Is Ricky Hatton Next For Manny Pacquiao? Floyd Mayweather?

Just over a week ago, Oscar de la Hoya was making plans for a big money fight against Ricky Hatton in 2009. Having been thoroughly embarrassed by Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night, its now conceivable that Oscar may never fight again, and his matchup with Hatton will probably never happen.
Instead, we now have multiple reports that Pacquiao, and not de la Hoya, will square off against Hatton in a big money fight next year, potentially in Wembley Stadium.

After possibly sending Oscar De La Hoya to retirement, Team Pacquiao is now training its sights on British sensation Ricky Hatton, the Hitman from Manchester City who is currently the top junior welterweight—the division the 29-year-old southpaw wants his fifth title to come from.

And it is that fight, plus one against Floyd Mayweather Jr., that trainer Freddie Roach hopes will seal the Pacman’s boxing legacy.

“That’s an interesting fight because you’ve got action fighters,” Roach said. “Hatton is the best fight out there for us right now, money-wise, style-wise. He’s a hard guy. He likes to fight. It would be a very interesting fight. I think the world would love to see that and Manny has been always wants to give the world what they want.”

Though retired, Mayweather is definitely the elephant in the room here. And while he would have never reentered the fight game to give Oscar a rematch, one must wonder if the allure of one final massive payday could drag him back into the mix, potentially to the detriment of Hatton.
As for de la Hoya, retirement seems to be the most obvious option for him, though he hasn’t made clear his intentions in any direction. After the fight, Oscar apparently spoke briefly to Roach, his former trainer, to let him know that his pre-fight criticisms were entirely valid.

After De La Hoya was humbled in the ring by the smaller man who moved up by two weight divisions, Oscar turned to Roach and let the trainer know that he was right.

“Freddie, you’re right. I just don’t have it anymore,” De La Hoya said.

Whatever you think of de la Hoya, you have to feel for him a little bit. The man did do a great deal for the sport of boxing. And while there is no shame in losing to a better fighter, it has to hurt Oscar to have been beaten so badly with the whole world watching.
Hatton, Mayweather next for Pacquiao? [Inquirer.net]
Oscar De La Hoya - “Freddie Roach Was Right” [BoxingScene]