Pacquiao Will Defend WBC lightweight Title On Nov 8 This Year

The new World Boxing Council lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao is set to defend his title on November 8.

In an interview, Pacquiao said the schedule for his next fight is already set but his next opponent remains unknown.

"Wala pa (kalaban) pero yung date November 8 (There is no specific opponent yet but it would be on November 8)," Pacquiao said.

He said his next fights would depend on the schedule which would be given by his promoter, Top Rank president Bob Arum. He added the decision to go up to the heavier weight division also depends on Arum.

"Depende sa makakalaban kung 140 pounds o 135 pounds (kung aakyat ng weight division). Depende sa (decision) ni Arum. Pwede kung matuloy yung kay Hatton (It will depend on the opponent if I will go to 140 pounds or stay at 135 pounds. It will all depend on Arum. But I can go up if the fight with Hatton will materialize)," Pacquiao said.

Hatton is the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight champion.

The Filipino southpaw boxing champion said he aims to continue improving on his right hand. I still need to improve my right hand. I will develop my right hand so I can use it more in my fights," Pacquiao said.

At present, Pacquiao is mending his bandaged right hand which was hurt during the fight against David Diaz. It is still swollen but it has no other injuries," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao stole the WBC lightweight belt from Mexican-American champion Diaz via a ninth-round knockout. With the victory, Pacquiao became the first Asian boxer to win world titles in four weight classes. Pacquiao is also the holder of the WBC super featherweight title. Pacquiao and his team are tentatively set to return to the Philippines on July 4.

Eyeing On The Next Oponent - Who Is Richard Hatton
Richard "Ricky" Hatton - an English boxer, born October 6, 1978, in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. He is one of the most popular British fighter of all time . He is more commonly known as Ricky The Hitman Hatton.

Hatton a two-time IBF and IBO Light Welterweight Champion, having relinquished the IBF belt, only to step back down to the weight class and beat Juan Urango. He was the WBA Welterweight Champion, but relinquished this title on August 31, 2006. Hatton is also the former WBU, WBA Light Welterweight Champion and WBC, WBA, WBO Inter-Continental Light Welterweight Champion, and current Ring Magazine Light Welterweight Champion.

Biography
Hatton was raised on the Hattersley council estate in Hyde, Greater Manchester and trained at the Sale West ABC on the Racecourse Estate. Both his grandfather and father played for Rochdale A.F.C. and Ricky had a trial for the youth team. But Hatton found a local boxing club in Hyde, which he still trains at and found he enjoyed the sport. Hatton's entrance music is the Manchester City club song "Blue Moon" as performed by the band "Supra." Aged 14, Hatton was taken by his uncles Ged and Paul to Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium to watch the second fight between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank. Hatton joined the family carpet business on leaving school, but after he cut four of his fingers with a Stanley knife, his father made him a salesman to prevent him from losing his fingers.

FYI - Behind Sports