Tweet
Wednesday 15th June 2005
Provi by www.SkySports.com UK London
Bring on Diego Corrales!
That was the message from Ricky Hatton as the recently-crowned light-welterweight world champion made a guest appearance on Sky Sports' Ringside Special.
Hatton was in the studio to watch WBO Miguel Cotto defend his title against Mohamad Abdulaev and admitted that after seeing off Kostya Tszyu, he wants to fight the biggest names out there.
Corrales is the WBC and WBO lightweight champion, but following his monumental victory over Jose Luis Castillo last month is planning a move up to light-welter.
He was ringside at the MEN Arena to see the Hitman become a world champion and his manager Gary Shaw has hinted at staging Hatton-Corrales on a double bill with Joe Calzaghe's proposed match-up with Jeff Lacy.
And Hatton himself is happy to take on Corrales, although he also added that he would welcome a showdown with the very best in a stellar division - Floyd Mayweather, Arturo Gatti, Vivian Harris and Cotto included.
"There's so many, but the one that is being linked is Diego Corrales," he said. "Sky showed the fight so many weeks back (against Castillo), so there's no better time to face someone like Corrales.
"He's the name that is being mentioned at the minute, but there's so many to go at.
"I've beaten Kostya Tszyu and when you beat someone like Kostya Tszyu, confidence-wise you don't fear anyone. I'm going to go to Atlantic City to see who the winner of Mayweather and Gatti is - those are the fights I want, but like I say, there are so many to go at."
A unification with Cotto seems unlikely though, as he followed his laborious ninth-round stoppage of Abdulaev by hinting at a move up to welterweight.
Hatton was far from impressed the Puerto Rican, and admitted that he didn't think "the other champions on the division will be too worried" and that he would be "right up my street".
Whoever he fights next, Hatton is already planning to take his talents over to America.
Showtime chief Jay Larkin has said that he needn't leave the unique atmosphere of the MEN Arena behind, but the Hitman himself has always admitted of making an impact across the Atlantic - and around the world.
"Obviously boxing in that atmosphere in front of your own people is unbelievable, but at the bottom of my heart I've always dreamed of the big venues like Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden," he said.
"I'm not saying for every fight, but it is something that I want to do.
"I'd like to get not only a fanbase in Manchester, but all over. We've had a lot of great, great fighters in this country but sometimes we don't get the respect we deserve over the water, so now's the time for me to get a following over there as well."
Provi by www.SkySports.com UK London
Bring on Diego Corrales!
That was the message from Ricky Hatton as the recently-crowned light-welterweight world champion made a guest appearance on Sky Sports' Ringside Special.
Hatton was in the studio to watch WBO Miguel Cotto defend his title against Mohamad Abdulaev and admitted that after seeing off Kostya Tszyu, he wants to fight the biggest names out there.
Corrales is the WBC and WBO lightweight champion, but following his monumental victory over Jose Luis Castillo last month is planning a move up to light-welter.
He was ringside at the MEN Arena to see the Hitman become a world champion and his manager Gary Shaw has hinted at staging Hatton-Corrales on a double bill with Joe Calzaghe's proposed match-up with Jeff Lacy.
And Hatton himself is happy to take on Corrales, although he also added that he would welcome a showdown with the very best in a stellar division - Floyd Mayweather, Arturo Gatti, Vivian Harris and Cotto included.
"There's so many, but the one that is being linked is Diego Corrales," he said. "Sky showed the fight so many weeks back (against Castillo), so there's no better time to face someone like Corrales.
"He's the name that is being mentioned at the minute, but there's so many to go at.
"I've beaten Kostya Tszyu and when you beat someone like Kostya Tszyu, confidence-wise you don't fear anyone. I'm going to go to Atlantic City to see who the winner of Mayweather and Gatti is - those are the fights I want, but like I say, there are so many to go at."
A unification with Cotto seems unlikely though, as he followed his laborious ninth-round stoppage of Abdulaev by hinting at a move up to welterweight.
Hatton was far from impressed the Puerto Rican, and admitted that he didn't think "the other champions on the division will be too worried" and that he would be "right up my street".
Whoever he fights next, Hatton is already planning to take his talents over to America.
Showtime chief Jay Larkin has said that he needn't leave the unique atmosphere of the MEN Arena behind, but the Hitman himself has always admitted of making an impact across the Atlantic - and around the world.
"Obviously boxing in that atmosphere in front of your own people is unbelievable, but at the bottom of my heart I've always dreamed of the big venues like Las Vegas and Madison Square Garden," he said.
"I'm not saying for every fight, but it is something that I want to do.
"I'd like to get not only a fanbase in Manchester, but all over. We've had a lot of great, great fighters in this country but sometimes we don't get the respect we deserve over the water, so now's the time for me to get a following over there as well."
Gran Campeon
Comment