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HATTON v DE LA HOYA at Welterweight is on the cards
They both say they want to fight so i see no reason this can't happen
By Graham Shaw www.skysports.com
Ricky Hatton is dreaming of a megabucks showdown with Oscar De La Hoya once the 'Golden Boy' is through with Floyd Mayweather Jr on Saturday night.
Both De La Hoya and Mayweather have hinted they could retire after their superfight here at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but the two men have also been quoted as saying they'd like one more bout, against the undefeated Mancunian light-welterweight king.
Hatton, given the choice, says he'd plump for a meeting with the 'Golden Boy'.
Earlier this year De La Hoya said he'd be happy to move back down to welterweight if Hatton moves up, a prospect that intrigues the British superstar.
He said: “I don't think they have made their minds up yet about retirement. They talk about retiring but the next minute I read on the internet that they want one more fight and they'd both like it to be against me.
“I think they've seen my fights. They see what I bring to the table as far as the whole package is concerned, in terms of fan base as well. I think the fact they're considering one more fight and they want it to be against me speaks volumes for myself.
“If I had the choice I think I'd like to fight De La Hoya. He's just a massive massive name. He's not just a modern-day legend, looking at all the world titles he's won, he's a legend. He's said he'd come down to welterweight to fight me if I move up.”
Hatton himself is preparing for his own Las Vegas superfight, against Mexico's Jose Luis Castillo on June 23. And he's full of confidence as he starts the countdown to what should be a classic confrontation.
“The preparation is going absolutely superbly, things couldn't be going better. Before the Urango fight, due to TV dates, I ended up having eight months off and that was disappointing. Obviously I put a lot of weight on and that made the job a lot harder.
“After the Urango fight I only had eight weeks off and because of that I think I'm really going to shine against Castillo.
“I don't think my last three opponents have enabled me to look my best. Maussa for example, I'm not sure what style he comes under. Collazo was a very slick southpaw and Urango was a southpaw as well, and they're never ideal. He was very compact and very negative.
“I think someone like Castillo, who will stand toe-to-toe with me in a slugfest, will help me to shine. I still feel I can improve on what I've done already. I think in my last three fights the results have been better than the performances.
“I went off the boil before the Tszyu fight, going six rounds with Dennis Pedersen and 12 rounds with Wilfredo Vilches. On those performances you wouldn't have given me a prayer against Tszyu.
“But then when the big name came along I raised my game, and I just can't wait for Castillo, I can't wait. I was happy fighting world champions but now I'm fighting pound-for-pounders.”
Castillo warmed up for his clash with the Hitman by fighting Herman Ngoudjo on the same Vegas bill as Hatton v Urango.
He struggled to a points win that night, but Hatton says there are valid reasons for that performance and expects a mighty challenge next month.
“I think Castillo had been off for a long while and it was his first fight at light-welterweight. And they handed him a fella who had only 15 fights under his belt, a real novice. With that in mind I could understand why he was laboured.
“I think sometimes you find that little bit extra when you're in with a big name. I think I was a little bit of a victim of that against Urango. And I think Castillo was a victim of it against a 15-fight novice. Castillo nearly caught a cold because of it. He probably took him a little bit lightly.”
But before that massive night against Castillo Hatton will settle back and watch De La Hoya and Mayweather do battle.
He's picking the 'Golden Boy' to prevail, believing he'll have too much strength and experience for Mayweather.
“Floyd Mayweather I think has unbelievable talent. But the biggest fights he's been in were against Gatti, against Baldomir and against Corrales. And Zab Judah had seen better days when he fought him.
“When you compare that to the fights De La Hoya has had against Vargas, against Mosley, against Hopkins and all the other big names, I think that will stand Oscar in good stead. Oscar is the bigger fighter and he's not exactly slow.
“I think Mayweather has been very negative in his last two fights against Baldomir and Judah. The fights were quite dull to be honest.
“I think if Mayweather is going to win the fight he'll have to do it in a very negative way. Personally I think Oscar will win, I think he'll use his size and reach.
“I see Mayweather has been doing a lot of talking and I think maybe he's a little bit nervous. But it's a fantastic match and you'd have to go a long way to find one better.”
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Originally Posted by CutMeMicK
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