|
APART
from Oscar de la Hoya, add Ricky Hatton and Floyd
Mayweather Jr. in the mix when it comes to possible
future foes for Manny Pacquiao.
In an
interview with Sports Radio Tuesday morning, American
trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao is being mentioned
by Golden Boy Promotions as a potential opponent for
Hatton, the British superstar who last weekend bowed to
Mayweather in the 10th round of their World Boxing
Council welterweight title fight.
“They’re
talking about Manny Pacquiao as future opponent for
somebody like Ricky Hatton down the line,” said Roach.
Pacquiao,
who will be celebrating his 29th birthday on the 17th,
is set to challenge bitter Mexican rival Juan Manuel
Marquez, the World Boxing Council (WBC)
super-featherweight champion, on March 15 at the
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Roach
said these developments make the Marquez fight very
crucial for Pacquiao, especially if Hatton decides to
return to his natural weight at 140.
Roach
said a de la Hoya-Pacquiao fight, which has been talked
about the past couple of weeks, doesn’t look possible.
“I don’t
believe Oscar can go down to 147. I’m not that sure if
that will work out. But against Ricky Hatton who’s maybe
just as popular in his home country, it will be a huge
fight for everybody,” added Roach. “That makes the
Marquez fight that much more important for Manny and we
really can‘t look past Marquez of course.”
Roach
added that it is important for Pacquiao to eye other
marquee fights available for him but at the same time,
he needs to put premium when it comes to his
conditioning and focus with regards to his boxing
career.
“Manny
needs to keep pace with Mayweather right now. I still
believe Manny is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the
world right now,” said Roach.
“I’d
like to see Manny knock this guy out of the way, and I
know he can if he focuses and can be in great shape. And
then we’ll take big fights out there like Hatton and, or
maybe even Oscar if he’s available.”
What
probably will keep Pacquiao focused in his boxing career
is the potential financial windfall especially if he
gets past Marquez.
“You
know the thing is fights with those guys, you’re talking
$10 million to 20 million. Mayweather says he can’t get
too much below 147, but I think we can get him at 140
and that is definitely a possibility,” added Roach.
“Manny, in his last fight he weighed in at 130 but come
fight night he weighed in at 144. Those fights are
starting to be a little bit realistic.”
In the
same interview, Roach laid out his initial training
plans for Pacquiao in preparation for the Marquez fight.
Roach
said he is now on the look out for a few but quality
sparring partners for his prized ward.
“We’re
starting to line up some sparring partners. We’re
getting some big guys, strong guys for Manny. And some
counterpunchers for the style of [Juan Manuel] Marquez,”
said Roach. |
