Perhaps still smarting from his 10th round TKO to Floyd Mayweather on Saturday at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Ricky Hatton recently expressed interest in fighting a rematch with Mayweather, or possibly fighting Oscar De La Hoya. Both fights would seem remote at this point given the way Hatton performed against Mayweather. Who knows? Maybe Mayweather would be interested in facing Hatton again, especially if it means another huge payday for him, but the public would obviously need more convincing, likely seeing the fight at another blow out for Mayweather.
De la Hoya has few options himself, considering that that most opponents that he could face would have a relatively easy time beating him. “There’s been talk of a De La Hoya fight but that would have to be catchweight. A rematch (with Mayweather) could be in the offing or fights at light-welterweight. I’ve got to sit down with my team and make my mind up now.”
If I were Hatton, I’d be trying my best to get either of them into the ring with me because there’s not that kind of money to be maid against any other fighter in the welterweight or junior welterweight division at this time. However, in order for Hatton to make himself appealing to either De La Hoya or Mayweather. he’s going to have to get some big wins over credible opposition in a real hurry. It’s important for Hatton to move quickly because De La Hoya is nearing the end of his career and doesn’t have more than a couple of fights left in him. Mayweather, so he says, doesn’t want to fight until 2009, but he would possibly be interested if he gets the right opponent.
Seeing how easy it was to beat Hatton last time out, Mayweather could be tempted if Hatton has rebuilt his name. It won’t be easy for Hatton, because he largely faced limited opposition up until the time that he fought Mayweather, so he’s going to have to take some legitimate risks against good fighters in order to redeem himself.
Hatton, 29, had plenty of excuses for his loss to Mayweather:
“I think that it was working and up until the sixth-round stage, I think there wasn’t a lot in it. Then I lost my way, lost my rag on a few occasions, got a point taken off and when I tried to force the issue, I obviously got knocked out. I’ve got positives to take from the fight but ultimately I’m very, very disappointed. However, like any good champion, I will bounce back.”