Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton?s father, Ray Hatton, says the British fighter can "only wait so long" for a blockbuster battle with Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao and if nothing materializes they would "make alternate arrangements."
In an overseas telephone conversation with
www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Hatton said Floyd Mayweather Jr had been "making noises that he wants to fight Pacquiao" and if that fight pushed through he had his doubts whether it was the best fight for Pacquiao to take.
Hatton said a Pacquiao-Hatton fight would be "a great fight for the fans and don?t forget a fight like that incorporates England, Europe, the Philippines, America while a Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr becomes a Philippines ? American thing really."
At the same time Hatton said the question was whether a clash with Mayweather Jr "would be the right fight for Manny with the way Floyd fights because Manny fights a little bit like Ricky while Mayweather just waits for mistakes."
The father of "The Hitman" said in a fight between Pacquiao and Hatton "you know what you?re going to get, a spectacle for fans and a terrific fight." He said "the whole country (Philippines) loves Pacquiao and nearly all the people in England support Ricky Hatton."
Ray Hatton said "whether a Mayweather fight is a good thing for Manny, I don?t know. At the moment Manny is on top, he?s the No. 1 out there" adding that compared to a Hatton showdown, a bout against Mayweather "wont be as good."
He also noted that Pacquiao has said "he wants to fight Ricky and Ricky has said he wants to fight Manny" because this is the most exciting battle that boxing fans around the world want to witness.
Both Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach earlier indicated that a Hatton fight was likely to take place in May either in Wembley Stadium where it could draw a crowd of 100,000 or in Las Vegas.
Arum and Roach are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday morning in time for Pacquiao?s 30th birthday celebration in General Santos City and are expected to discuss fight plans for next year.
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