By Ronnie Nathanielsz
GOLDEN Boy Promotions’ chief executive Richard Schaefer said that Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton won’t fight Manny Pacquiao this year, because the Briton has two fights lined up.
Schaefer pointed out that Hatton is going to fight Juan Lazcano on May 24.
Assuming that Paul Malignaggi (24-1, 5 KOs), who also sees action on the same card against Lovemore N’dou ( 46-9-1, 31KOs), is victorious and Hatton beats Lazcano, then the Briton will battle Malignaggi in October or November, which will rule out a clash with Pacquiao.
But Schaefer left open the possibility of a Pacquiao-Hatton fight next year.
“We are planning a big Hatton pay-per-view for spring 2009, but it is too early to say against whom. Certainly, Manny [Pacquiao] would be one of the names and so are Oscar [de la Hoya], Floyd [Mayweather], Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez. It really depends on what’s going to happen from now until the end of the year,” Schaefer said.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach has said several times in the past that after Pacquiao (46-3-2, 35 KOs) wins the lightweight title from reigning champion David Diaz (34-1-1, 17 KOs), whom he battles at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino on June 28, they are looking for a really big fight against Hatton, maybe even in England.
Hatton is very popular with British fight fans, who crowded Las Vegas for his last fight against Mayweather (38-0, 25 KOs). Hatton lost by a 10th-round TKO last Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.
Golden Boy Promotions handles Hatton as well as former World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion Marquez, among others. Marquez, who refuses to accept the fact that he lost a split decision to Pacquiao last March 15, has been trying to goad Pacquiao into giving him a third fight without any success.
Pacquiao has maintained that he is not afraid of Marquez and is willing to fight him for a third time, but that the Mexican will have to wait which is basically what the Pacman’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, has also said.
