Arum: After Hatton, Pacquiao may fight Cotto

Arum: After Hatton, Pacquiao may fight Cotto -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By DANNY BUENAFE, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau Chief | 03/04/2009 12:02 PM Printer-friendly version | Send to friend Top Rank promotions is now eyeing the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt should Manny Pacquiao prevail over Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton in their mega-fight scheduled May 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada. ABS-CBN Europe exclusively interviewed Top Rank boss Bob Arum on the last day of the UK press tour of Pacquiao and Hatton in London. After Hatton, Arum wants the ‘Pacman’ to square off with Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, the reigning WBO welterweight champion. With 34 fights, Cotto has only one defeat and a record of 27 knockouts. Arum believes a Pacman-Cotto fight is much bigger than fighting the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr., who dealt Hatton his only loss. Arum is happy at how Pacquiao was warmly received by Filipino fans in England. In fact, he thinks Pacquiao was given more media mileage in the UK compared to the Manchester-born Hatton. Arum admits Hatton is a tough fighter, unlike Oscar dela Hoya that trainer Freddie Roach was able to penetrate through his weakness inside the ring. Team Pacquiao left London yesterday for the United States to start training. But before leaving England, Pacquiao thanked Filipino fans for their support. Both Pacquiao and Hatton will hold a separate press tour in the United States.