if he ever starts considering retirement.

why would i not be a manny fan

oh thats right i have the word "hatton" in my username and an english flag.

Therefore i cannot appreciate anyone who doesnt come out to the blue moon theme.

[KKisser]

For mannys sake i dont want this fight to happen.

He`ll get himself hurt at 140, ricky hatton will hit twice as hard as anything pacquiao has ever been hit with and will destroys mannys ribs for 12rounds if neccesary.

If pac wants a title at 140 fight malignaggi, power wont be an issue in that contest.

But hatton will be too big and too strong for manny to cope with!!!

like you really care about manny. lol

actually if he gets by diaz i'd like to see him against casa, campbell, kats or jd and from there have a better gauge of how well he would fare against hatton. and then there's the jmm rematch. the hatton fight would be a good last fight for the pacman if he ever starts considering retirement.

why would i not be a manny fan

oh thats right i have the word "hatton" in my username and an english flag.

Therefore i cannot appreciate anyone who doesnt come out to the blue moon theme.

hey i didn't say you weren't a fan. i'm one of his biggest fans around here and i would love this fight. but seriously, you wouldn't want to see him hurt?

[Gandalf]

It would be an interesting matchup but I think way beyond Manny's capabilities. Hatton would hurt him to the body something rotten.

Pac would be foolish to jump straight from 135 to 140 in order to fight Hatton. But like he says, he isnt getting any younger. It makes fiscal sense to make the fight happen.

Hatton will beat him up though.

[HattonTheHammer]

like you really care about manny. lol

actually if he gets by diaz i'd like to see him against casa, campbell, kats or jd and from there have a better gauge of how well he would fare against hatton. and then there's the jmm rematch. the hatton fight would be a good last fight for the pacman if he ever starts considering retirement.

why would i not be a manny fan

oh thats right i have the word "hatton" in my username and an english flag.

Therefore i cannot appreciate anyone who doesnt come out to the blue moon theme.

hey i didn't say you weren't a fan. i'm one of his biggest fans around here and i would love this fight. but seriously, you wouldn't want to see him hurt?

Ive followed manny for years and consider him one of my fave all time fighters.

Its impossible not to be fond of someone with mannys style and aggression.