By Mark Vester
When former two-division champ Ricky Hatton first heard about the December 6 bout between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, he laughed it off, feeling the fight was a mismatch because of the size difference. He doesn't think Pacquiao is big enough and strong enough to pull out the win.
"I think Oscar wins. He'll be too big. When the fight was first mentioned, I just laughed it off. They're like David and Goliath. Oscar dwarfs me, while Manny's fought down at flyweight," Hatton told Boxing News. "By the time they get in the ring on the night it could be three weight divisions (in difference).
Hatton says that he can't get past the weight and size difference in the fight. He feels De La Hoya will take it, but wants Pacquiao to win because he wants to challenge the Filipino champion in a big money fight next year.
"We were unsure about Pacquiao before he jumped up to lightweight. Now welter? Against someone who fights at light-middle? I can't get my head round it. If there's a curb on what Oscar enters the ring at, that could be a big factor. But I think Oscar wins, unless he's absolutely 'dead'. No disrespect to Oscar, a friend, but for my own career I'd prefer Pacquiao to win. Then I could fight him at light-welter for all the marbles," Hatton said.
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