Pacquiao hints at Hatton bout

2008-06-30 08:53

Manila - Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, fresh from winning his fourth world title, said on Monday he could step up to light-welterweight to fight British world champion Ricky Hatton.

The 29 year-old "Pacman" destroyed David Diaz of the United States in nine rounds in Las Vegas on Sunday to take the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title, his fourth in four separate weight classes.

"It is possible I will face Hatton next," said Pacquiao, who would have to step up to 140 pounds (63.5kg) for a shot at Hatton's International Boxing Organisation title.

Pacquiao, who also holds the WBC junior lightweight belt, held the WBC flyweight world title for nearly a year in 1998.

He also held the International Boxing Federation junior featherweight world title from 2001-2004, which he vacated to move up to featherweight.

Pacquiao, interviewed on local radio station DZBB from the United States a day after the Diaz fight, said he felt confident he would be more than able to hold his own up to 140 pounds.

He said his manager would look for an opponent for a November 2008 fight, but ruled out a Diaz rematch, leaving Hatton a possibility.

"I want some more improvement on my right hand," said the southpaw, who used his quickness and superior boxing skills to dominate the bigger Diaz and send him crashing to just the second loss of his career.

- AFP