MANILA, Philippines - Kumpara sa ibang boksingerong kanyang nakalaban, ibang klaseng istilo ang inaasahang ipapakita ni Ricky Hatton laban kay Filipino world four-division champion Manny Pacquiao.
Sa panayam ng boxingtalk.com kahapon, sinabi ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions na taglay ng tubong Manchester, England na si Hatton ang kakaibang istilo kumpara sa mga tinalo ni Pacquiao na sina Oscar Dela Hoya, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez at David Diaz.
“I think that Ricky Hatton is a tough fighter and a totally different style for Manny, but he’s got the best trainer in boxing with Freddie Roach and I think Freddie will have him ready,” ani Arum. “But it’s not going to be easy and Hatton is going to test Pacquiao, but I really believe that Pacquiao is the best around.”
Nakatakdang magsagupa ang parehong 30-anyos na sina Pacquiao at Hatton sa Mayo 2 sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sakaling talunin ni Pacquiao si Hatton para sa suot nitong International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight title at ang Ring Magazine belt, sinabi ni Arum na posible niyang itapat ang pambato ng General Santos City kay dating Puerto Rican world welterweight king Miguel Cotto.
Haharapin ni Cotto si Briton Michael Jennings sa Linggo para sa bakanteng World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt.
“I think you’d have to say that the rematch is on hold for this year, there’s no question about that,” ani Arum sa rematch nina Cotto at dating World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight ruler Antonio Margarito. “That being said we would have to look for Cotto and the three that pop to mind are (Kermit) Cintron, (Shane) Mosley and maybe Manny Pacquiao.”
Pacman, Top Boxer sa Yahoo! Sports
Samantala, napili naman si Pacquiao bilang top boxer sa buong mundo sa Yahoo! Sports’ unofficial boxing poll para sa buwan ng Pebrero
Nakahugot si Pacquiao ng kabuuang 300 puntos o 30 “first place” votes mula sa 30 boxing writers sa buong mundo para talunin sina Marquez (261), Israel Vasquez (205), Bernard Hopkins (175.5) at Mosley (131). (Russell Cadayona)