By Mark Vester
Ray Hatton, father and manager of two-division champion Ricky Hatton, is going with the popular opinion that Oscar De La Hoya is simply too big for Manny Pacquiao. The winner of their December 6 "Dream Fight" will be the likely opponent for his son in 2009. The Hattons will be at ringside at the MGM Grand to watch the fight.
De La Hoya, a former middleweight champion, moves down by three-pounds [from his last fighting weight] to the agreed upon fight weight of 147, while Pacquiao moves up by twelve-pounds from his last fight.
"I think Oscar is too big for Manny. If all things are equal, it comes down to the old cliché of a 'good big one will beat a good little one'," Hatton Sr. told BBC Sport.
Even if De La Hoya wins, Ray feels that Pacquiao is the better opponent for his son. Ricky himself has gone on the record and told reporters that he wants Pacquiao to pull off the upset.
"Obviously if you're looking at it size-wise there's very little difference between Richard and Manny Pacquiao," Hatton Sr. said. "Manny will have this fight at 147 pounds and he's very, very comfortable, by all accounts, at 140. He feels more comfortable, I believe, at 140 then he does at 135."
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