By Eric Thomas: According to news reports from Philstar, Nacho Beristain, the trainer for Juan Manuel Marquez, gave an interview on the Spanish program, Golpe a Golpe, in which he said “De La Hoya told us there is a big possibility that the Hatton vs. Marquez fight will happen.” Beristain then went on to point out that he and his fighter, 36-year-old Marquez, are interested in the Hatton bout a great deal, and are ready to fly to England to make the fight happen.

Beristain sees it as a bout that would be financially rewarding for Marquez. No doubt. Marquez would get another big payday if Hatton goes for the idea. It would probably not be as big a payday as Marquez got in his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on September 19th, but it would still likely be a good payday. Unlike some other boxing trainers, Beristain doesn’t see Hatton as a shot fighter and thinks he has “a lot left” for him to make a good challenge for Marquez.

Let’s hope tat Golden Boy Promotions can get Hatton to resume his boxing career. Hatton has been out of the ring five months thus far since losing by a 2nd round knockout to Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd. Hatton has said that he’s waiting to get the fire in his belly before he returns to boxing.

One would hope that a fight with Marquez would be enough motivation for Hatton to make a ring return. It would be a tough fight for Hatton to make coming off a 2nd round knockout like the one he suffered in his bout with Pacquiao, but it would be one that would attract a lot of interest, both in the UK and the United States.

Beristain says “Cotto will be in a world of trouble when he steps in the ring with Manny.” Beristain points out that Pacquiao has improved as fighter recently and that his technique is so good right now. Beristain believes that Pacquiao’s left hand and is speed makes him really dangerous, describing it like this: “His [Pacquiao] left hand is like a missile. It has tremendous speed and his power is tremendous.” Beristain has seen Pacquiao in action against Marquez in two separate fights where Marquez was knocked down four times by Pacquiao’s big shots. He knows how powerful Pacquiao from experience.

Beristain doesn’t see Cotto as the same fighter he was before, saying “I don’t think he recovered from the beating Margarito gave him. I think Pacquiao will win this fight.” Beristain is commenting on Cotto’s 11th round knockout loss to Margarito,which took place last year in July 2008. Cotto fought well for the first nine rounds, moving constantly and landing well to the head of Margarito.

However, in the 10th round, Cotto suddenly ran out of gas and was stationary long enough for Margarito to stagger Cotto late in the round with a big uppercut to the head. Cotto escaped the round, but he was in bad shape when he came out for the11th.

Unable to move now due to his exhaustion, Cotto was forced to fight it out with Margarito. It didn’t work and Cotto, with blooding pouring down his face from a bloody nose and a cut eye, took a knee twice before the fight was stopped.