A middleweight unification clash between Kelly Pavlik and Arthur Abraham seems increasingly possible for November.

For a long time it seemed that WBC/WBO champion Pavlik's promotional company Top Rank were not warm to the idea of meeting long-time IBF titlist Abraham.

Now it is being claimed that a bout is being lined up for November 7 in Madison Square Garden.

Bob Arum has been publicly warmer about such a prospect and Abraham's promoter Wilfried Sauerland is confident of a deal being done.

"We are in intense negotiations and everything is going good," Sauerland told the German press. "The lawyers for both sides are already going over the contracts."

Ricky Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr insists he will be in the Mancunian's corner should a rematch with his son Floyd Jr materialise.

"Me and my son have had a fall-out and I'm going to let it be that way."

Mayweather Sr believes Hatton is now better equipped to fight his son, if he officially confirms his self-imposed exile is over.

"Ricky is a much better fighter than before, you can see a big difference in him, He is a real fast learner and is one of the best students I ever had. He had quality but no-one brought it out of him. This is just our second camp working together and he does a tremendous job.

"It has been very nice working with Ricky. He's a genuine person and we are pretty close but we are totally different and opposites attract. We are like night and day but he understands and respects me and I understand and respect him.

"As long as we keep things like that we will have a real nice relationship."

David Haye insists his world title fight with Wladimir Klitschko will be confirmed next week.

He said: "All the stumbling blocks are over now, everything has been agreed. I wanted to get this signed, sealed and delivered weeks ago but it has dragged on for one reason or another.

"The way negotiations were going early doors, I thought they were looking for a way out. I think Wladimir's been shamed into having this fight. There's no other fight out there for him that people are remotely interested in. He'll make more money fighting me than anyone else."

Haye, who has just two fights under his belt as a heavyweight, is confident he will defeat Klitschko when they finally meet in the summer.

The undisputed cruiserweight king added: "I know exactly what Wladimir's style is and I know the strategy to beat him. This is going to be one of my easiest fights. I'm not looking to go the distance, no way. I'd be surprised is this fight goes past six rounds."

Manny Pacquiao at last got a chance to avenge the first round knockout loss of younger brother Bobby Pacquiao when he got lightweight Urbano Antillon into the ring at the Wild Card Gym of trainer Freddie Roach for a sparring session Tuesday, Los Angeles Time.

Conditioning expert Alex Ariza in an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports said “it was an amazing sparring session…probably one of the best I’ve seen in a long time.”

Ariza said Pacquiao went six rounds with the undefeated 26 year old Antillon who has a record of 25-0 with 18 knockouts. Antillon has had a string of eight straight stoppages in a total of just 23 rounds and is the reigning North American Boxing Federation and WBO North American Boxing Organization super featherweight champion.

Among Antillon’s victims was Bobby Pacquiao whom he crushed in the first round of a lightweight bout .on March 13 last year, stopping the Filipino southpaw with a left to the head and devastating right to the body.

But Antillon soon found out that Manny Pacquiao was an altogether different proposition in what Ariza described as “a slugfest for six rounds.”

Ariza who helped Roach get Pacquiao into the best physical shape of his career for his devastating 9^th round knockout of WBC lightweight champion David Diaz and an eighth round demolition of Oscar De La Hoya last December 6 was overjoyed with Pacquiao’s performance.

“He is looking fantastic. To be honest with you I still think that true to my word I don’t see the fight (against Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton) going past six rounds.”

Mentally too, reports that we have received from the gym indicate Pacquiao is also mentally ready and focused despite the television contractual contortions of recent days.

Roach met with the members of Team Pacquiao and the others who hang around and told them that “this is Manny’s biggest fight” and he wants the boxing icon given some space and free from distractions.

In his final workout in the presence of media before leaving for the US on Sunday, Hatton said he plans to launch an all-out attack against Pacquiao from the opening bell and doesn’t believe Pacquiao will be able to handle his aggression.

Meantime, the IBO junior welterweight champion Hatton and Pacquiao will co-host a private, red carpet media “meet and greet” one month prior to their May 2 World Championship Showdown.  Both fighters are scheduled to arrive at 7:30 p.m. to walk the red carpet down Hollywood Boulevard at the Roosevelt Hotel, the original location for the Oscars.  It’s the American premiere of “The Battle of East and West” worthy of an Academy Award and starring both fighters who will be looking for their own award when they battle in the biggest international boxing event of the year. 

Bernard,

Congratulations on your great win at the weekend – you deserve it.  You’ve worked hard to get where you are today.  Being able to come back from the 5^th round to pull out the win, while being so far behind on the cards, is an accomplishment in itself. 

Doesn’t it feel good to be a World Champion?!?  I’m really delighted for you.  And being able to fight for the belt in front of your hometown fans is fantastic too. 

But let’s get down to business!

When I sat down with you in Dublin in January – while I was there for the UFC fights – I mentioned that we should fight whether you won or lost because this is a match up the fans want to see.

Since the weekend I’ve had dozens of emails from our fans saying we need to fight as it would be the biggest event in Irish history. 

So Bernard what do you say?  Let’s get this done.   I don’t have a promoter so the fight can be made easily – if you and your team want it!  I’m an over the hill old man so I’m not going to be much of a threat to you!!!

I know you’ve said in the past that you won’t fight me because I’m your “hero” but Oscar de la Hoya fought Julio Cesar Chavez who was his hero.  So that shouldn’t be an excuse.

Not since 1962 when Johnny Caldwell and Freddie Gilroy fought, have 2 guys from the same country fighting in the same weight class at the same time been able to meet at this level. 

We don’t have to fight for your belt but that would be a bonus.  You’re a world champion and no-one can ever take that away from you, so what do you have to lose?  Anyway when I beat you, the belt is going to stay with an Irishman!!!

I have cemented my legacy in boxing and fought the best along the way.  Right now, you are the champion and I’m sure you too will want to prove that you are the best.  To be the best, you have to beat the best.  So fight me!

I believe in my confidence, chin, talent and heart that I have what it takes to defeat you.  Can you say the same thing?

Enjoy your success, Bernard.  I’m proud of you!!

Your friend, Wayne McCullough

Amir Khan believes a rematch with Breidis Prescott is on the cards for later this year.

“I won’t make the same mistake again,” Khan said. “I want to fight him again and it is a serious possibility. I have spoken to my promoter Frank Warren about it.”

Freddy Roach who trains both P4P King Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan wants to use Khan to sharpen up the filipino's skills ahead of his match up with Ricky Hatton in May but a deep cut just above Khan’s eye, which he received in the first round clash of heads with Barrera, could prevent that from happening.

“My cut is more than an inch long and quite deep, but I had Dean Powell, a brilliant cutsman in my corner and he stemmed the flow of blood. Barrera did not have one in his corner which I don’t understand.”

Heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko (37-2, 36 KOs) scored another impressive TKO tonight this time in the ninth round over Juan Carlos Gomez (44-2, 35 KOs) at Hanns-Martin-Schleyer Halle in Stuttgart, Germany.

Throughout the nine rounds Vitali showed a greater command and broke down Gomez bit by bit in each round, Gomez was cut in round five above his right eye which added to the Ukranian's domination. Klitschko was also cut in the very next round from a headbutt, but dropped Gomez in the seventh with a big right uppercut. Klitschko dropped Gomez again in the ninth and the fight was soon waved off by referee Daniel van de Wiele. Time was 1:49.

Heavyweight Chris Byrd (41-5-1, 22 KOs) won a fourth round TKO over little known Matthias Sandow (4-4).

Heavyweight Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (32-3, 21 KOs) scored a fifth round TKO over Adnan Serin (19-10-1).

Heavyweight Alexander Ustinov (15-0, 13 KOs) won a second round TKO over Byron Polley (23-9-1, 11 KOs).

The Legendary former four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. (53-5, 39 KOs) scored a stunning fifth round TKO over Omar Sheika (27-9, 18 KOs) at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida.

Jones easily dominated Sheika showing quicker hand speed and accurate power punching. Jones fought most of the bout with his back against the ropes while looking to open up on the oncoming Sheika. The future Hall of Famer opened a nasty cut over the Sheika's right eye, prompting referee Tommy Kimmons to call a halt to the bout at 1-minute and 45-seconds of the fifth round.

Jones adds the vacant NABO 175lb belt to his many world title straps. “I want to give thanks to Pensacola in the house,” Jones announced from the center of the ring after the fight. “I felt really good. I’m ready. With my father, Coach Merk and my team I’m more comfortable. Do you want me back? (Roy asked the crowd that responded with a thunderous yes). I’ll be coming back.”

Cruiserweight BJ Flores (23-0-1, 14 KOs) scored a unanimous decision against the tough Colombian Jose Luis Herrera (16-6-1, 16 KOs) over ten rounds. Scores were 98-92, 99-91, 99-91.

Bantamweight Kieyon Bussey (7-0, 4 KOs) won a six round majority decision over Robert DaLuz (11-17, 9 KOs). Scores were 57-57, and 58-56, 58-56 for the hometown fighter Bussey,

The king of the heavyweight division will step back into the ring this Saturday when "Dr Iron Fist" Vitali Klitchko goes head to head with the "Black Panther" Juan Carlos Gomez. Both are big punchers and this one promises to be a good contest.

Also featuring this weekend will be the legendary Roy Jones Jr who will step through the ropes for the first time since his loss to Joe Calzaghe in November and will need to prove a point against the tough challenger in Omar Sheika.

Plus much much more...

To see where our prediction eventually went please either click this link.... or go to Predictions from the navigational bar at the top of this screen

Floyd Mayweather Jr., who hasn't fought since December 2007 and retired as the undefeated pound-for-pound king in June, is planning to fight again -- possibly as soon as July 11 -- two sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com.

"He is coming back. I've been around him. He's ready to dance again very soon," said one source, who recently spent time with Mayweather and has known him for years. "He's itching to go. The way he sounded, he is willing to take on whoever they throw in his face. He would do the [Manny] Pacquiao-[Ricky] Hatton winner, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez. The only one he doesn't have an interest in is [a rematch with] Oscar De La Hoya. But in Floyd's mind, he knows there is one Godzilla, and that's a fight with Pacquiao."

Manny Pacquiao began his first day of sparring with a spectacular performance at the Wild Card Gym yesterday.

Conditioning expert Alex Ariza told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that the first day of sparring was “very exciting.”

He said Pacquiao dropped sparring partner Art Hovhannesyan whom Ariza described as “a very tough, rugged Armenian who has been sparring here for a while and Manny dropped him in the second round and then cut him in the fourth” forcing an early end to the sparring session.

Ariza said Hovhannesyan was “a 147-150 pounder and Manny hit him with a straight left and he went down. Manny then caught him with what looked like an uppercut and that opened up a cut that ended the sparring at about two minutes into the fourth round.” The cut was about one inch on the left eyelid.

The conditioning expert noted “I’ve always said that at 140 pounds, he wont struggle to make weight, there are no diet issues and Manny is just so strong now.”

He said Pacquiao started his strength and conditioning on Monday and Ariza told us “ he did very well with that. He looks strong, almost like the De La Hoya fight.” He noted that Pacquiao is able to push himself but since its early in his training he gets a little tired. On Monday, Roach said Pacquiao went 15 rounds on the punch-mitts and it was he (Roach) who felt tired.

Manny Pacquiao' trainer and future hall of famer Freddie Roach told press members yesterday he expects Manny to knockout Ricky Hatton within three rounds when the two fighters go head to head on May 2nd.

On the run up to the fight Hatton has been telling everyone who would listen he would knock out Pacquiao in the sixth round. Upon hearing Roach responded with an expletive, he said “we’re going to knock him out in three.”

Roach will again use the services of Britain's Amir Khan. Khan sparred with Pacquiao during the Filipino southpaw’s preparation for his clash with Oscar De La Hoya last December 6 and has said he would “love to help him (Pacquiao) because he’s a good friend . He helps me out with some good advice and its good to have someone to look up to.”

Roach said Pacquiao did 15 rounds on the punch-mitts on Monday and was “doing really well” while he (Roach) was tired.

He said “its time to get focused” adding that Pacquiao will start sparring on Tuesday (LA Time) and will go four rounds with a fighter whom he described as “a tough 147 pound Armenian who is a strong kid.”

Rashad Holloway who was the main sparring partner of Pacquiao for the Oscar De La Hoya clash last December 6 said that Pacquiao had too much speed for Hatton whose defense was suspect and predicted

Amir Khan's American trainer Freddy Roach played down talk of a title fight today instead insisting that The Bolton born fighter has a few more fights before he is ready.

"We've got to sit down and assess what we do next," said the American. "We possibly might take a few more fights first to improve on his game a little more.

"Even though he fought a very good fight against Barrera, he made a few mistakes in there and I'll show him the tape and show him where he dropped his hands a little bit. We're not perfect yet, but we're getting there."

Promoter Frank Warren was thought to be lining up Nate Campbell for Amir before the American was forced to vacate the IBF, WBA and WBO titles when he failed to make the weight against Ali Funeka last month.

"Nate Campbell would have been a great fight and I think Amir would have beaten him," he said. "He held three belts and that was the game-plan. But it's out the window now. We've just got to look at who's out there.

"We don't have to rush anything and in an ideal world we'll fight again in June. We may look at the US, that's an option. Robert Earl, who's a good friend of mine from Planet Hollywood, was over for the Barrera fight. He's been driving me mad to put together something big and there's no one bigger than Amir right now."

Newly retired superstar and future Hall of Famer Joe Calzaghe has won again, this time it wasnt in the ring but in Court following a legal dispute with former promoter Frank Warren.

Mr Justice Wyn Williams dismissed Warren's claim for £1m from the fighter and ruled at the High Court that he should instead pay Calzaghe around £2m in unpaid fees.

Calzaghe claimed that Warren, through his company Sports Network, managed to persuade him to sign contracts under duress while he was suffering dehydration and hunger preparing for fights and alleged there was a conflict of interests while he was managed by Warren because Sports Network was also promoting the fights.

Warren denied owning Calzaghe any money and insisted he was owed a £1m from him for breach of contract.

It must now feel like a long time since Enzo Maccarinelli was at the top of the cruiserweight division after losses to David Haye and now Ola Alofabi, The Swansea born fighters career is in the balance.

Maccarinelli was stopped in the ninth round as the unfancied Alofabi picked up the interim WBO cruiserweight title at the MEN Arena on Saturday night.

And the Welshman left promoter Frank Warren thoroughly unimpressed by revealing he had not sparred ahead of the fight.

He said: "I trained hard, was nice and fresh but I think my lack of sparring told. Take nothing away from Afolabi, I took him too lightly and I got beat."

Maccarinelli's trainer Enzo Calzaghe spent much of his time in court during the build-up to the clash due to his son Joe's dispute with his former promoter.

But Warren insists the Swansea fighter should have no excuses for blowing his big chance.

He said: "Enzo will kick himself and I'll kick him as well. With what I heard after the fight, I don't even know what he was doing in there. He said he didn't have one round of sparring — not one single round. The court case is going on with Joe Calzaghe and myself, so his dad was in court every day and obviously wasn't with Enzo. But it's no good looking for excuses after the fight."

Despite Maccarinelli now having three defeats on his record, Warren insists he can bounce back — if he wants to.

Marco Antonio Barrera spoke out saying the fight should have been stopped in the first round and not the fifth which would have resulted in a non contest.

Speaking to Sky Box-Office after the fight "We came ready to fight, I got caught with a head-butt in the first round and it was called by the ref as a head-butt but he did not stop the fight in the first round," Barrera said. "I don't know why because the cut was as big before as it is now (after the fight).

"If I'd had both my eyes the fight would not have ended this way. I couldn't see the guy from the first round, the blood was in my eye and I just couldn't see with it."

Barrera, who says he will sit and think about where he goes from here, said Khan, aside from with his accidental butt, never hurt him in the fight.

"I didn't even feel his punches," Barrera said. "He's got fast hands but his punches did nothing to me. I didn't feel them. I just went a little crazy because I wanted to try to fight before they stopped it.

"I am just going to talk to my family. I feel good tonight, it was just because of the cut that I lost. I'll discuss it with my family [whether or not to carry on boxing], discuss it with Don King and we'll take it from there. But I'm going to take a little break now."

Amir Khan took the biggest scalp of his career tonight as he stopped the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera in the fifth round due to a cut from an unintentional headbutt.

In front of a packed M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England. Barrera suffered a deep gash on the hairline from an unintentional headbutt that bled into his left eye from the first round on which obviously affected him. Khan as predicted looked the quicker and used the cut to his advantage. Doctors looked at the cut in the fourth round but decided to leave the fight continue (if the fight was stopped at that point it would have resulted in a no decision). The fight was stopped though in the very next round, sending the verdict to the scorecards, which read 50-44, 50-45, 50-45 for Khan.

Saturday night will see the acid test between the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera and The British Goldenboy Amir Khan.

Both men are at a crossroads in terms of their career with this WBO Lighgtweight eliminator able to make or break them.

To see where our prediction eventually went please either click this link.... or go to Predictions from the navigational bar at the top of this screen

Japan's Takahiro Aoh was successful in his attempt to capture the WBC crown today as he defeated Oscar Larios by unanimous decision.

Aoh took the earlier rounds on the judges scorecards and scored a knockdown in the fourth round as he played a tactical second half of the fight to win via Unanimous decision.

Joe Calzaghe responded to rumours of a return yesterday insisting he has no motivation for a B-Hop rematch or any other for that matter.

The 36 Year old told various UK newspapers yesterday "I don't know if anyone remembers but I have retired. I have beaten Hopkins once. It wasn't a great fight as styles make fights and he came to hold and to spoil, rather than to 'execute' as his nickname suggests.

"Right now I am totally happy in my decision to retire and couldn't consider fighting Hopkins because I simply don't have the motivation.

"Motivation is the key thing for me. Throughout my career I gave some of my worst displays against the worst fighters, guys that you'd never heard of and who I simply didn't want to be in the ring with.

"I am enjoying my life at the moment and enjoying my retirement, spending more time with my sons and less time in the gym being tortured by my dad!

"I can't stop people speculating and I can't stop people talking about whether or not I will fight again.

"But I've said it once and I am happy to do so again — don't bet on a Joe Calzaghe comeback."

Marco Antonio Barrera says he has been training hard to take on Amir Khan, and insists he can handle the fast-handed Briton on Saturday in Manchester.

Bolton bomber Khan faces his toughest challenge to date when he goes up against Mexican legend and three-weight world champion Barrera.

The MEN Arena in Manchester will stage 'Coming of Age', live on Sky Box Office on Saturday night, when it will be a case of the veteran versus the young gun.

The speed and skill of Khan will be his main asset against Barrera (65-6, 43 KOs), but the 'Baby Faced Assassin' will be using his strength and experience to counter - and he insists he is ready.

"I'm working very hard, I've been working many months for this fight," Barrera told Sky Sports News.

"Khan is very fast, he moves well, he is a strong fighter, but I am ready for the fight. It'll be an exciting fight."

Barrera insists his career is still very much on the go, and is not winding down, with Saturday's fight being a WBO eliminator - a fourth world title is his big aim and Khan will face the fight of his life to deny him.

Junior welterweight Victor Ortiz (24-1-1, 19 KOs) scored a second round TKO over “Mighty” Mike Arnauotis (21-3-1, 10 KOs). Ortiz rocked Arnauotis with a straight left and got the stoppage with his follow-up attack. Time was 1:27.

James Kirkland (25-0, 22 KOs) stopped Joel Julio (34-3, 31 KOs) after six rounds at ther HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.

Kirkland was all action from the first round and pressed the action early on cutting Julio over the right eye. Julio got into the fight in round two. Kirkland walked through Julio’s big punches as he continued to break Julio down. The bout was stopped at the end of round six.

The junior lightweight clash between Robert Guerrero (23-1-1, 16 KOs) and Daud Yordan (17-0, 12 KOs) ended in a no decision after former IBF featherweight world champion and Guerrero was cut over the right eye by an unintentional headbutt in round two. Time was 1:47 of ther second when it was stopped

“Hard Hitta” Mayfield, (8-0-1, 5 KOs) scored a narrow unanimous decision over rugged Mexican Mario Lozano, (6-1, 5 KOs) scores were 56-55, 56-55, and 57-54.

Charles Huerta scored a controversial split decision over Andres Ledesma, (15-12-1, 10 KOs). scores were 59-55 and a questionable 60-54, while the third judge awarded the more accurate Ledesma with a 58-56 score.

Heavyweight Seth Mitchell, (10-0-1, 7 KOs) TKO`d Joseph Rabotte, (3-5, 1 KO) at 1:19 of the first round.

Eloy Perez, (13-0-2, 3 KOs) TKO`d Gabe Garcia, (5-6-1, 1 KO) in the fourth round

Luis Ramos, (10-0, 5 KOs) scored a unanimous decision over Anthony Martinez, (21-29-3, 9 KOs), in a four-round lightweight bout, 40-35, 40-36, 40-36.

This weekend see's the highly anticipated match up between:

Light Heavyweight bout:

Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine

Heavyweight bout:

Shane Carwin vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

Welterweight bout:

Matt Brown vs. Pete Sell

Light Heavyweight bout:

Matt Hamill vs. Mark Munoz

Lightweight bout:

Gray Maynard vs. Jim Miller

Plus much much more from the Preliminary Card and throughout the week we have seen many experts make their prediction but there is no one around MMA at the moment with the kind of prediction rates of our very own MMA Guru Daniel Foley, Check out where he went with his predictions by either going to MMA from the navigational bar or clicking Here...

Oscar de la Hoya: This is the type of event that fight fans will be talking about for months and years to come…These are compelling fights, top-notch fights and it doesn’t get any better than this.

“Vicious” Victor Ortiz: We’re ready and I know my opponent is ready and we’ll see what happens Saturday night. I can’t really call him [Mike Arnaoutis] an opponent, he’s a champion and I know he’ll be ready.

Joel Julio: I feel good, I’m ready for James Kirkland. Kirkland is a very good fighter, but he hasn’t been tested yet…I am looking forward to March 7 when I plan to knock Kirkland out.

James Kirkland: We trained very well for the fight. I know Joel’s coming prepared but I came to do what I came to do…Me and Julio are going to meet up in the center of that ring and we’re going to see whose chin is better.

Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero: It’s about time I got out to San Jose to fight and I’d like to thank Golden Boy for putting on the show here. [Commenting on Daud Yordan's "Ghostbusters" shirt] I like that little “Ghostbusters” sign on the back of his shirt, but the last person who came out with a “Ghostbusters” sign was Jason Litzau and I knocked him out in eight rounds.

flyweight Koki Kameda (20-0, 13 KOs) remained unbeaten as he easily stopped Mexican Dolores Vidal in the second round.

Koki dropped Vidal three times in the second in Saitama, Japan, on Wednesday.

Daiki Kameda (13-1, 10 KOs) demolished Wandee Singwangcha (57-10-1, 12 KOs) at 0:27 of the sixth session. Wandee succumbed to Daiki’s body shots.

Boxer Mickey Goodwin, a one time Golden Gloves amateur title winner, was found bludgeoned to death Tuesday.

Melvindale police Lt. Keith Guyot told the Detroit Free Press that the 50-year-old Goodwin's body was found about 5 p.m. local time in the home he shared with his mother. Police said his mother wasn't home at the time, but they declined to release other details.

Goodwin was trained at Detroit's Kronk Gym by Emanuel Steward, who also trained Thomas Hearns and Hilmer Kenty. Goodwin won the Golden Gloves title in 1975 and turned pro two years later, compiling a 40-2-1 record with 28 knockouts as a light heavyweight.

Goodwin, however, never won a championship. After a draw and a loss in 1985, he went eight years before his next fight, then and won seven straight bouts, the last on Nov. 29, 1994.

England's world light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton believes he will emerge victorious over Filipino pugilist Manny Pacquiao in their world title bout in Las Vegas on May 2.

The 30-year-old Englishman met up with Pacquiao, who confirmed his status as the world's leading fighter with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya in 2008, in London for a friendlier meeting than can be expected of the fireworks when they face each other in May.

"My size and strength will be a key factor," Hatton told BBC Sport. "Light-welterweight is my weight division. I've never lost at 10st and I'm brimming with confidence."

While Hatton admires his opponent, a four-weight world champion, he believes that the Filipino beat a de la Hoya, who was on the decline.

"I know he beat Oscar de la Hoya, but Oscar wasn't that difficult to beat and outbox that night, I think I could have done an equally as good job, if not better," said Hatton, who has a record of 45 wins from 46 fights.

"Oscar got in the ring at 10st 7lb, I'll get in the ring at 11st. Manny will have a lot of punishment to absorb.

"I've seen Manny dropped with body shots a few times by smaller men and seen him shook up with head punches."

However, Hatton did concede that it would not be an easy bout despite the difference in size between the two fighters.

"I'll have a lot of difficulty with him," said Hatton, who hopes that victory over Pacquiao will pave the way for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, the only man ever to beat him.

"He's got very good punching power and very fast hands from a southpaw style. He also brings fighters on to the punch and has good footwork.

"It's the two most popular fighters in the world and the two most exciting fighters in the world fighting for the biggest prize in boxing, Manny's pound-for-pound title. It will be the fight of the year."

Pacquiao, also 30 and who owns a record of 48 wins and three losses from 53 fights, said he felt the same thrill about this fight than he had for when he fought de la Hoya.

"The intensity for this fight is the same as for the Oscar de la Hoya fight (which was last December)," he said.

"But I think there will be more action in the ring against Ricky, the intensity will be double it was in the last fight."

Lightweight Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) scored a massive ninth round KO over Juan Diaz (34-2, 17 KOs) to claim the vacant WBA super and WBO lightweight titles, as well as Diaz’ IBO belt on Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston.

From the start of the bout it was all out war as Marquez absorbed Diaz’ relentless pressure early on but Marquez was then able to break down Diaz dropping him twice in the ninth. Time was 2:40.

Featherweight champion Chris John (42-0-2, 22 KOs) and Rocky Juarez (28-4-1, 20 KOs) battled to a hard-fought twelve round draw. All three judges scored it 114-114,

After the fight “I thought I won the fight easy,” said John. “I dominated the fight. He was a tough fighter but what can I say?”

Rocky stated “I thought I won the fight. I gave up the middle rounds. I lost some of them, but it was a great show. I wanted to win the title in front my hometown fans. I got cut but it had nothing to do with it. I came out in the later rounds and thought I took the fight. He fought a good smart fight but was my fault.”

Welterweight Danny Garcia (11-0, 7 KOs) defeated Cristian Favela (15-18-6, 9 KOs) by eight round unanimous decision. Scores: 80-72, 80-72, 79-73

Super middleweight Daniel Jacobs (14-0, 13 KOs) defeated Jose Cruz (12-16-3, 4 KO) by KO at 2:59 of round one.

Lightweight Hylon Williams Jr. (8-0, 3 KOs) defeated Edgar Partillo (3-1, 2 KOs) by TKO in round six.

Jr. middleweight Jermell Charlo (6-0, 3 KOs) defeated Juan Serrano (2-5-1, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision, 40-36, 40-36, 40-36.

Jr. welterweight Ramon Flores (3-4-1) defeated Hector Vazquez (1-1) by TKO at 2:55 of round one.

Jr. middleweight Michael Anderson (4-0-1, 2 KOs) defeated Oscar Rosales (4-4-1, 1 KO) by knockout at 1:06 of round one.

Jr. welterweight Darryl Hayes (1-0) won his pro debut against Gerardo Carillo (0-4-1) by unanimous decision 40-36, 40-36, 39-37.