The “Dream Match” between Manny Pacquiao and Oscar dela Hoya is also turning out to be a race to Ricky Hatton.
Many believe that whoever wins the Dec. 6 fight between Dela Hoya and Pacquiao will get to face Hatton next year.
“Yes. I’m pretty sure about that,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, told The STAR in a recent chat.
“The winner of this coming fight will get Hatton. That’s a natural. And whoever it is will be in for a fight against Hatton,” he added.
Pacquiao and Dela Hoya will square off at the MGM in Las Vegas in what should be the biggest and most exciting fight of the year.
Roach said Pacquiao wants Hatton next, and if things turn out positive, even a fight with the now-retired Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Hatton, the pride of Manchester, is set to fight Paul Malignaggi on Nov. 22 also at the MGM for the IBO light-welterweight title.
“Well pound for pound he’s (Pacquiao) the greatest right now. We should get Ricky Hatton next, and then if Floyd wants to come back, we can look at that,” Roach told boxingconfidential.com.
“A win over De La Hoya makes him (Pacquiao) a superstar, and sets up the Ricky Hatton fight. A Floyd Mayweather fight would be at a catch weight. We like 140 he likes 147, so let’s meet somewhere in the middle. Let’s see what happens,” he added.
Pacquiao said he’s willing to go to England and face Hatton right in his home turf – the Wembley Stadium – and before a hundred thousand fans.
Richard Schaeffer, president of Golden Boy Promotions, said they’re also looking at Hatton after the Pacquiao fight.
But he said everything would depend on the outcome of these coming fights.
“I think he (Hatton) is going to see how he feels after this fight (against Malignaggi). Depending on the result, depending on how he feels, he is going to have maybe a couple more fights next year,” said Schaeffer.
“If everything goes well if Ricky wins against Malignaggi and Oscar wins against Pacquiao, I think a Dela Hoya-Hatton fight is a natural. Both of them are, weight-wise, fight to six pounds apart.
“The fight at the Wembley Stadium is a dream of mine and a dream of many boxing fans. Sometimes, dreams come true,” said Schaeffer.