Reports from America yesterday claimed the four-title Pacman, who has inherited The Ring's accolade of best pound-for-pound fighter from Hatton's conqueror, the retired Floyd Mayweather Jnr, is at odds with Bob Arum about his next opponent. As he is already planning his exit from boxing, to run for political office in the Philippines in 2010, he does not want to waste his time on second-rate fights. 'What Manny wants,' a Pacquiao insider told the website Boxingconfidential.com, 'Manny gets. And what he wants is to fight the megafight with popular Ricky Hatton. Arum has explained to him that it can't happen now because Hatton is fighting Paulie Malignaggi in November. Arum said a step-aside fee cannot be negotiated but Paulie promoter Lou DiBella said he has an open mind and open ears.'
Truly, it's in Hatton's better interest more so than Pacquiao's that he take the mega fight straight away. What if Malignaggi somehow pulls the upset? I have Hatton over Malignaggi, clearly, but Team Hatton will be hurting if things don't go well in New York.
Interesting, makes more sense to have this fight in Vegas. Good link. They know they can get a shitload of Hatton fans out there, no matter.
Id rather Ricky picks up a belt at 140 first. He should beat Paulie and if he cant, well Pac shouldnt be fighting him.
