Malinaw ang direksyong gustong puntahan ni American trainer Freddie Roach para kay Filipino world super featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
Sinabi kahapon ni Roach na sasagupain ni Pacquiao si Ricky Hatton, ang kasalukuyang International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight champion, matapos nilang agawin kay Mexican-American David Diaz ang suot nitong World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight crown.
“After we win the 135lb title, I see the next opportunity for us with Ricky Hatton. That’s a huge, huge fight for us,” wika ni Roach sa kanilang plano ni Pacquiao, ang WBC super featherweight titlist.
Nakatakdang hamunin ng 29-anyos na si Pacquiao ang 31-anyos na si David Diaz sa Hunyo 28 sa Las Vegas, Nevada, habang nakatakda namang idepensa ng 29-anyos na si Hatton ang kanyang IBO light welterweight belt kay Mexican challenger Juan Lazcano sa Mayo 24 sa Manchester, United Kingdom.
Sakali mang matuloy ang kanilang paghahamon kay Hatton, handa sina Roach at Pacquiao na magtungo sa United Kingdom para sa naturang laban.
“Yes, I think we would have to sacrifice that. The thing is when Hatton’s people came to Vegas, they had a great time over here, so it could go back to Vegas,” ani Roach. “It’s funny with (Joe) Calzaghe, where are his fans? I am in Vegas now, I think I saw three Calzaghe fans here. When Ricky Hatton comes to town all of England follows him over here.”
Ang pangalan lamang nina Diaz at Hatton ang nasa ‘radar’ sa ngayon ni ‘Pacman’, ayon kay Roach at wala si dating WBC super featherweight king Juan Manuel Marquez. (RCadayona)