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'Golden Boy' eyes Hatton bout

11/08/2007

Oscar De La Hoya says he wants two more fights before retiring and is eyeing Ricky Hatton as a potential opponent.

De La Hoya's last fight was against Floyd Mayweather, who defeated him on a split points decision after their Las Vegas showdown went the full 12 rounds.

Mayweather is set to fight Hatton on December 8th and De La Hoya hopes to take on the winner of that bout.

The 34-year-old said he would be keen to reduce the size of the ring if he was to have a rematch with Mayweather as he wants his final two fights to be explosive.

He said: "Mayweather is a very slippery fighter, he is a tricky fighter. So, obviously, we would want a smaller ring and it would be more of an interesting, exciting fight.

"That is the only obstacle that is in the way of making a rematch."

The Golden Boy spoke highly of Hatton after the Mancunian's last fight against Jose Luis Castillo, who the Hitman knocked out inside four rounds.

De La Hoya claimed after that fight that a potential match-up with Hatton would be a challenge he would relish.

"If that fight does get made, fans all over the world will be ecstatic. They will see a fight. Ricky Hatton comes to fight. And that's what I love. If we ever do it, it will be a heck of a show, that's for sure," said De La Hoya.

Although De La Hoya is a natural light middleweight he says he would be happy to drop down to welterweight to take on Hatton.

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