BOB Arum may be drooling about the prospect of Manny Pacquiao taking on light welterweight campaigner Ricky Hatton in a prospect bout at the end of the year, but one vocal trainer thinks otherwise.
In a bold—if not downright ambitious move—Arum wants Pacquiao to face and beat Juan Marquez for the WBC 130-pound title, take on David Diaz for the 135-pound crown and then take on Hatton for the 140-pound title.
Marquez (48-3, 35 KOs) was downed thrice in the first match but managed to salvage a draw with Pacquiao, while Diaz (33-1, 17 KOs) beat Erik Morales in his last bout.
Hatton (43-1, 31 KOs) suffered his first loss just last month against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“Pacquiao has the opportunity to really make history. In addition to fighting Marquez for the WBC super featherweight title, he will be fighting for the lightweight title and the 140-pound title. This could be a big year for him but he’s got to win this fight (against Marquez), “Arum said in an earlier interview posted at Philboxing.com.
However, the Mayweather Sr. has a different opinion.
“Is he crazy? Hatton will beat the socks off of Pacquiao. Manny Pacquiao, that guy can’t box. All that guy can do is punch,” Mayweather Sr. said in an interview with boxingscene.com.
Mayweather Sr. went on to lash at Pacquiao’s skills and that of his trainer, Freddie Roach.
“Pacquiao has been with Freddie Roach for all these years and he still can’t box. They put him on the pound-for-pound, he should be on the clown-for-pound list,” said Mayweather.
The father of the No. 1 boxer in the pound-for-pound list is known for his strong words and has been very critical of Roach since Oscar dela Hoya picked Roach to train him for his fight with Mayweather Jr.
Prior to that fight, it was Mayweather Sr. who trained the Golden Boy.
Instead of targeting a guy like Hatton, whose camp has also expressed interest with a bout with Pacquiao, Mayweather Sr. wants Pacquiao to face WBO super featherweight king Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs)
Guzman was among four fighters Pacquiao’s camp were mulling to fight before picking Marquez.
“Let him fight Guzman and see what happens, Guzman has too many things for Pacquiao. They are scared as hell of Joan Guzman. Guzman will beat them all. Bob Arum doesn’t want Pacquiao to fight Guzman. They say he moves too much. I like Bob Arum as a person, but all of those things are excuses,” Boxingscene.com quoted Floyd Sr.
Guzman has set Pacquiao in his sights even before he won his title bout against Humberto Soto, another of the Pacquiao foe candidates, last November.
The undefeated fighter also gate- crashed the press conference after Pacquiao won his rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera last October.
Boxingscene.com reported that Guzman kept shouting at Pacquiao, “When are you going to fight me?” during that press conference.
However, that challenge didn’t work as Pacquiao’s camp chose Marquez. (ML)
