Ricky Hatton turns down De La Hoya bout
Written by: Brainiac
With Floyd Mayweather having retired, Oscar De La Hoya is searching for someone to fight in his place in September, so his camp turned to British welterweight Ricky Hatton.
However, Hatton’s camp has turned the bout down despite the fact it would have easily been the biggest payday in Hatton’s career.
“It would be too soon, Richard only fought two weeks ago,” Ray Hatton, the boxing champion’s father and manager, said. “Oscar likes to fight in September because of Mexican Independence Day, but Richard is chilling out at the moment.”
Hatton beat Juan Lazcano on May 24 to retain his IBO light welterweight title and is not expected to fight again until November. In fact, he also was hoping to fight Mayweather, who handed Hatton his only loss in 44 fights.
Instead, a bout with IBF light-welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi could be in the works for Hatton in November, with Manny Pacquiao also a possible opponent.
“The Mayweather fight was only one fight that people were talking to us about and as far as Richard is concerned, he’s geared up to fight Paul Malignaggi in November,” Ray Hatton said. “We were approached by Manny Pacquiao after the Mayweather fight and it’s on the cards.”
Pacquiao told Ring Magazine that after he has fought David Diaz (June 28), he wants to move up to 140 pounds and take on Hatton.
“After Diaz I want to fight Ricky Hatton. That will be a good fight, Pacquiao said. “I’m 150 pounds right now. My sparring partners are always 140 to 150 pounds. It’s not a problem for me. And I’m not getting any younger - so why not?”
Meanwhile, with Hatton out of the picture, likely opponents for De La Hoya in September would seem to be Ronald “Winky” Wright or the winner of the meeting in July between welterweight title-holders Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.
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