Britain’s IBO light welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton start training this week for his showdown with Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.
Hatton’s father Ray Hatton spoke to BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports after the family had returned to Manchester from what he termed “a very good" Caribbean cruise. Hatton said his son was “fine and eager to get back into the gym and is looking forward to the fight.”
He said Hatton will train for about eleven weeks for the Pacquiao fight. Plans call for Hatton to train for five weeks in Ashton-under-Lyne with his British trainer Lee Beard who will be joined by Floyd Mayweather Sr on March 8 after which they would “travel back together” to Las Vegas for the final six weeks of training.
Ray Hatton said his son “likes to feel the excitement of getting back into the gym He likes to get out and then get in” with Ricky claiming “I want to feel that I am doing everything I wanted to do.”
Ray Hatton said the IBO champion likes to be out of the gym so he is motivated to get back in.
Asked about the allegations by Craig Christian, the Australian trainer of WBA featherweight champion Chris Johnthat Hatton was “one of the dirtiest fighters out there and would rough up Pacquiao or try to for sure” Ray Hatton branded the claims “absolute nonsense.”
He said Hatton “never fought dirty in any of his fights” posing the question “when did he use his elbow? When did he use his head?”
At the same time Ray Hatton hadn’t apparently heard of Christian and asked
“Who is he? Is he an American? Is he a fighter or a trainer?” and passed it off by merely saying “some people want to be sensational.”
Ray Hatton also stated “Manny is not Gentleman Jim Corbett.” James John Corbett was heavyweight champion of the world and was dubbed "Gentleman Jim" by the media. He has been called the "Father of Modern Boxing" mainly due to his scientikfic approach and innovations in technique. He has been credited for changing boxingg from a brawl to an art form.
While Hatton is set to begin training Pacquiao is scheduled to leave for Los Angeles on February 24 and is expected to report to the Wild Card Gym for a few days before leaving for promotional tour stops in London and Manchester City, the hometown of Hatton. He is expected to have around nine weeks of training.
Source: boxingscene.com
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