By Mark Vester
Last year, Oscar De La Hoya had his eye set on a possible fight with Ricky Hatton in 2008. He was making it known in public interviews that he wanted Hatton to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. last December to set up a possible fight between them in 08. Since the December fight, De La Hoya has signed Hatton to his promotional company, Golden Boy Promotions. Now De La Hoya rules out the fight because "he's a naturally bigger guy in a higher weight class." Isn't that why experts blasted De La Hoya's fight with Steve Forbes? Last year Hatton was a free agent, this year he is the future cash cow of Golden Boy and De La Hoya has to protect his investment.
"I'm a naturally bigger guy in a different weight class so I would rule it out," De La Hoya told Setanta Sports. "Ricky's doing a tremendous job at 140 pounds where he feels comfortable. Where he can do a lot of great things. I would rule it out. Ricky's fighting at 140. That's where he feels most comfortable and that's where he belongs. I wouldn't advise him to go up to 147. Those few pounds make a big difference. If he feels comfortable at 140 he should stay there, which I am sure he will do."
De La Hoya says that he can actually make 140-pounds if "he tried." He can barely make 150. If he could make 147-pounds, the original planned weight for the Mayweather rematch, then he wouldn't be fighting Floyd at the catch-weight of 150.
"With me, I can make 147 with no problem. Can I make 140? If I try I probably can," De La Hoya said. "I don't think it's going to be possible because I'm retiring this year. My plan is to have three fights - who knows if I'll just do two because I have my fight with Floyd in September and I'm going to devote my life to that training camp mentally and physically. I know it's going to be draining and take a lot out of me so we'll have to see.
"I do want to do a fight in December against who I don't know, but like I've always done throughout my whole career it will be against a tough opponent, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters."
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