GOLDEN Boy Promotions vice president and international matchmaker Eric Gomez said he is leaning toward Ricky Hatton in his showdown with the world?s no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2.

Gomez spoke to www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports from Houston, Texas on the eve of the lightweight battle between Ring Magazine champion Juan Manuel Marquez and International Boxing Organization champion Juan Diaz and the World Boxing Association featherweight championship bout between undefeated Indonesian champion Chris John and Rocky Juarez.

?I expect Hatton to come right at Manny,? said Gomez, who believes that the IBO light welterweight champion is truly comfortable at 140 pounds. ?He feels the weight is going to get the better of Manny.?

Gomez noted that Hatton is very aggressive and Pacquiao can?t afford to make any mistakes, although he conceded that the Filipino southpaw has the advantage in speed and footwork.

The top executive of Golden Boy Promotions, who handles Hatton, said the British Hitman has been training for some weeks now, while Pacquiao has been engaged in other activities and will report to the Wild Card gym of Freddie Roach only after his promotional tour stops in Manchester and London. Ronnie Nathanielsz