Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Hatton, Valero? Is there no one else?
WILL it really be the Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero and not the British slugger Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton as the Filipino warrior Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s next opponent?
That remains a question pending official announcement on who fights next the new World Boxing Council lightweight titleholder after his impressive 9th round devastating knockout victory against David “Dangerous” Diaz (34-2-1, 17 KO’s) last weekend at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
But the choice of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who calls the shots, is bending in favor of the deadly Valero.
Defense
Arum recently met up with Japanese businessman Akihiko Honda, who is Valero’s handler, and both have agreed for both champions to battle each other in the lightweight division in which Pacquiao will have his first title defense.
“We pretty much reached an agreement between us and would be drawing up an agreement very shortly and hope to announce the fight in a few weeks. But everything is a go,” said Arum in a report posted at www.philboxing.com.
Both are likely to clash on Nov. 8 probably in Nevada, a place where the World Boxing Association super featherweight king doesn’t have a license yet.
The only place in the US where Valero is allowed to fight is in Texas, where his license was recently approved by the Texas commission.
Valero was prohibited to fight in the US after a freakish motorcycle accident in 2001 which left a spot in his brain.
No assurance
But still this is no assurance that Pacquiao (47-3-2, 36 KO’s) will be fighting Valero (24-0, 24 KO’s) because the Filipino champion said, in a recent interview by www.boxingherald.com, that they are working out a bout with the Manchester native Hatton also perhaps on that same date.
“There is negotiation about that. It is possible that I will fight Ricky Hatton on Nov. 8,” said the 29-year-old four-division world champion.
Hatton is set to fight International Boxing Federation junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KO’s) also on Nov. 8.
For a fight with Hatton (44-1, 31 KO’s) and Pacquiao to materialize the champion from Brooklyn must step down or else the much awaited blockbuster match will most likely take place next year. (EKA)
