Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton - News and Updates, Boxing Videos, Pictures, Streaming

Pacquiao-Hatton PPV numbers something to celebrate, even if Arum refuses

2009-05-14T09:11:00.001-07:00

For the past two weeks I've been asked constantly about the pay-per-view numbers for the May 2 Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight, boxing's biggest fight of the year so far.

The eagerly anticipated showdown was promoted wonderfully. There was great buzz all week in Las Vegas and an electric atmosphere inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena on fight night, not to mention a spectacular second-round knockout victory for Pacquiao.

However, the period at the end of the sentence -- the pay-per-view buys -- has been missing because Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who co-promoted the event with Golden Boy Promotions, refuses to disclose the figures for reasons that are beyond me.

He sure gave me an earful about it this week while dropping several words that wouldn't be appropriate for an ESPN.com blog. In the one statement he made that I can quote, he said (loudly), "We did very well. Everyone involved in this event did a good job, but it's nobody's business what the numbers are but ours and the fighters. I'm not gonna release the figures."

For whatever reason, Arum doesn't want to give them out, nor will he allow his partners at Golden Boy or HBO PPV to disclose them. What does he have to hide, anyway?

However, being a resourceful kind of guy with pretty darn good sources in the boxing business and television industry, I got the number, Arum's secrecy be damned. From what my sources tell me, the fight sits at about 825,000 domestic pay-per-view buys with the likelihood that when they're all counted, the total will reach 850,000 or more.

That means the fight generated almost $50 million from the American pay-per-view, a huge number that doesn't even take into account the pay-per-view figures from Hatton's turf in the United Kingdom, where the fight easily could have done 1 million buys. Nor does it take into account the live gate of $8,832,950 or the closed-circuit ticket sales of $575,750 in Las Vegas alone. There's also a pile of cash from the rest of the closed-circuit and international television sales, a seven-figure license fee from HBO for the delayed broadcast rights, sponsorship money and merchandise revenue.

How big was Pacquiao-Hatton? If you take away heavyweight pay-per-views involving Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield as well as the Oscar De La Hoya fights, it's the second-best ever. Only Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s victory against Hatton in December 2007 did more business, generating 915,000 domestic buys.

The bottom line is that Pacquiao-Hatton was a massive success, something Arum should be proud of instead of trying to hide, especially because this was the first big fight of the post-De La Hoya era. I stopped trying to figure Arum out a long time ago, but his decision on this topic makes no sense.

At a time when many have questioned what would become of the boxing business in the wake of the retirement of De La Hoya, the all-time pay-per-view king, Pacquiao-Hatton answered the question with an emphatic, "Yes, there is still life in this business."

When a 140-pound fight in which neither participant is American can do a number like 850,000, especially in the midst of a brutal recession, it's celebration time. And it's not the end, either. A whole series of fights involving Pacquiao and Mayweather can get the public excited and generate big numbers. With Mayweather out of retirement and set to face Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18, you can bank on another fight that will generate in the 500,000-buy range. And, eventually, when Pacquiao and Mayweather finally meet in the fight the public is already demanding, I believe it may rise into the 1.5 million-buy stratosphere.

Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer and HBO PPV chief Mark Taffet acquiesced to Arum's insistence that official numbers not be released on Pacquiao-Hatton, but neither of them is happy about it. I don't blame them. They want to talk up their success, not be muzzled.

So without disclosing the figures, Taffet did say, "Pacquiao-Hatton was a true megafight and establishes Manny Pacquiao as a true pay-per-view star. Most importantly, with Pacquiao-Hatton, Mayweather-Marquez and the great possibilities of matchups in the 140- and 147-pound divisions, we are entering a very exciting period for boxing fans and the sport."

Taffet is right, even if that wacky Arum doesn't want to acknowledge it with facts and figures.

Source: sports.espn.go.com

Manny Pacquiao given rapturous reception by Filipino fans in Manila

2009-05-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Tens of thousands lined the streets of Manila for the welcome home parade of Manny Pacquiao, following his two-round destruction of Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas on May 2.

Pacquiao returned home late last week following a government request that he stay in the United States for five days after his fight because of concerns over swine flu.
However, the world's No 1 pound-for-pound fighter was given an official reception by Philippine President Gloria Arroyo at the state palace on a day declared as a national holiday.

Adoring fans had braved the morning tropical heat to throng the streets of Manila, cheering and honking horns as Pacquiao waved to them from a truck decorated with Filipino flags that wound through the capital.
Office workers left their desks and showered Pacquiao with confetti, chanting "Manny! Manny!" while traffic blocked off side streets to allow the passage of the convoy of more than 30 vehicles, tying up traffic.

"He's the people's champ," said Danilo David, a 39-year-old government employee who filled his tank with two dollars' worth of petrol – half his daily pay – just to be a motorcycle escort for Pacquiao's convoy.

"We're happy and privileged to escort him around Manila," David said.
Pacquiao tossed red and white T-shirts that bore his picture and the slogan "King Of The Ring" into the crowd. "The reception was tremendous," he said.
The crowds were especially thick and enthusiastic at the impoverished district of Tondo in Manila's rundown dockyards, where a week earlier thousands had crammed a public gym to watch a free broadcast of the fight.

At the presidential palace, Arroyo played the part of a journalist, interviewing her guest about the Hatton fight for the benefit of the assembled Filipino officials, palace staff and members of Team Pacquiao.

"He was so busy watching my left that he did not see my right hand coming," said Pacquiao, who dropped the Mancunian twice in the first round before sending him to the canvas unconscious at the end of the second round.
"He was not able to adjust his strategy. He fights in a certain style and did not change."
His International Boxing Organisation junior welterweight title means Pacquiao, who started boxing as light-flyweight in his teens to escape poverty, has equalled the record of six world crowns in different divisions.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao a work of art but still in progress

2009-05-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

Bob Arum is beginning to look at Manny Pacquiao the way an artist sees unfinished work that has potential to be a masterpiece.

"A grand painting," Arum said after Pacquiao began to show signs of enduring greatness Saturday night with a second-round stoppage, stunning and scary, of Ricky Hatton. "It's not all about the money. At least, that's my thinking."

Other than perhaps money, a canvas is about the only thing boxing and art have in common. From Floyd Mayweather Jr. to Miguel Cotto, Arum is more likely to paint by numbers preceded by dollar signs.

But there are elements in Pacquiao's brilliant emergence that suggest a future without any apparent limits. The next couple of years will determine whether he becomes an all-timer. A celebratory Arum said he has the chance to be the best ever, which on the promoter's long list of famed clients includes Muhammad Ali. Any parallel that includes Ali is a dangerous one and in Pacquiao's case might not be accurate, much less fair.

Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach compares the Filipino to Henry Armstrong. But unforgettable fighters make their own history mostly because there just has never been anybody quite like them. Pacaquiao, with his sixth title in a sixth weight class, has a chance to do exactly that. They are all-timers for the way they fight, but also for what they say about their own times.

Consider Ali. Roach thinks Pacquiao is a better all-around fighter than Ali, who Roach says often coasted through fights because of his terrific talent. But Ali is an all-timer, also because he was the face and mouth for a noisy, politically charged era in the 1960s and 1970s.

In the 2005 film Cinderella Man, director Ron Howard and actor Russell Crowe resurrected the idea of what it means to be an unforgettable fighter with the portrayal of James Braddock, a mediocre heavyweight champ yet a man who staged a comeback that reflected his times, the Depression. After Braddock, there was Joe Louis, remembered for a victory over Nazi Germany's Max Schmeling in a 1938 rematch that was followed by world war.

Then there was Mike Tyson, who won't be remembered as a great fighter, yet is -- and I suspect always will be -- unforgettable for the crazy, profligate ways in which he represented the excesses of the late 1980s and 1990s.

Now, there is Pacquiao, a quiet Filipino who unlike Tyson would never assume he knows it all. Pacquiao's humility is a match for tough times in a world struggling to find ways to combat a lousy economy. There's no way to bully or trash-talk your way out of a nasty recession, although you would never know it from listening to the me-me-me Mayweathers.

Only the cool and collected Pacquiao throws punches and takes the very few that have landed over his past two bouts. But he always speaks as though he doesn't do it for only himself. He thanks instead of mocks the loser, who after all is a business partner. Next to the Mayweathers, Pacquiao's evident selflessness looks and sounds quaint. But during times when a lot of people have been humbled, Pacquiao's humility works. Also, it's echoed by Roach.

"You know, I'm only the best trainer in the world because I have the best fighter in the world," said Roach, who predicted a KO within three rounds before Pacquiao knocked down Hatton three times within two rounds in his first bout at 140 pounds.

From bout to bout, that Pacquiao humility is the definition of a fighter always looking to learn. There's been some talk that Pacquiao has only improved since his loss in 2005 to Erik Morales in the first of their three fights. I'm not sure that's accurate.

There was an evident plateau in a so-so decision over Marco Antonio Barrera a couple of years ago. Pacquiao wasn't spectacular on that October night in 2007, but the lesson plan in defensive tactics was played out perfectly with in-and-out, side-to-side movement that he has used with such effectiveness since then.

The guess here is Pacquiao, now 30, will surprise us again with even more new tricks against a long list of dangerous possibilities, also including Sugar Shane Mosley and Edwin Valero. Mayweather, the leader in the pound-for-pound debate, looms as Pacquiao's defining fight if all of the details can be worked out. In at least one Las Vegas sports book, the speculated fight already is listed as pick'em.

First, Mayweather has to get past Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 in a bout announced Saturday despite some confusion about the contracted weight. Marquez said they had agreed on 143 pounds, give or take a pound. Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe would only say "it was a welterweight (147-pound) fight.

The Mayweather-Marquez winner presumably moves on to Pacquiao, although I'd like to see Pacquiao face both, regardless of what happens on July 18 at Las Vegas' MGM Grand. Marquez lost a split decision in March 2008 in the rematch of a 2004 draw with Pacquiao. But the fight was close and the post-fight debate remains unresolved. A lot people still believe Marquez won. There's only one way to resolve that one, although I suspect Pacquiao would prefer to move on and beyond Marquez, who might be that one fighter with the right style to stop his ascent.

Meanwhile, the Mayweather possibility is the piece that could complete Arum's vision of a masterpiece if -- and there are at least couple of those -- Pacquiao can beat Cotto and perhaps Mosley at a catch weight a few pounds lighter than 147.

But negotiations for Mayweather-Pacquiao look problematic at best. Arum said last week that he would not deal with Mayweather representative Al Haymon. Arum did say that he would bargain with Golden Boy promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.

In announcing the Mayweather-Marquez fight, Schaefer acted as Mayweather's promoter and even staged an argument with Golden Boy owner Oscar De La Hoya, who spoke for Marquez. It looked like a gimmick. But if it means Schaefer will speak for Mayweather in negotiations with Arum, it's pretty good gimmick. Maybe even an artistic one.

Source: cbssports.com

Pacquiao returns home despite flu fears

2009-05-09T05:45:00.000-07:00

Boxing idol Manny Pacquiao returned to the Philippines early Friday despite a request from Manila that he delay his hero's return as a precaution against the spread of swine flu from the United States.

Pacquiao, often considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, cemented his reputation Saturday night when he knocked out British boxer Ricky Hatton in the second round of a match in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A low-key welcome that included three of his four children greeted the 30-year-old boxer at Manila International Airport.

A homecoming parade initially planned for Friday has been moved by the Philippine government to Monday, which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared "Manny Day."

Pacquiao, dubbed "Pacman" by fans, spoke briefly to reporters, telling them he felt safer from the swine flu in the Philippines, where there have been no reported cases of the disease, than he did in the United States, where nearly 900 cases have been confirmed.Manny's low-key homecoming

On Wednesday, Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque asked the boxer to go into "self-quarantine" either in Los Angeles, where he was after the Las Vegas fight, or in Manila.

Pacquiao returned to Manila, but did not go into quarantine, although the large public celebration was delayed.

Pacquiao grew up poor in General Santos City in the southern Philippines.

He found boxing as a way to lift himself to fame and riches, yet he remains self-deprecating outside of the ring.

It is this combination of being a fierce fighter in the ring and a smiling deferential one outside that has helped turn him into an idol.

Source: cnn.com

My postfight sit-in with Pacquiao

2009-05-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS -- The day began like so many other Sundays after a big fight: I woke up in my MGM Grand room a bit weary after a long week, and not looking forward to a tiring day of cross-country travel back home to Northern Virginia.

I followed my usual routine by packing, working on Monday's weekend scorecard and fielding phone calls and requests for radio interviews around the country from those who wanted to talk about the fight.

In this case, the big fight was Manny Pacquiao, the world's best fighter, against Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao had obliterated Hatton in two rounds only hours earlier to win the world junior welterweight championship, a title in a record-tying sixth weight class and a record-setting fourth lineal championship.

As usual, I planned to hang around my room working while waiting for my 4:21 p.m. flight. (Thanks to the lovely Stephanie Heller from the MGM public relations team, who always takes care of me with a late checkout.) I was also planning to have lunch with a friend who lives in Las Vegas before heading to the airport. (Yes, I had the upgrade.)

The PacMan had devoured Hatton, scoring two first-round knockdowns and then putting him to sleep with a massive left cross -- one of the greatest knockouts I have ever witnessed ringside -- just before the end of the second round.

Little did I know at the time that some 15 hours later I would have an unexpected audience with the pound-for-pound king in his private suite at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay, where I would rewatch the fight with Pacquiao, who was seeing the video for the first time.

It was quite a day. Here's what happened:

I got a call from my buddy Brad "Abdul" Goodman, the Top Rank matchmaker with whom I have been friends since the early 1990s, long before either us began our current boxing gigs. Goodman, who lives in Las Vegas, had been asked by Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz if he could burn a DVD of the fight because Pacquiao wanted to see it.

So Goodman called me to see if I wanted to get together a little earlier than planned. He would pick me up at the MGM and I'd go with him on his errand to Mandalay Bay to drop off the DVD, then we'd have lunch there. Sounded good to me, so I finished packing, wrote as much of the weekend scorecard as I could, and checked out.

Goodman picked me up, and off to The Hotel we went. It turned out that Koncz and Pacquiao and crew were running a little late because Pacquiao, a devout Catholic, had attended church Sunday morning and was in no rush to get back. He had stayed after the service to take pictures with fans and sign autographs.

Goodman and I had lunch, and afterward we ran into Top Rank boss Bob Arum and his wife, Lovey Arum, in the lobby. They, too, were waiting for Pacquiao to return because they were meeting friends whom they had promised to introduce to the boxer.

While we were all waiting, Pacquiao's superstar trainer, Freddie Roach, showed up. It was quite a scene.

Several hotel guests had approached Arum to take pictures with him, which he happily posed for. One Japanese guest apparently had recognized me from my television appearances and asked if I would also pose in the photo with him and Arum.

But once Roach arrived, the guests turned their attention to him. At one point, about a dozen people had gathered around him and spontaneously began applauding him for a job well done.

Then Arum's guests showed up: Nevada Sen. John Ensign and his two children. Arum introduced me to the senator and we chatted for a bit. Turns out Ensign is a huge boxing fan and one-eighth Filipino, so he was excited to meet Pacquiao and have him pose for a photo with him and his kids.

Finally, we got word that Pacquiao was back, apparently having arrived through a private entrance. So we were summoned. The gathering crowd wanted to get into our elevator, but security wouldn't allow it. Up to the top floor of The Hotel we went. When we exited the elevator, there were people and security everywhere, but we were led down the hall to Pacquiao's room.

Inside the massive suite, at least 20 people could be seen hanging around and eating from a buffet that was set up in the main room, which had a spectacular view of the Vegas Strip. While the rest of the group -- Arum, his wife, Goodman, Koncz, Ensign and his kids -- were ushered into Pacquiao's private bedroom in the suite, I had to tape a previously scheduled phone interview for ESPN SportsCenter at that exact moment. Great timing, huh?

I found a quiet place on the other side of the suite, did the interview and then went to the bedroom, where a large security guard nodded at me, opened the door and allowed me in.

The room was split in two. Pacquiao's wife, Jinkee, was on one side of the partition packing for the long trip home to the Philippines. On the other side, about 15 other people were gathered near the couch and chairs and the big TV. Pacquiao, of course, had the best seat as the DVD began playing. In front of Pacquiao on the table was a plate with a large steak he was working on, a big bowl of rice and a side of assorted fruit.

Ensign and his kids met Pacquiao, talked for a few minutes and had their photo taken. Pacquiao couldn't have been more gracious. Then the Ensigns and the Arums left, leaving the rest of us to watch the fight.

One of the people in the room was Father Marlon Beof, Pacquiao's spiritual adviser, who, as it turns out, is a regular reader of mine and a huge fan of the ESPN.com boxing page. I thanked him for that. Who knew my blog and weekly notebook appealed to the Catholic priest demographic?

As we watched the ring walks and intros, Pacquiao's guests were quite excited. At one point, Pacquiao said to me as the fight was beginning, "My first time seeing this. Easy fight." Then he broke out into a broad smile.

As the fight went on, I asked Pacquiao if he was enjoying watching his dominant performance.

He answered "Yes" and broke into another broad smile before taking a big bite of steak between rounds.

When HBO announcer Jim Lampley exclaimed "It's a Pacquiao storm" at one point in the fight, Pacquiao repeated the line and broke out into another big smile.

He was talking to the TV as well. During the second round, he kept telling his image on the screen to "jab, jab." Roach has that approach ingrained in him, it seems.

While most of Pacquiao's guests were cheering his every punch, Pacquiao was staring intensely at the television and taking bites of his steak.

When the knockout bomb landed on Hatton's jaw, the room went crazy. But Pacquiao had a very serious look on his face and crossed himself, as though he was praying for Hatton to be OK, though he already knew it to be the case since the fight had been the previous night.

Still, that's the sort of guy Pacquiao is.

He looked at me again before I could say anything and said, "Yeah, it's a good shot."

You think?

"I felt it on my knuckles."

I asked him if he thought it would be the knockout of the year.

"Yeah, I think so," he answered.

Then, without being asked, Pacquiao volunteered: "People think Hatton is bigger and stronger than me. I don't think so."

And then came another smile.

Between the big knockout he had just watched and the juicy steak he had put away, Pacquiao seemed content as he leaned back on the couch with his hands behind his head.

It's good to be the king.

Once the fight was over, folks began to file out of the room. As I was leaving, Pacquiao stood up, laid a man-hug on me and thanked me for coming.

It was my pleasure.

Source: espn.go.com

Ricky Hatton: " I Never Recovered From The First Punch"

2009-05-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton says that he never recovered from the first punch that Manny Pacquiao was able to land last Saturday in Las Vegas, the counter right hand, that sent the Manchester fighter down for the first time in the fight, not long into the first round of their bout at the MGM Grand.

Pacquiao knocked him out cold in the second round. The first loss of his career, a tenth round TKO to Floyd Mayweather Jr in December 2007 was tough. The second loss is proving to be just as tough to take.

"I am absolutely devastated. My head is in bits. I didn’t think I could cry anymore than after the Floyd Mayweather Jnr loss, but I certainly have. Pacquiao knocked me down from practically the first punch he threw and I never recovered," Hatton told The Sun.

"Maybe my attitude was wrong because I always wear my heart on my sleeve and I was straight in there. Maybe if I had gone a few rounds I could have won, but there was nothing I could do about it. I have felt worse after hard 12-round fights, because it was over that quickly and physically I have never felt better."

It was said to the paper by Hatton's mother, that Ricky wants a farewell fight in England.

Source: boxingscene.com

Swine flu worry puts Pacquiao return on hold

2009-05-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao has been ordered to delay his triumphant return to the Philippines as a precaution against the spread of swine flu from the United States.

The boxing sensation cemented his status as a national hero with a dramatic two-round knockout of Britain's Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

He was due to return home ahead of a "national day of celebration" on Friday, but that will now have to wait.

The Philippines health secretary on Wednesday offered Pacquiao one of two options: Stay in Los Angeles, where he went with his family after his victory. Or return home and immediately go into self-quarantine.

"He requested a home quarantine for Manny Pacquiao to stay where he is right now for another five days upon the advice of the country representative of the World Health Organization," said Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the country's national epidemiology center.

"And after five days, if he doesn't have any signs or symptoms, he and his entourage can travel."

The virus has an incubation period of seven days. Symptoms of swine flu are not apparent during the incubation period, and a seemingly healthy-looking person can pass it on during that time.

The Filipino government is concerned that the Pacquiao motorcade could spread the virus to someone in the crowd during the rally if any one in his entourage is infected.

The Philippines has not reported any confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus. But officials there are worried about the number of cases of the virus confirmed in California.

By Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had reported 49 confirmed cases in the state out of a total of 403 cases in 38 states.

Pacquiao told Filipino reporters he will make a decision by Thursday morning.

The "Pacman" has become the hottest property in world boxing, with massive interest in his home country backed up by a growing following in the United States.

CNN reported that a potential match-up with returning Floyd Mayweather Jr. would likely be the biggest grossing fight in ring history.

It is a far cry from his early years where he grew up poor in the General Santos City in the southern Philippines.

Such is his following, Pacquiao has toyed with the idea of entering politics, but for now is concentrating his efforts on retaining his status as the best pound for pound boxer in the world.

Source: cnn.com

It’s Pacquiao’s time! The pound-for-pound king captures 6th world title

2009-05-06T07:28:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS, NV—WITH one devastating left hook, Manny Pacquiao showed everyone why he is the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.

In front of a sold out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night, May 2, Pacquiao made quick work of The Pride of Manchester Ricky Hatton, the 140-pound IBO Light Welterweight Champion.

Pacquiao knocked the British champion down twice in the first round before finishing him off in the second.

"I mean I am surprised that it was that easy, but the fighter [Hatton] fights hard," said Pacquiao after the fight. "Our strategy was the one punch. Left hook. Right hook. That was going to be the key to this fight."

Pacquiao executed the game plan with perfection.

In the first round, Hatton started aggressively. He charged Pacquiao, clinched and threw short body blows. However, Pacquiao answered back. Pacquiao gained some distance and threw a quick left hook to the head that stunned the British champion.

He landed a few more combinations before knocking down the British fighter with a right hook to the chin midway through the first round. With the Filipino crowd on its feet, British fans were in disbelief.

Pacquiao pounced on Hatton again a few moments later. This time, Pacquiao landed a flurry of punches before a left straight to the head of Hatton fell the Englishman.

Pacquiao finished off Hatton in the subsequent round.

Pacquiao landed a left hook on the chin and below Hatton’s earlobe, a textbook knockout punch. Hatton was out before he fell to the canvas.

Referee Kenny Bayless immediately waved the fight over with one second remaining in round two.

"I was just doing my job in the ring and doing my best to make the people happy," said Pacquiao. "There’s nothing personal I was just doing my job this was a big for me as the De La Hoya victory.

Hatton was not made available for comment after the fight.

The British boxer was rushed to the hospital for precautionary measures, according to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer.

"Ricky is desperately sorry to all his fans," said Garret Williams, the CEO of Hatton Promotions. "He got caught with a great shot. Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao. He is the best fighter, possibly of all time there’s no shame in losing to somebody like that."

"I thought Ricky would get him," said Floyd Mayweather Sr., after the match. "I don’t want to get into it more than that."

Before the match, Roach predicted a Pacquiao knockout in three, he’ll settle for two.

"Manny is unbelievable," said Roach at the post-fight press conference. "I’m the best trainer in the world because I have the best fighter in the world."

Roach said that Hatton was very predictable.

"Every time he throws the left hook and cocks it, he is wide open for the right hook from the southpaw stance," Roach explained. "We worked on that every day in the gym and it just worked beautifully."

"I knew it was over," added Roach. "Ricky fights the same way over and over. He doesn’t have the ability to adjust. I watched the tapes over and over the last few months. I know him as well as I know my fighters."

The win catapults Pacquiao in the boxing history books.

Pacquiao becomes the first Asian to capture six world titles in six different weight division - flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and now, junior welterweight.

He also joins Oscar De La Hoya as the only boxers to captures sixth different title belt in a different weight division.

The Hatton victory is Pacquiao’s fourth win in a row in a different division.

The win improves Pacquiao’s record to 49-3-2, 37 KOs. Hatton’s record falls to 45-2 32 KOs.

Source: asianjournal.com

Manny Pacquiao: Just Another Day at the Office

2009-05-06T07:25:00.000-07:00

It will come to no surprise to all who know me, but I was very proud of Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao in his stunning knock-out victory over Ricky “Hitman” Hatton last night in Las Vegas. Manny Pacquiao has long cemented his place in the boxing hall of fame for me, and Saturday night was just icing on his induction cake. Going into this fight, Pacquiao was rated as the best pound for pound fighter in the world, but Hatton was not far behind him, usually rated around #8, so this would be a great showdown. Vegas had Pacquiao as an odds on favorite to win a decision, but we all know that doesn’t always work in a fighters favor.

Round one started out the usual way for both fighters, aggressive, but with Pac-Man starting to hit Hatton a lot more than the Hitman is used to being hit. Then at the 2:06 mark, Pac-Man hit Hatton with a devastating right that dropped Hatton for an eight count. At that point, even the English announcers were questioning whether Hatton would be able to weather the storm. When this occurred, I jumped up and cheered so loudly that it woke up my daughter Kayla, who came out to see what the clatter was all about, and stuck around to watch the rest of the fight. We settled back down for another 45 seconds or so until Pac-Man dropped Hatton again, but this time, my wife Kathy, my daughter and I all jumped up screaming for Pac-Man. At that time, we all knew it would be just a matter of time until Pac-Man finished off Hatton.

In between the round, Floyd Mayweather Sr. gave his fighter probably the worst pep talk I have heard since Emmanuel Steward quit a fighter’s corner to “go get a drink”. Floyd Sr, screamed at his charge that he should have heeded his advice earlier in his camp and not tried to fight Pacquiao early. That is like telling Abe Lincoln that he should not have sat in the presidential box at the Ford’s Theater on the fateful night. Hatton is a slugger and was always going to meet Pacquiao in the center of the ring every time.

The second round brought a renewed sense of confidence for Hatton, even having him land a punch that seemed to stun Pacquiao for a second and back him up. Soon after that punch, Pacquiao seemed to shake the cobwebs and decide to settle back into his game plan. Pac-Man seemed to learn that Hatton’s power did not have the effect that would hurt him, and he went to work on breaking down Hatton. Pacquiao seemed to decide that he would step up his attack on Hatton and at the 2:57 mark of the second round, the plan paid off bigger than Mine That Bird’s payoff at the Kentucky Derby. Pac-Man threw a left hook that not only dropped Hatton, but also knocked him into another world, as referee Kenny Bayless was waved off the fight. At this point not only was I going crazy, but my wife and daughter had been making enough noise to alert the rest of my neighbors to what had taken place. Pacquiao had scrolled his name in the history books with this fight, and shook off any doubt people had of his greatness. Questions raised after he beat Oscar De La Hoya into retirement, questions like “did he beat a shell of a fighter in Oscar” and “how will he react when he has a real puncher in front of him”, were all after thoughts at the 2:57 mark.

We all know that the in demand fight will be the newly unretired Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, probably for late 2009. But where does Ricky Hatton go from here? Despite this loss, Hatton is still near the top of the light welterweight division. Hatton now has two losses on his record, but both of those loses come from fighters who were ranked the best pound for pound at the time Hatton step into the ring with them. Hatton should be able to bounce back from this loss and still be a major force in boxing once more. As for the Pacquiao and Mayweather showdown, this fight should happen, if and when Mayweather gets by Juan Manuel Marquez in July. The target date of a Pacquiao-Mayweather “Superfight” should be December 2009. Being a Pacquiao super fan, I can’t wait for that fight to happen! GO MANNY!

Source: doghouseboxing.com

Roach plan solution to Hatton's brawler style

2009-05-06T07:20:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Following Freddie Roach’s game plan to the letter allowed Manny Pacquiao to score one of boxing’s most spectacular knockout wins when he flattened Ricky Hatton in just two rounds of their junior welterweight slugfest over the weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Filipino, now universally regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, knocked the tough Briton twice in a furious action during the first three minutes of the 12-round bout.

A crushing left hook at the 2:59 mark of the second round ended it all, sending Hatton sprawling motionless on the floor as Pacquiao and his supporters celebrate at his corner.

“Ang strategy talaga naming ‘yung right hook, left hook," said Pacquiao, recalling the moments of the fight while traveling on the custom-made bus on its way from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.

In particular, he said those two kind of shots had been Hatton’s weak points in most of his fights.

“Kung maaalala ninyo, yung kay Mayweather tinamaan siya ng left hook," he said, referring to Hatton’s first career loss against Floyd Mayweather Jr., a 10th round knockout loss during their 2007 duel for the world welterweight title.

“Tapos yung ibang kalaban niya, ang nakapag-painda sa kanya ‘yung right at left hook din," he added.

Trainer Freddie Roach said it’s the only way to beat a strong brawler like Hatton.

“Every time (Hatton) throws the left hook and cocks it, he is wide open for the right hook from the southpaw stance. We worked on that every day in the gym and it just worked beautifully," he said.

“I watched the tapes over and over the last few months. I know him pretty well."

It didn’t surprise many that a right hook by Pacquiao proved to be the fight’s first significant punch 30 seconds into the first round. A minute and a half later, Hatton was down on both knees also by a Pacman right hook.

“Yung unang pasok pa lang ng right hook ko, alam kong pasok na yung strategy na ginawa naming secret weapon," said Pacquiao."Kaya nung tinamaan ko siya ng solid nung first round na unang bagsak niya, pumasok na agad sa isip ko na hindi na magtatagal ‘yung fight."

The 30-year old Filipino, who now adds the light-welterweight title to his championship collection that also includes crowns in the flyweight, super-bantamweight, super-featherweight and lightweight, said Hatton’s lack of defensive stance also caused his downfall.

“Kapag sumusugod siya, bukas talaga ang depensa niya kaya tinatamaan ko siya," he stressed.

And the moment that lethal left of his found its target, Pacquiao knew the fight was over.

“Nung last na tinamaan ko siya ng kaliwa, ramdam ko na hindi na siya makakatayo pa dahil solid na solid talaga. Nalalaman ko naman kapag malakas e," he added.

Pacquiao didn’t retreat in the comfort of his room until 3 a.m. of Sunday after attending the post-fight party arranged for him at ‘The Beach’ of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

He only had a chance to personally watched the replay of the fight shortly after the morning mass the day after held at his suite at the 60th floor of The Hotel.

Baring the soft spot in him, Pacquiao pitied Hatton a bit.

“Nung nakita ko nga sa replay naawa ako e, dahil yung mata niya nag-roll. Nakakaawa rin syempre," he said.

But as what he told his opponent from Manchester, England shortly after the bout, “it was a good fight, nothing personal." – GMANews.TV

Source: gmanews.tv

Hitman unsure over future

2009-05-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton has told Sky Sports that he intends to become the "greatest promoter in the world", even though he is still not sure if he will box again.

The Hitman saw his hopes of becoming the best pound-for-pound fighter disappear inside six minutes against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas at the weekend.

A stunning stoppage loss saw the British boxer surrender his IBO light-welterweight title - and was quickly followed by talk of his retirement.

Still devastated at the outcome, Hatton admitted in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News that he was yet to decide over whether to hang up his gloves or not.

Future plans

However, the Mancunian already has plans for a future outside the ring, insisting he will not "drift off into the distance" and leave the sport entirely.

"I really don't know at the minute because I never thought that (the second-round knockout) was going to happen," he said after being asked about his future in the ring.

"People are still going to see plenty of me. I'm going into promoting now and I've got a future with the youngsters. They are going to be fulfilling my dreams from here on in.

"I've worked with so many promoters and I believe I can do a great job at it. I believe I've been a great world champion, the best in the world. I believe I can be the greatest promoter in the world, that's the next avenue down which I'm going to go.

"But as far as physically boxing myself, I don't know what I'm going to do at the minute.

"I'm not going to drift off into the distance - boxing is my game. Sky Sports have been with me from absolutely day one. Whatever decision I make on my future Sky will be the first to know."

The 30-year-old believes the bout at the MGM Grand could have had a different outcome if he hadn't suffered such a horrendous start.

Pacquiao put him down twice in the opening round before finishing the fight just before the bell to end the second with a chilling left hook.

"If we'd have gone a few rounds it could have been different, but he caught me with practically the first punch he threw to be honest," Hatton insisted.

"I'd rather have been knocked out in two rounds than have somebody that has out-classed me for the full duration.

"I've lost twice and I've lost to the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, it's not a bad way of looking at it, but I'm devastated.

"Maybe it could have been different, but that's boxing."

Support

Hatton - who had previously only suffered defeat at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jnr - was quick to pay tribute to his army of supporters.

"I'm not going to say I'm the greatest British world champion we've ever had but one thing that isn't up for discussion is that there's never been a world champion from Great Britain that has had a fan base like Ricky Hatton," he added.

"In a credit crunch 30,000 people have come here this weekend. I think the most anyone else has ever had is 10,000. Nobody has ever had support like that.

"Whatever I decide to do, the following that I've had throughout my career has blown every other champion out of the water. For that I will be forever grateful."

Source: skysports.com

Pacquiao: special fighter now being compared to Roberto Duran

2009-05-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao is a special fighter. No question. He is now being talked about in the same breath as the likes of Roberto Duran. Yet he could go one further, having the propensity as he does to inculcate a game plan to perfection.

I wouldn't mind betting that if Floyd Mayweather Jnr defeats Juan Manuel Marquez - which one would favour him to do on head alone, not heart - if Pacquiao and Mayweather meet back here in Las Vegas in November, it will be seen as having parallels with Ali v Frazier, The Thrilla in Manila, at a lower weight.

Maybe it could be even be staged there. Regardless, it will pitch the dangerous hooks of Pacquiao (substitute) Frazier, for the sublime skills of Ali (Mayweather).

Criticise not, for it has its comparisons; the real difference being that it will be somewhere between 140lbs and 147lbs. It will be bigger than the recent battles between their foes in common.

Bigger than Mayweather v De La Hoya, greater than De La Hoya v Pacquiao. No 1 versus previous number 1. And I wouldn't mind predicting at this juncture, with the fight far off, that Pacquiao and Freddie Roach will pull of a game plan and strategy to defeat Mayweather, who will be returning after almost two years. Game on.

Pacquiao recognized that his own game plan had worked perfectly against Hatton. Yes, Hatton was very poor on the night, but take nothing away from Pacquiao. "After I knocked him down the first time with the right hook he was open for everything. I had a lot of respect for Ricky's power and that is why I worked so hard in training camp."

"Anything less would not have been sufficient to defeat him. One of the biggest advantages I have is that every fight is an opportunity to give honor to the Philippines. The Filipino people don't just give me their support, they also give me their strength, their pride and their love. It's an awesome power and a big responsibility. I am truly blessed."

Roach believes Pacquiao can get even better. "The scary thing is we still have not seen the best of Manny Pacquiao. I have never trained an athlete like Manny who after more than 50 fights is still willing to learn new techniques and is able to apply them. One of the reasons Manny is so hard to fight is because you never see the same Manny two times in a row. "

"He always has a new style making him totally unpredictable and impossible to anticipate. Plus his conditioning is supreme to anyone in the sport. He is an athletic phenomenon. I get a lot of credit for his success, but it's Manny who does the work in the gym and does the fighting in the ring. He's incredible. His last four fights have been at four different weight divisions. He goes up in weight. He goes down in weight. He fights the best in each division. He's a Manny for all seasons!"

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao says: Personal game plan delivered KO blow

2009-05-05T06:58:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao revealed on Monday the secret behind his unforgettable second-round knockout victory over Ricky Hatton over the weekend in Las Vegas.

While Pacquiao admits that Freddie Roach and his support staff played a pivotal role in the smashing triumph at the MGM Grand, Pacquiao said he also had his own game plan and the left hand that landed on Hatton’s jaw was a major part of it.

“I carefully studied Hatton’s style and the moment I threw that left hand and landed it on his jaw,” said Pacquiao, pointing to the area in his face where it landed exactly, “I knew he wasn’t going to get up.”

“I felt the impact of the punch up to here,” said Pacquiao, this time putting his right index finger on his left elbow.

Pacquiao said he always engages Roach in a discussion over the technique and strategy to be used and there have been several times when he would have his way.

“If I don’t feel right and comfortable with something that’s being discussed during training, I tell them and they would listen to me,” said Pacquiao, who hooked up with Roach in mid-2001.

With the exception of one fight--a loss to Erik Morales in March 2005 — Roach and Pacquiao have been playing beautiful music together.

Roach also admits that it is Pacquiao’s streak of wins that has elevated him to a higher status among the world’s finest cornermen.

“Manny Pacquiao makes me look good,” said Roach in a modest manner.

Their teamup is so successful that on June 12 in New York, Pacquiao and Roach will receive major awards from the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America as “Fighter of the Year” and “Trainer of the Year,” respectively.

Still, Roach’s influence on Pacquiao has made the Filipino fighter what he is now.

From an offense-oriented fighter who made his debut in June 2001, Pacquiao has metamorphosed into a do-it-all punching machine now regarded as the best boxer in the world pound-for-pound and appears headed towards becoming an all-time great.

On the horizon for Pacquiao are Floyd Mayweather, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto, who has an inside track over the rest since he is also under the Top Rank banner like Pacquiao.

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao now in rare ring company

2009-05-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

HOLLYWOOD - FROM POUND-FOR-POUND king to an all-time great.

That’s the giant leap Manny Pacquiao took on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) when he knocked out Ricky Hatton in their showdown for the Briton’s International Boxing Organization light welterweight crown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao needed just two rounds to clinch his fifth world title and become the only boxer—living or dead—to have fought in four divisions in succession and won them all.

Not even the great Henry Armstrong, the only boxer to hold world titles in three divisions simultaneously, was able to match what Pacquiao has accomplished.

Showing an uncanny ability to hop from one weight division to another with ease, Pacquiao dethroned super featherweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez at 130 pounds, knocked out lightweight king David Diaz at 135 lb and stopped Oscar De La Hoya at 147 lb.

Then, in his very first fight at 140 lb, Pacquiao again defied the odds by knocking out Hatton, who was previously unbeaten at that weight for 12 years and 43 fights, with only a second to go in the second round.

As soon as the thunderous left hook landed on Hatton’s jaw, Pacquiao said he knew Hatton was out cold.

“Solid na solid,” Pacquiao told sportswriters near the back of the 56-seater luxury bus emblazoned with his image that brought back Team Pacquiao here from Las Vegas.

Top Rank head Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao’s fights, wants to pit him against Puerto Rican world welterweight champ Miguel Angel Cotto in November at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Other star fighters like welterweight Shane Mosley, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Humberto Soto and Edwin Valero all want a piece of Pacquiao.

Also on the list are former pound-for-pound best fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. who is coming out of retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18.

Actually, Pacquiao doesn’t mind who his next opponent will be, but said he would prefer to fight again in October.

“Anybody will do,” Pacquiao said in Filipino. “I can fight at 140, 147 or even at 135.”

Awed by Pacquiao’s mastery of Hatton, many ring experts have begun labeling him as an all-time great.

Boxing historian Bert Sugar, in an interview with Philboxing’s Hermie Rivera, said Pacquiao is definitely the best Asian fighter ever.

Sugar puts Pacquiao in the company of Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.

And Pacquiao thinks he remains as a work in progress.

“I feel I can still improve my game,” said Pacquiao, who was in high spirits throughout the 320-km trip that lasted five hours.

Source: inquirer.net

Pacquiao silences Hatton fans, Floyd Sr.

2009-05-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

Rafael's remark: Pacquiao is the king. He now is to boxing what LeBron James is to the NBA, what Tiger Woods is to golf. You get the picture. There is no doubt, especially after his utterly dominant and pulverizing knockout victory of Hatton to win the junior welterweight world championship. The pound-for-pound king not only cemented his status as the No. 1 fighter in the world, but he also went into the boxing record books. Here are the stats: He won a world championship in his sixth weight class to match Oscar De La Hoya's record. He now has won titles at flyweight (112 pounds), junior featherweight (122), featherweight (126), junior lightweight (130), lightweight (135) and junior welterweight (140). He also became the first fighter in boxing history to earn recognition as the lineal champion (the people's champion or the man who beat the man who beat the man or the real champion -- however you want to categorize it) in four divisions (112, 126, 130, 140). Further, it was Pacquiao's fourth win in a row in a different division (130, 135, 147, 140). He jumped up to welterweight in December and sent De La Hoya into retirement before dropping down for his first fight at 140 pounds, where Hatton had reigned as king for the past several years. But he proved no match for Pacquiao.

The PacMan simply ran roughshod over England's Hatton, who had brought an estimated 25,000 Brits to Las Vegas for the fight, many of whom didn't have tickets to the sold-out arena (16,262) but just wanted to be in town for the spectacular atmosphere of a big fight. No fighter travels his fans better than Hatton, and no fighter leaves his fans more disappointed in a big spot than Hatton. Many of those fans also had crossed the pond in 2007 to see Hatton get knocked out by then-No. 1 fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a welterweight title fight in the same MGM Grand ring. But Pacquiao didn't need the 10 rounds Mayweather did. Pacquiao took him out in less than two rounds in a ruthless performance.

Under trainer Freddie Roach, who predicted a stoppage win for Pacquiao inside three rounds, Pacquiao has become a two-handed fighter. He used to be nothing but a left-handed fighter. Now, the blazing fast southpaw is a two-fisted machine. His right hook scored the first knockdown in the opening round, and Hatton was done after that. A second knockdown followed with a left hand. Then late in the second round, which Pacquiao was dominating, he landed a left cross that might be one of the greatest knockout punches ever in a big fight. The shot caught Hatton square on the jaw, and he was out before he hit the canvas. Upon impact, Hatton's head smashed the mat in a brutal scene. Referee Kenny Bayless, who is one of the best, didn't bother to count. Hatton was motionless in the center of the ring and needed medical attention after what is so far the clear knockout of the year.

Hatton had a great run, winning titles in two divisions, making tens of millions of dollars and drawing some of the greatest crowds in boxing. But his run at the top looks like it's over. Maybe he will fight again, but it's clear he never again will be on this level. If he does fight again, you can bank on trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. being fired. The self-anointed greatest trainer in the world talked the talk and insulted Roach at every turn, but when it was go time, he crapped out and deserves to take his share of the blame for the loss.

As for Pacquiao, he rules boxing in the post-De La Hoya era. The fight the world wants to see is him against Floyd Mayweather Jr., who announced his unretirement hours before this fight. He'll take on old Pacquiao rival Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18. The winner, especially if it's Mayweather, against Pacquiao will be by far the biggest fight in boxing. It will happen eventually, because the money is just too great for it not to happen.

Source: espn.go.com

Hatton: I'm Devastated

2009-05-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

All-Time Pacquiao

2009-05-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

There was a time not too long ago when Manny Pacquiao - for all his accolades and achievements - was viewed as a flawed, somewhat one-dimensional fighter. As of last year, many boxing insiders believed that he'd go life and death with the likes of Humberto Soto. They also believed that he was considered the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound only by default because of the hiatus taken by one Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Well, in the wake of Ricky Hatton falling down like the London Bridge, that time is no longer. It's not even a debate as to who the greatest fighting machine in the world today is after Hatton was brutally knocked out in the second round by 'the Pac Man'. The discussion among the ringside media now focused on just where he stands all-time.

Yeah, all-time.

Just think about it, he began his career about the same size as Ricardo Lopez, won his first major world title at 112 (think Mark 'Too Sharp' Johnson), skipped all the way up to 122, where he mugged Lehlo Ledwaba, who was considered the best fighter in that weight division at that time in 2001. And soon he embarked on his battles against 'the Three Mexican Musketeers' of the featherweight division (Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales), where he went a combined 5-1-1. He became the first Asian boxer to win world championships in four weight classes by stopping David Diaz for the WBC lightweight title and he then ruined two Golden Boy Promotions franchises by halting Oscar De La Hoya and now Hatton, who came into this bout as the recognized jr. welterweight champion of the world.

It wasn't so much that Hatton was beat. He was a considerable underdog for a reason. But he had come into that fight having never lost a fight at 140 pounds. Nobody, save perhaps Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, expected him to get obliterated the way he did. A smashing Pacquiao left hand in the middle of the second frame sent him crashing on his back, not just out for the 10 count, but for about 10 minutes.

From the very onset he was simply outclassed. While he tried to charge Pacquiao with his customary aggression, he was met early on by a right hook that visibly shook him. Halfway through the opening stanza, you could see that Hatton's supposed advantages in strength and size were going to be easily negated by the Filipino's speed and precision. As his face got reddened from the slicing shots of Pacquiao, you got the sense this was David Diaz all over again. Only Hatton - whose chin showed signs of faltering last year versus Juan Lazcano - wouldn't be nearly as durable. He was knocked down twice late in the first and what took place in the second was just a mere formality.

“I believe that it's a hard punch," said Pacquiao of his finishing kick, "and I believe he could not get up." He's obviously as good at understatement as he is at boxing. That punch - which might end up being the Knockout of the Decade - was an exclamation point to a bold statement that Pacquiao has been making since his close shave versus Marquez last March. And the statement is very simple - I'm truly a great prizefighter, one of the best of this past generation, and any other era before it.

"Manny's unbelievable; he makes me look good," said his trainer, who has molded this masterpiece since 2001. "He's the best fighter in the world and that's why he makes me the best trainer in the world because he listens and I really love working with this guy. He's in his prime right now, he's on top of his game. He's just getting better all the time. Anyone in the world, he can beat them all."

On a day when a 50-to-1 longshot won the Kentucky Derby, Roach had to feel like Ron Turcotte riding Secretariat. At age 30, Pacquiao is just now hitting his stride as a complete, well-rounded fighter. No longer is he the guy whose technical flaws had to be overcome with his God-given speed and power. Now there is an intersection between his athletic gifts and his boxing acumen. It's uncanny to see Pacquiao and Roach work on something at the Wild Card Boxing Club, whether it be a certain combination, or a pivot step, and to have him execute it perfectly on fight night.

Simply put, his boxing IQ has caught up to his considerable skill set.

“You’re seeing something that is developing. And the thing that I love - and every professional athlete should take it to heart because so many of them reach success and then they know everything and they don't learn anything - this young man, Manny Pacquiao, learns every training session, every fight and keeps getting better and better. He is, just the way he lives his life and the way he performs, a lesson to every athlete, no matter what discipline, around the world," said his promoter Bob Arum.

An effusive Arum would continue by pontificating to the media, "I'm telling you, what I'm watching is something that is astounding. Usually, when a world-class boxer reaches the top, he can be good for a number of years but there's no improvement. This young man improves every, single fight. He's doing things that he didn't do two years ago. And every fight, he's doing more things, other things. His defense is tremendous, his reflexes now are tremendous and I have never, ever seen in the 40 years - and I'll say this without any hyperbole - I have never seen any fighter combine the speed and the explosive power that he does."

Arum, who can engage in hyperbole with the best of them, is correct; Pacquiao is a mesmerizing blend of speed and power that is now contained and controlled in a professional manner. He is the most lethal weapon in boxing, bar none.

There are no immediate plans for Pacquiao's future, although the usual names were thrown out there like Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto, who would both have to come down in weight to make those fights a reality. And of course, there is a guy who officially announced his return to the ring on the morning of Pacquiao-Hatton.

"Mayweather, if he wants a part of this little Filipino, juuuust be my guest," said Arum. Based on how devastating Pacquiao looked on Saturday night, after facing Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18th, he might start calling out Ivan Calderon.

"I hope you enjoyed the show," said Pacquiao, who promised to sing at his post-fight party at the Mandalay Bay. "It's nothing personal, doing my job in the ring."

And right now, nobody does it better.

NO JOY

There was a lot of talk about friction in Hatton's camp that centered on Floyd Mayweather Sr. and his inability to get along with the rest of the camp. What I found very interesting - and disturbing to be honest with you - was that after the fight as I moved my way along press row to the aisle where the fighters make their way back to the dressing rooms, while Hatton groggily walked to the bowels of the arena, he was not accompanied by Mayweather Sr.

In fact, Mayweather Sr. wouldn't make his way for another 10 minutes or so. And as he did, he was taking pictures, signing autographs and smiling the whole way as if he didn't have a care in the world. Is this the way someone should conduct themselves after their fighter was savagely knocked out? And no matter what he says, he was in that corner and in fact was introduced by Michael Buffer, in a first. You may have had disagreements with Hatton and his team in the lead-up to that fight, but doesn't he deserve more respect than that?

If he was so willing to accept all the plaudits for his fighter’s victory and then call out Freddie 'the Joke Coach' Roach (as he calls him), then shouldn't he be willing to accept at least some accountability for what took place on Saturday night? I happen to get along with Floyd Sr., but in this instance he was completely out of line. As they say, when you point fingers, three of them come right back at you.

I always thought that this was a rather strange union, Hatton and Mayweather. Not only from a stylistic perspective of boxing, but also from a personality standpoint. And was it just me, or did anyone find it a bit strange and unsettling that on 24/7 that Mayweather had no problems in making a 'run for the border' and grabbing some Taco Bell and being tardy for his training session with Hatton? If he would do that while the cameras were on him, just how many times was he late before and after?

I was told that Oscar De La Hoya was infuriated by the results of the fight and had some harsh words for Mayweather Sr. afterwards in the dressing room.

WEIGHT?

One thing I found interesting about the bout between Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18th is that when the media asked just what the weight limit would be for this fight, they were told, '143, give or take a pound.'

Huh?

What is this, a pay-per-view main event, or a six-round swing bout on a club show?

FINAL FLURRIES

OK, so based on the last three Pacquiao fights, does the equation go like this: Diaz > De La Hoya > Hatton?....Seriously, did you ever think that Diaz would be more competitive versus Pacquiao than those other two?....Don't know about you guys, but I thought the most impressive prospect on that pay-per-view card was Matt Korobov, by far. I think this guy is the goods....I thought Urbano Antillon was solid in dispatching Tyrone Harris in five on Friday night at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas.....That was a pretty good scrap between Alfonso Gomez and Juan Buendia. Gomez would stop Buendia in the 8th round with a body shot....

Source: maxboxing.com

Beard: Hatton 'too excited'

2009-05-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Assistant trainer Lee Beard admitted Ricky Hatton left the gameplan in the dressing room before being knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in the second round of their fight in Las Vegas.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference with Hatton making his way to hospital for scans, Beard said that Hatton - who had promised a new-look style under the guidance of Floyd Mayweather Snr - turned the fight into brawl just like the old days.

"He just seemed to get over excited," Beard said. "He started off, he just got too excited and it just turned into a bit of a brawl basically.

"Manny was brilliant on the night as well but it wasn't that tactical.

"Both of them just stood there swinging. There wasn't any time for pivoting or feinting, they just kept swinging at each other.

"Manny caught him up inside and had quick hands up in the middle of Ricky and hurt Ricky a couple of times in the first round.

"Then in the second round Ricky walked onto the punch that counted. That punch would have knocked anyone down, it was that good."
For the fans

Beard reiterated that any decision on Hatton's future would have to be made by the fighter and no-one else.

"He's made a stack of money. He mentioned the fans and it really hurts him because he fights for the fans," he added.

"They came out in their thousands again for him and I think that affects him mentally, it hurts him.

"But it's all about what he wants to do, don't carry on fighting for the fans. You've got to think of your health as well.

"He got caught with some big shots in there and maybe if it had gone six or eight rounds there would have been more wear and tear. But he got caught early, it was only the second round and he got hurt a few times before then."

And Beard denied there was any rift with Mayweather Snr prior to the fight, adding: "Me and Floyd were laughing and joking beforehand - there's no problems at all.

"There have been rumours to stir up the camp, but there's no problems between me and him.

"Ricky drifted from the game plan - he turned it into a brawl and got caught."

Source: skysports.com

Ricky Hatton says sorry to fans after Manny Pacquiao defeat

2009-05-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hatton lost his IBO and Ring Magazine titles in a crushing knockout by pound-for-pound king Pacquiao that sent the Englishman to hospital and led to calls for the 30-year-old to retire following the second defeat of his professional career.

Hatton received a brain scan at the Valley Hospital in Las Vegas immediately after the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena before being allowed to return to his hotel suite a few hours later.

He later made an apology to thousands of fans who had travelled to the Nevada desert city and had seen him lose after just five minutes and 59 seconds.

"I'm so desperately sorry for you all," Hatton said. "I thought I would win but it went wrong.

"I'm OK but so upset for the supporters. I didn't see the punch coming, but it was a great shot," he added. "I congratulate Manny. He is a terrific fighter."

Hatton was last night hosting a poolside party at the MGM Grand Hotel and appeared relaxed and unmarked following his ordeal the previous night as he posed for pictures with his younger brother Matthew, who had won his welterweight fight on the undercard.

Yet hours earlier, talk of a rift in the Hatton camp between American trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr and English assistant trainer Lee Beard was raised once again as a possible contributory factor to the defeat.

"It's an interesting point but the one person to blame is Pacquiao," Hatton Promotions chief executive Gareth Williams said on Saturday night.

Mayweather Sr only briefly appeared at the post fight press conference but had not sat on the chairs and taken questions alongside Beard and Williams.

"Lee's a lot more involved with Ricky Hatton than Floyd Mayweather is," Williams added. "Floyd Mayweather was brought in for 12 weeks to do a job and that's the end of it.

"He's finished now and we don't know what's going to happen.

"Lee Beard's with Hatton Promotions 365 days a year, Floyd Mayweather's there for 12 weeks before a fight and that's the difference.

"Probably the best way to describe (Floyd) is that he's on board as a consultant.

"Mayweather's come in to do a specific job.

"He doesn't control Ricky Hatton, he doesn't speak for Ricky Hatton, he speaks for Floyd Mayweather and if he doesn't want to be here, he doesn't want to be here."

Mayweather Sr had waged a war of words with Pacquiao's handler Freddie Roach throughout the fight build-up but despite the defeat insisted he was still the better trainer.

"Freddie Roach's man listened, my man didn't and I'm not going to take anything (away) from him," Mayweather Sr said.

"He overshadowed me today, but is he a better trainer than me? Hell no."

Asked to pinpoint the reason for Hatton's quick demise, Mayweather Sr said: "He should have kept his hands up better. If you want to talk about the mistake, that was the mistake – something I've been preaching and preaching and preaching about."

Yet Mayweather insisted, contrary to some reports, that it was not his place to tell Hatton to retire.

"I couldn't tell anybody to retire and I wouldn't suggest that he retire, I would let him do it on his own. I think that's the best way to do that," he said.

"Sometimes when people know they are through they might want to continue, try again, try one more time but at the end of the day the individual, whoever they may be, should make that decision.

"He tried twice, he failed twice so I'm just saying that strike three is out. It's his choice at the end of the day though."

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Dougie's MASSIVE Monday Mailbag

2009-05-04T07:56:00.000-07:00

Manny Mania is in full effect after his awesome display of skill, speed, power, and precision against a woefully outclassed Ricky Hatton Saturday in Las Vegas. Fans and media aren’t arguing whether or not the Filipino idol is a great fighter, only where he ranks all time. As can be expected, the diehard Pac-Maniacs are convinced he’s the G.O.A.T., which has spurred at least 80 heated emails to Yours Truly, demanding that I reconsider the outcomes to my recent column “How would Pacquaio fare versus five all-time greats?” (http://www.ringtv.com/blog/617/how_would_pacquaio_fare_versus_five_alltime_greats/), which was written before PacMan’s destruction of Hatton.

I could devote seven or eight mailbags to defending my picks, but I’m not going to waste too much time or space doing so; mainly because it’s clear that most of the fans who take exception to my opinions in that column have not seen the prime versions of Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez, Alexis Arguello, Roberto Duran, and Aaron Pryor fight. I’m more than happy to debate anyone who has watched at least three entire fights of these five all-time greats when they were in their prime, but I won’t waste my time with kooky fans suffering from acute PacMan Fever.

And be warned folks, I’ll quiz your goofy asses before exchanging emails with you on this subject. If you can’t tell me who my Fabulous Five beat to win their first world titles without referencing BoxRec.com I will dismiss you quicker than Pacquiao wiped out Hatton. I’ll ask you what happened in the seventh round of Duran’s rematch with Esteban De Jesus and if you can’t answer me, you can piss off.

But please stick around and enjoy this week’s MASSIVE Monday Mailbag.

DID YOU SEE THAT COMING?

Hi Doug,
I’ll keep it short since I know you will be inundated with emails.

So did u see that coming? I didn't. The bookies didn't. I'm certain Ricky Hatton didn't see it either. I had to watch the replay of the first knockdown from a different angle to see what happened. From one angle the punch seemed 'soft' but then from another angle I could see the devastating right 'crack' on Ricky's chin... that's when I went 'ooohh, its not that soft after all'.

I have to hand it to the Pacman & Roach combo (i.e. Batman and Robin). They work as one and seem to get better each time. Pacquiao has changed for the better since the last Juan Manuel Marquez fight. You could see it (if you hit slow-mo) from the quality of his punches and his movement across the ring. Now bring on Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley at a catchweight. I don't think they have the movement, stamina and unrelenting volume punching Pac will bring... but they should see it past round two.

BTW, what’s with the bias with UK sites. Their headline is more like 'Hatton loses'. Checkout YahooSportsUK or SecondsOut. It's all skewed towards Hatton. Don't get me wrong, I like Hatton as a person too, seems like someone you can have a drink with in the pub but the disrespect for Pacquiao is astounding to me.

Keep up the great work! -- Perry, Sydney

What kind of headlines do you expect from UK sites? “The Sh__tman Goeth”? “Hatton squashed like a ‘lil b___h!”? “Manny-slaughter!”? (Credit for this last one goes to US publicist Fred Sternburg.)

Hatton was nearly decapitated. If the UK sites went easy on him in their headlines, good for them.

There’s no disrespect for Pacquiao, just a little compassion for Ricky. Nothing wrong with that. From what I was hearing from the British media while we were writing up our deadline pieces and post-fight columns on press row, I don’t think many handled Hatton with kid gloves in their stories. But I haven’t read all the post-fight stories on the fight. It was an exhausting week and weekend in Las Vegas, and to be honest, I’m a little burnt out on the Pacquiao-Hatton subject.

I covered the fight and I witnessed a great performance from a great fighter. I’m keeping it that simple. I don’t need to read volumes of post-fight analysis on Hatton’s 5-minute-59-second destruction.

Did I see that coming? HELL to the NO.

All you have to do is read the Monday and Friday mailbags from last week to find out how I viewed this matchup going into the bout. Like most US fans and media, I thought Pacquiao would win, probably by knockout, but most of us thought it would be a late stoppage.

Just as he did against Oscar De La Hoya, Pacquiao exceeded expectations. That’s what the pound-for-pound best boxer on the planet is supposed to do.

PLEASE REWRITE PAC VS. ALL-TIME FIVE

Hey Doug,
After seeing the bout yesterday between Pacquiao & Hatton, I wanna see you re-write your column and think long and hard how much you underestimated Pacman. -- Deacart

How did I underestimate him? The only matchup that dealt with a 140-pound version of Pacquiao was the Aaron Pryor fight and I had him losing by SPLIT decision!

Have you ever seen the prime Pryor fight?

I think I gave Pacquiao benefit of the doubt.

WHAT NOW!?

Doug -
The only negative facing PacMan now is that minus Floyd Mayweather -- a fight that isn't necessarily written in stone, yet -- is that unless he ventures into a ridiculously foreign weight class, there doesn't appear to be another "event" fight out there. I'd like to see JM Marquez III and Shane Mosley would be very cool but can you think of a mega event fight for him minus Floyd? -- Kevin Key, St. Cloud, MN

I think the biggest potential event for Pacquiao is the Mayweather Jr. fight because it would match two fighters with legit claims to the pound-for-pound crown (assuming Floyd got past JMM, which is not a given in my not-so-humble opinion), and both fighters are well known and respected by even casual boxing fans. However, there are enough “events” for Pacquiao to keep him busy for the next two years.

There’s the rubber match with Marquez (should the mighty Mexican master beat Mayweather two months from now), and 144/145-pound catchweight bouts with Miguel Cotto (if the Puerto Rican titleholder beats Josh Clottey next month) and Shane Mosley. Most elite fighters only fight twice a year these days, so those potential matchups would keep Pacquiao busy until the end of next year. By that time, young badasses like Edwin Valero and Victor Ortiz may have advanced and gained enough credibility and fan followings to merit a shot at Pacquiao.

HATTON'S FUTURE

Hey Dougie,
As a UK fan, I loved the coverage you gave of Froch and Hatton in their differently-fated American fights recently. How's this for an idea if Hatton decides he's too much of a warrior to retire yet: he goes after Timothy Bradley in a double world-title bout. Hatton would get a comeback fight which he could probably win, and then be a beltholder again, whilst Bradley gets the biggest payday of his career. He could then retire on a high, or fight Amir Khan in a UK superfight for the belt he's going to take off Andres Kotelnik in June.

If he doesn't do this, then Mayweather's latest move throws up another interesting possibility: their fight means Juan Manuel Marquez is likely to soon join Hatton on the list of his and Pacquiao's joint victims. A fight between them would be a great slugfest, the White Mexican vs a living legend of the ring, and Hatton's weight and age advantages could well see him triumph in that one as well. After all, if the winners of Hatton-Pacquiao and Mayweather-Marquez are apparently destined to meet, why not the losers too? Whatever he does, I know as a Briton that Hatton will never be eclipsed in the public's affections by David Haye, Carl Froch or Amir Khan, regardless of the extent to which their achievements in the ring eventually outclass his own. -- Dave, London, UK

I’m glad to hear that. Hatton’s definitely the most popular British fighter that I’ve covered in my 10 years sitting among press row, more so even than Lennox Lewis or Naseem Hamed.

I think he needs to get out of the game while he still has his marbles. He’s got great fans, a beautiful family and a lot of money in the bank. Why should he risk his cranium fighting the dangerous likes of JM Marquez and Timothy Bradley? Bradley’s too young, fresh and strong for Hatton, and Marquez is too damn good, period. Even green-ass Amir Khan is a threat to Hatton after the manner in which the Hitman was KO’d by PacMan. I would favor Marquez and “Desert Storm” to not only beat Hatton, but stop him by the middle rounds. If they fought at a 143- or 144-pound catchweight, I might give Hatton shot at beating Khan, but not at 140, which I believe Hatton can no longer make, I think the young man beats the veteran.

Hatton can fight Marquez or Bradley at any weight and it wouldn’t matter; I think they would whup his ass.

By the way, don’t count Marquez out against Mayweather, and don’t count Kotelnik out against Khan.

IMPRESSED, NOT COMPLETELY SOLD

What's up dude? What else can I say about Manny's performance other than it was devastating?! I'm pretty sure that Floyd Mouthweather's plan wasn't for Ricky to walk in with no jab and no head movement but I get the feeling that the result would have been the same no matter what Ricky tried. That being said, I'm not buying any stock until Manny dominates or just plain defeats a guy that can get out of the way of a punch. Until then, no more Hammering Hank comparisons.

(p.s. Abragu-Garcia was top shelf for pure violence. He won this one but I see him going home in a box if he fights anyone in the top ten.)

Holla back! -- Fleetwood St. Louis, Mo.

I agree that Pacquiao isn’t in Henry Armstrong’s league, but I have to give him credit for taking full advantage of the weaknesses or flaws of whoever is put in front of him. Since he went life and death with Juan Manuel Marquez he hasn’t just been beating his opponents, he’s been annihilating them. Of course, his last three opponents haven’t exactly been geniuses of ring generalship, if you know what I mean. They kind of invited those ass whippings, didn’t they?

That’s why a showdown with a bona fide defensive specialist like Mayweather Jr. or a rubber match with Marquez is what I want to see by the end of this year. Pacquiao is definitely the pound-for-pound king, and I consider him to be a great fighter, but right now there are a lot of all-time greats that I would rank above him if I were to compile an all-time great pound-for-pound top 20 or 30. In fact, I’m not sure if he would make the top 20.

IS A RE-ANALYSIS IN ORDER?

Hi Doug,
After Pacquaio's demolishion of Hatton, do you still stand by your analysis how Pacquiao would fare against the 5 greats? Please respond.

Thanks. -- Jeffrey from Vancouver

The power, poise and patience he showed in destroying Hatton definitely causes me to reanalyze the 140-pound mythical matchup with Aaron Pryor. However, his performance against Hatton does not cause me to reconsider or rethink the other mythical matchups in that feature because those involved the lighter-weight versions of Pacquiao (at 122, 126, 130 and 135 pounds) vs. my four favorite all-time greats in those particular weight classes (Gomez at 122, Sanchez at 126, Arguello at 130 and Duran at 135).

I only had the Oscar De La Hoya fight to go on when pontificating on how Pacquiao would fare fighting a fellow great at 140 pounds (he weighed in two pounds over the junior welterweight limit for that bout and performed flawlessly, but not with as much power as he did for Hatton, for whom he weighed in at 138). I thought he had the speed, footwork and versatility to go the distance with the great Pryor, but I wasn't sure if could match the Hawk's power. Maybe he could have. I don't know, but my hunch is that Pryor would have been able to take Pac's power at 140, and he'd still narrowly out-point him in a better fight than I envisioned last week, before the Hatton annihilation.

FANTASY FIVE MATCHUPS

Doug,
I have all the respect for your fighters that you've setup for Manny Pacquiao in your fantasy fights. But seriously, how could you honestly say that Pacquiao would win only one fight out of five (and in a very close match)??? That's just plain stupid man... Or you're just not that really good a boxing analyst as you are... Did you really put all factors into place? Don't you see how great a boxer Pacquiao is at the weight classes he's fought?? C'mon man, probably when he was at junior feather weight he was just a slugger who had a one punch weapon in his arsenal and no defensive tactics whatsoever... But you got to give it to him that when he started to reign in the featherweight division, he already had the chops...

You ought to come up with another article with a little more touch of reality that what really would have happened if Manny was to fight them at both of their primes at each of the weight classes.. Or maybe you should just wait first after he destroys the current world welterweight champ.. Or maybe after he runs over the former no. 1 pound for pound fighter Mayweather Jr in any weight class he prefers.. Then maybe your fantasy fights would have a more objective result.. Thanks... Best regards. -- Boxing Fan

There was nothing stupid about my analysis in that feature. You are wrong about Pacquiao having “chops” when he reigned in the featherweight divisions -- he struggled with Agapito Sanchez (at 122 pounds), he was schooled by JM Marquez after dropping the Mexican three times in the first round (at 126 pounds), and he lost to Erik Morales when they fought for the first time (at 130 pounds). Many fans and media believe Pacquiao lost to Marquez in their rematch (at 130). PacMan didn’t begin to put it all together until his lightweight fight with tough-but-limited David Diaz; Freddie Roach will be the first to admit this. It’s not out of line to believe that naturally bigger and stronger fighters with equal or more experience, talent and skill than Marquez or Morales would have beat Pacquiao.

No offense, but I think my analysis of how Pacquiao would fare against the likes of Gomez, Sanchez, Arguello, Duran and Pryor is more educated than yours.

I can tell from this email that you’re a diehard Pacquiao fan. You’re caught up in “Manny Mania” and you can’t conceive that anyone who weighed between flyweight and middleweight in the history of boxing could even come close to beating the version of Pacquiao we saw blast out Ricky Hatton Saturday night (even though Victor Ortiz, Edwin Valero, Marcos Maidana, Ricardo Torres, and Randall Bailey probably would have done the same thing to the weight-drained Brit), and even though you’ve never even seen an entire fight of 99.9-percent of the boxers who are enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

That’s OK. I’m glad Pacquiao has such loyal fans. It’s good for the sport. I just hope you guys don’t become as obnoxious as Mayweather, Jones, Tyson, Klitschko, Lewis, and Hamed fans became in the late ‘90s and early part of this decade.

THE FRAUDULENT SNAKE IS BACK

Doug,
As always I hope all is well with you and your family.

While it's not ground-breaking conventional wisdom I can't help but comment on how Floyd Mayweather, Jr. once again reminds the boxing world who/what he truly is: A highly skilled boxer who *severely* lacks self-confidence (*Emphasis added). However, where he does not fall short is boxing acumen and outside-looking-in ring intelligence.

I see a fraudulent snake who'll shamelessly insult our (fans and media alike) intelligence to no end. He's not disillusioned as I've heard him described before, he simply isn't honest but it's not by accident. The essence of PBF cannot be found until more folks (like you and some others) ignore the noise masked by words and convoluted salesmen pitching a fight. Soon enough it comes to reading the tea leaves - allowing for observation to outweigh what we're told to think. Post-Castillo, PBF changed his modus operandi, though most seem to disagree with my cynical view - I don't get why.

In what's largely a 'group-think' media I'm sure a win over JMM will reaffirm Floyd's place at the top of the sport. Little context will be placed on the contest and the clever con man will prevail once again.

So my question for you: Do you think that Floyd truly believes he can beat Manny Pacquiao? If the concluding response is a resounding no, should all prepare for yet another teary-eyed retirement party come June 18th?

Have a good one. -- Sean

You know what I think of Floyd “Needs Money” Mayweather Jr: Great talent and skill, without a great heart to go with it. He won’t fight anyone he doesn’t KNOW he can beat. Before he fights an elite fighter that fighter has to first look vulnerable in some way. Pacquiao hasn’t looked vulnerable in any category in his recent fights, so I don’t think Mayweather will actively pursue the Pac-Monster after his July 18 showdown with JM Marquez.

And by the way, I think Marquez is going to shock the s__t out of Needs Money. When’s the last time Mayweather took on a fighter as smart, skilled, experienced and gutsy as Marquez? This ain’t Carlos Baldomir, a faded Oscar De La Hoya, or a made-to-order Ricky Hatton, this is Juan-Mother-F__king-Marquez he’s stepping in the ring with, the man who gave Manny Pacquiao pure hell last March and then knocked out Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz.

This broke-ass fool better be ready to defend his legacy come July 18.

Source: ringtv.com

Pacquiao is still peaking after all these years

2009-05-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

You could be forgiven for having expected something slightly less spectacular from Manny Pacquiao Saturday night, if for no other reason than it seemed unlikely he’d be able to top what he’d done against Oscar De La Hoya last time out.

Ricky Hatton is a young, strong, world champion fighter, and Pacquiao had set the bar very high against De La Hoya, “The Golden Boy’s” age and obviously desiccated state notwithstanding.

So it wouldn’t have been shocking if Pacquiao failed to reach the expectations he created against De La Hoya. Indeed, the possibility that he would not and could not is what Hatton and his team counted on.

“He has had two fights above 130 pounds,” Hatton said before the fight “One was against Oscar. No punches were coming his way. I could look like Sugar Ray Robinson if my opponent fights like that against me.”

So what does Pacquiao do? He walks through Hatton like he’s not there.

This gives rise to the somewhat harrowing question: how good is Pacquiao going to get before we see a drop-off? When will we know that he has peaked? We keep waiting for the drop-off that never comes. The bigger the challenge, the better he is.

The blowout of Erik Morales in their rubber match. David Diaz. De La Hoya. Now Hatton. The only fighter that’s made Pacquiao look human is Juan Manuel Marquez.

And they’re not done with one another yet.

It’s damn unnatural, is what it is.

Every fighter reaches an apex in his career when his performance represents the best he ever has been and ever will be, and everything that follows is necessarily down hill. The examples in recent history are myriad.

Roy Jones appeared at the very height of his powers when he outpointed John Ruiz in 2003. His very next fight, the first against Antonio Tarver, initiated his alarmingly precipitous decline.

Kostya Tszyu never looked better than he did while blasting out Sharmba Mitchell in their rematch in November 2004. Next fight? Mauled, submitted, and retired by Hatton.

Shane Mosley nearly decapitated poor Adrian Stone to cement his status as the best in the world pound-for-pound in July 2001. Then disaster came against Vernon Forrest, who appeared on top of the world himself until Ricardo Mayorga mugged him in 2003.

Cristian Mijares was one of the best in the world. Until suddenly he wasn’t.
Pacquiao? Outside of the pedestrian win here and there -- such as those over Oscar Larios and Marco Antonio Barrera in their rematch -- he seems to raise the bar in every fight.

“Nobody’s gonna beat this Filipino—nobody!” Bob Arum told the press after Pacquiao pancaked Hatton. “What this man did is astounding. I have never seen such devastating, tremendous speed and power in the 40 years I’ve been in this business.”

The term hyperbole was invented with Arum in mind, but you can see why he’s excited. We all should be.

Still, sooner or later the drop-off will come and Pacquiao will lose. It can’t go on forever.

But get comfortable. It could be a while.

Some miscellaneous observations from last week:

“Crafty Little Fox”? Poor Humberto Soto. Who heads up the Fighters’ Nicknames division over at Top Rank, John Waters?…

Who’s even happier than Pacquiao at how things turned out? De La Hoya. He took Pacquiao’s bombs for eight rounds. Hatton was snoring in two…

I’m astonished that so few are giving Marquez any chance at all against Floyd Mayweather, most because -- get this -- Mayweather is bigger! When will we learn?…

Pacquiao is wealthy, adored by millions, and the world’s best fighter. If you weren’t feeling inferior enough, he’s also polite, humble, and gracious. Great…

There’s only one…translucent guy stretched out on the canvas. Guess who?…

Yes, Matt Korobov looked good, but his opponent, Anthony Bartinelli, gets to go home to Valerie. Who would you rather be?…

In case you missed it, Julio Cesar Chavez has launched an “energy drink” in Mexico, claiming the concoction is what he drank throughout his days as a champion. Who knew beer was so healthful?…

In case you missed it II: John Duddy lost to one Billy Lyell in Newark, New Jersey last week. As a result, Duddy fans all over the New York metro area are drowning their sorrows in Chavez’ energy drink…

Can we all agree to stop calling something a fight of the year kind of fight before the first bell has even rung?

Source: ringtv.com

There’s only one Manny Pacquiao

2009-05-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS – Four years ago, in the very same ring where he scored a crushing second-round knockout over an opponent many thought would give him the challenge of his career, Manny Pacquiao lost a decision to Erik Morales.

Morales was one of the most entertaining fighters of his time, but never once were “Morales” and “all-time great” ever used together in the same sentence.

In 2005, Pacquiao was a good and exciting but hardly great fighter. After Saturday’s K.O. of Ricky Hatton, though, he stands atop the boxing world, even with the heavily hyped return of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who had been a near-unanimous choice as the world’s top fighter prior to his untimely retirement in June 2008.

Mayweather Jr. unretired on Saturday and said he’d fight Juan Manuel Marquez in July, but he’ll have to defeat Pacquiao if he wants to be regarded as the best after Pacquiao decimated Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao knocked Hatton down twice in the first round and then knocked him cold with a crushing left hand that may have been the best punch of his career late in the second round. Hatton fell face first and laid motionless for several minutes as the arena erupted.

If the Pacquiao Era hadn’t started with his decimation of Oscar De La Hoya in December, it began with a straight left that left promoter Bob Arum squealing.

Arum has promoted many of the game’s finest fighters, including Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler. Arum was so ebullient after Pacquiao’s devastating victory, he was comparing Pacquiao favorably to Ali.

“I promoted Muahmmad Ali and the best Ali I ever saw was the one who fought before he was forced to take a sabbatical for 3½ years,” Arum said. “That was the best Muhammad Ali. He had phenomenal speed and he had terrific reflexes, but he sure as hell didn’t have the explosive power that Manny Pacquiao has. … He was a great, great fighter, but there has never been a fighter with the same combination of speed and explosive power as Manny Pacquiao.”

It was hard to argue with any superlatives hurled Pacquiao’s way after the finest effort of his career. He picked apart a guy who was 45-1 coming into the fight and who was the linear super lightweight champion, making Hatton look like an upstart amateur.

Pacquiao was far too fast and far too strong for Hatton, who fought his entire career as a 140-pounder. Pacquiao, who began at just 106, hurt Hatton with nearly every shot on Saturday.

“Before the fight, a lot of people were saying I’m small at 140 and Ricky Hatton is bigger than me,” an unmarked Pacquiao said. “I didn’t put that in my mind.”

Ever since that disappointing loss to Morales, Pacquiao has made a transformation that has turned him into a superstar and has old-school boxing experts talking of him as an all-time great.

He barely squeaked out a victory over Marquez 14 months ago, but his trainer, Freddie Roach, said it would be no contest if they were to fight now.

“He’s a different now than he was [when he lost to Morales],” Roach said. “He’s not that guy. He’s a different guy. If he fought Marquez right now, I guarantee you he’d knock him out in three rounds. I’m telling you. I know that’s a bold statement, but he’s a much better fighter than the guy who fought those guys.

“Something clicked inside of him. I can’t pinpoint it. He’s just a different guy.”

Pacquiao isn’t a guy who simply goes to the gym to shed pounds to make the weight. He uses his training sessions as a classroom and takes a studious approach to improving himself.

Roach worked diligently with him to improve his right hook and on Saturday, it was his key punch. Hatton would cock his left as he went to throw it, a sign for Pacquiao to unleash his right hook, which he did in devastating manner.

He hurt Hatton with a combination that began with a right hook about 90 seconds into the fight, sending the British star spaghetti-legged in the corner. As Hatton’s many fans in the sellout crowd of 16,262 sang “There’s only one Ricky Hatton,” you had to wonder if Hatton somehow thought there might have been two Manny Pacquiaos the way punches were raining down upon him.

Hatton wasn’t in Pacquiao’s class, though he might have beaten him a few years ago. Pacquiao and Roach now form the best team in boxing as Pacquiao has developed his game to a point where he compares favorably with any man alive.

“What I am watching is something that is astounding,” Arum said. “Usually when a world championship-caliber boxer reaches the top, he can be good for a number of years. But most of the time, there is no improvement. This young man improves every single fight.

“He’s doing things he didn’t do two years ago. He’s doing more things and he’s doing other things he didn’t do before. His defense is tremendous and his reflexes now are tremendous. I have never, ever in more than 40 years – and I say this without hyperbole – I have never seen a fighter combine speed and explosive power the way he does.”

Boxing now needs a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. If it occurs, it could be the most significant fight in the sport in decades.

But Pacquiao doesn’t need Mayweather to affirm himself as one of the sport’s greats. Pacquiao answered that question plenty well in the ring on Saturday.

Source: yahoo.com

Pacquiao vs Hatton Fight Photos

2009-05-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

Source: yahoosports.com

Manny Pacquiao's fists are loaded, and his bouts are a lock

2009-05-03T06:37:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao can no longer be identified as a boxer. Lethal weapon, maybe. Or destroyer missile. Whatever the definition, he is unquestionably the sport's top gun.

What he did to Ricky Hatton on Saturday night, in a boxing ring at the MGM Grand Garden, before a crowd of 16,262 and millions more all over the world watching on pay-per-view, was mostly mayhem. The man from Manchester was manhandled.

British fans who swoop down on this city every time Hatton fights -- which is three times since December 2007 -- serenaded him into the ring as usual, with the now-annoying version of "Winter Wonderland" that begins: "There's only one Ricky Hatton."

They were right. He was the only one who ended up on his back in the middle of the ring.

The fight summary is one paragraph. Pacquiao knocked Hatton down twice in the first round, dominated the second and caught Hatton with a vicious left hook as the round ticked down. Hatton's eyes rolled back and his body fell, like a sack of potatoes, flat on his back. Referee Kenny Bayless knelt over him for several seconds, then waved his hands, with one second left in the round, to signify that the fight was over.

The aftermath was a bit scary. Hatton didn't move right away, and soon there were many people with concerned looks on their faces, kneeling and hovering. Hatton may have been on his back longer than he was on his feet during the fight.

Eventually, they brought his stool to the middle of the ring and got him on it, and a few minutes later he left the ring under his own power, waving feebly to a crowd of Brit fans who may have been driven to drink by the result. Of course, any result would have driven them to drink.

Pacquiao, the Filipino powerhouse whose record went to 49-3-2 (with 37 knockouts), weighed in Friday at 138 pounds and went to 148 by fight time. Hatton, now 45-2-0 (with 32 knockouts), weighed in at the limit of 140 and gained 12 pounds by fight time.

A measure of how dominant Pacquiao has become is that this victory marked his fourth different weight-class win in the last 14 months. His previous conquest, of boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds, sent De La Hoya into retirement. Hatton is only 30, two months older than Pacquiao, but may be pondering a similar path. The pubs of Manchester are a lot safer than Pacquiao's left hand.

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, now the pound-for-pound best corner man in his sport, pretty much called the shot again, just as he had against De La Hoya on Dec. 6. He said Pacquiao would knock Hatton out in the third round. Pacquiao apparently had earlier dinner reservations.

"This fight was no surprise to me," Roach said.

The star trainer always seems to have a secret strategy, and he revealed afterward that, for this one, he had watched hours of film of Hatton -- "I knew him better than my own fighter," he said -- and realized that Hatton was wide open for the right hook.

"Hatton pumps his fist before he throws," Roach said. "We also knew he'd be looking for the left," Pacquiao's main weapon.

The first knockdown in the first round came via a right, the second with a left. Hatton had actually survived somewhat better in the second, despite Pacquiao's quickly evident superior hand speed, foot speed and punching power. But the left that finished him started at about 7 o'clock, landed on Hatton's face at about 12 noon and made the likely obvious result official.

Hatton didn't attend the post-match news conference, because he was taken to Valley Hospital. Before he left, he said, "It was a hard lot, but I'm OK. I really didn't see the punch coming, but it was a good shot."

Pacquiao, ever the diplomat, said, "I'm surprised the fight was so easy. I worked hard in training camp and he was open for the right all night. It was nothing personal. I was just doing my job."

Bob Arum, whose Top Rank Promotions handles Pacquiao, called his boxer "a monster" afterward, and started making noises about Pacquiao's becoming boxing's "all-time great."

Two things to consider there. As a promoter, Arum is wired for hyperbole. But also, he is no newcomer to this and began his career promoting no less than Muhammad Ali.

The only thing that might stop Pacquiao now is his desire to become a prominent government official someday soon in his beloved Philippines. There is even talk of the presidency someday.

Were that to happen now, it would make Pacquiao the answer to the trivia question: Which country has a president even more popular than Barack Obama?

For Hatton, a nice guy and tough competitor who is also beloved in his country, there may not be a lot of return trips upcoming.

Which, of course, will send the beer distributors of Las Vegas into deep depression.

Source: latimes.com

Hitman's fans stunned by knockout

2009-05-03T03:25:00.000-07:00

"There's only one Ricky Hatton," goes the British fighter's anthem.

But there needed to be two, three or four Ricky Hattons in the ring on Saturday night to cope with the phenomenal Filipino Manny Pacquiao.

Pacman, as he is known back home in the Philippines, gobbled up the Hitman with an awesome array of punches at dazzling speed, and a final fearsome left hook.
Hatton crashed to the canvas with a second to go in the second round, never looking likely to beat the count.

'Shocked and gutted'

The Mancunian hero was later taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up.
It was a stunning ending to the fight and shocked the 20,000 or so Hatton fans who had ignored the economic hard times to travel to Las Vegas to see their hero.
Rob Melbourne, from London, was in the arena with his girlfriend Katie Audsley and he said: "We're shocked and gutted. I can't believe it happened."

But he added: "Total respect to Manny Pacquiao, he totally outclassed him."
Katie said: "I'm still pleased we came all the way out here because the atmosphere was amazing."

Neither of them wanted to see Hatton forced into retirement after such a performance and Katie said: "He has to go out with a win. He mustn't go out like that."
Tim Marshall, an expat who lives in Tokyo, said he felt Hatton looked tense beforehand while Pacquiao looked "super-relaxed".

'Just too quick'

He said: "After he was knocked down twice in the first round it was just a question of when and not if he lost."

For him there is a silver lining. "My wife Lori is Filipino. She's stayed at home with the kids but she will be very happy.

"Pacquiao has done the Philippines proud. The whole place comes to a standstill when he's fighting and the fight was shown live on TV there with thousands in the street."
As for Hatton, Tim thinks he needs to think long and hard about whether he should continue in the fight game after such a devastating defeat.

Bal Johal and his friends Surjit Rai and Gee Punia, all from London, were in despair.

Bal said: "We came over for the Malignaggi fight but this time we are so disappointed. There was 100% effort on Ricky's part but Pacquiao was just too quick."
Would it ruin their weekend, I asked.

"No. This is the party capital of the world. We knew Ricky was the underdog and we are still determined to enjoy the weekend," said Bal.

While thousands of British fans went off to drown their sorrows in the bars and fleshpots of Sin City, their Filipino counterparts prepared to party into the night.
Joseph Palmes had travelled all the way from South Cotabato - the same province where Pacquiao hails from - just for the fight and he was overjoyed.

"Nobody beats Pacman. He is the strongest and the fastest," he beamed.

So who next for the mighty Pacman?

Floyd Mayweather, the only man to have previously beaten Hatton, looms large on the horizon after he announced earlier in the day he was coming out of retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez in July.

At the press conference after the fight, promoter Bob Arum said: "If Mayweather wants to pick on a little Filipino, just be my guest."

Pacquiao-Mayweather would be another monster fight and there is little doubting who most of Ricky Hatton's fans will be rooting for.

In victory Pacquiao was as charismatic and humble as Mayweather was arrogant and insensitive.

Source: bbc.co.uk

Pacquiao Blows Out Hatton In Two

2009-05-03T02:55:00.000-07:00

It was two rounds of brutal action and a two round blowout for Filipino sensation Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao as he walked through, around, and all over Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton (45-2 with 32 KOs). It was a crowning achievement for Pacquiao who became the first man to beat Hatton, until tonight the linear 140 lb champion, at that weight. The cherry on top? He did it easier and much quicker than Floyd Mayweather, Jr who has now returned to the game and is hoping to take on tonight’s winner. After seeing this performance, he may think twice about that.

Nothing is like a big fight in Vegas between tow seemingly evenly matched fighters and tonight was no different as the star rolled out in droves and the room was filled to the brim with Brits and Pinoys all cheering their man on and shaking the MGM Grand Garden Arena from the floor to the rafters.

Hatton came out to the ring first, looking serious and focused. The crowd went wild as he made his way to the ring. As he waited for the action to begin, Hatton began hitting his head with his own gloves and jumping up and down. Those seemed to be the only shots he landed tonight.

Pacquiao came out relaxed and smiling, taking in the crowd. Hatton’s fans went wild for their guy but Pacquiao’s fans took the volume to a whole other level. The roof about came off and my ears were ringing as Michael Buffer made his pre-fight introductions. As he got to his trademark line “the crowd joined him to say “LET’S GET READY TO RUUUUUUMBLLLLLLEEE!!!!!”

Both men looked ready and in shape, stretching, bouncing, and getting ready for that first bell. When it rang, both men came to center and the action was on. Hatton got his jab going but followed it with two clinches within the first 30 seconds.

Pacquiao stayed patient, timing Hatton and looking to land his shot. And he did with a right hook that caught Hatton flush and making him clinch again. Hatton worked in the clinch to the body and head. After the break, Hatton dug to the body but Pacquiao came right back with a jab, jab, left hand . A lead left caught Hatton and seemed to hurt Hatton who clinched again. Pacquiao came back with a right hook after that and began to open up as Hatton backed off. A searing right hook caught Hatton moments later and dropped him hard to the canvas. Hurt but full of heart, Hatton rose and Pacquiao went back to work. The crowd was deafening as Pacquiao landed shot after shot, looking to end things early. Pacquiao was landing it all as a one two from Pacquiao broke Hatton’s guard and dropped him again.

It was pure mayhem in the arena as even press row jumped to their feet at what they were seeing. Hatton rose slower this time and was clearly very hurt but still game as they traded to the bell.

In the second, Pacquiao came out aggressive but boxing patient and smart, gauging his foe and poking and prodding to see if a finish was there for the taking. Hatton attempted to bore in close the gap but Pacquiao’s educated feet and sharp jab kept him at bay. Time and again, Pacquiao would catch Hatton coming in wide open and it seemed a matter of time before the end. It would come quickly as Pacquiao seemingly opened up every punch in the arsenal. Left leads, quick right hooks off a step left move that he worked on in the gym. Hatton got in a right hand but the offense was all Pacquiao as he landed jab, left, jab, left and then again followed by a right hook that shook Hatton to his toes. Pacquiao landed two lead lefts as he got Hatton in the corner but the Manchester fighter circled out to center ring and the end of the fight as Pacquiao, stepping to his left dropped a bone chilling left hook that dropped Hatton on his back. He seemingly was out before he hit the ground. Referee Kenny Bayless stepped in, looked Hatton over and waved it off at 2:59 of the second. Easily knockout of the year and one of the most brutal and beautiful KO’s in memory period.

Afterward, a humble Pacquiao would say, “I mean, I am surprised that it was that easy, but the fighter fights hard. He is strong and has a lead hand. Our strategy was one punch: the left hook. Right hook. That was going to be key to this fight. In the first round, I expected my right hook was going to be dangerous for him. He was coming wide open and his hands were down.”

As for the future of the pound for pound king, “I can fight anybody. M promoters will handle that. I am just doing my job and training.”

Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach said “Everytime [Hatton] throws that hook and cocks it, he is wide open for a right hook from the southpaw stance. We worked on that in the gym every day and it worked beautifully. The winner of Marquez/Mayweather is a possibility. I think it would be great.”

Source: maxboxing.com

Hatton's dream's destroyed

2009-05-03T02:46:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton's pound-for-pound dream has been wrecked inside two shocking rounds.

Manny Pacquiao put the Hitman down twice in the first before ending a one-sided contest with a chilling left hook one second from the end of the second.

It was such a bad knockout that Hatton was out before he hit the canvas and he needed treatment before finally 0 thankfully - getting to his feet.

Whether he climbs back into a boxing ring again, is doubtful.

Hatton did no interviews, had to be helped from the ring and was surely headed for hospital. And possible retirement.

When his head clears he will realise that the performance was a complete and utter disaster. He came to Vegas dreaming of being crowned the best boxer on the planet. He will leave after an absolute nightmare.

At least it was a short one. Freddie Roach's initial three-round prediction was not far off the mark in the end. Pacquiao's trainer also said it was too late for the Hitman to change his style - and that was just as accurate.

Ferocious

In six ferocious minutes of action, there was no sign of any boxing skills, no head movement, no cunning whatsover as he tried to close the gap and take Pacquiao on on the inside.

Instead it was the Hatton of old. Walking straight forward, square on and, as he did even on that fateful night when he forced Kostya Tszyu to quit, taking way too many shots.

Reports of a rift with trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr on the eve of the biggest fight of his life can't have helped. If there had been problems - and in five minutes 59 seconds Hatton did little to dispel the rumours - they were cruelly exposed by the Filipino phenomenon, who now stands alone at the top of boxing's tree.

Hatton's plan to chop him down had been based on getting in close and in the very first clinch of the fight, he did get two sneaky shots in on the inside. But Pac Man hadn't even begun to fight.

A few seconds later and he was in the swing, catching his man with a right and even when he was pinned on the ropes, he slipped out untroubled.

Knowing his speed would keep him clear of any one-dimensional danger, he was then able to stand his ground in the face of thoughtless attacks and let his own fists fly.

Stunned

A left-right-left combination soon had Hatton cowering, then a huge right hook, signalled the beginning of the end.

Down Hatton went, stunned, but got back to his feet at eight. It was no flash knockdown, no lucky counter, no fluke. It was speed, timing, power; everything a boxer craves, everthing Hatton had promised - and it was to be repeated.

The next time he stuttered forward, a straight left repeated the punishment and had the Hitman on his back again with 55 seconds of the first round still remaining.

Juan Manuel Marquez might have survived three first-round knockdowns against Pacquiao five years ago, but even though Hatton got up again and held on for the ball, this was so patently different. Pacquiao had, as promised brought plenty power up to 140lbs to match his pace.

Hatton did at least catch his man at the start of the second, but still he was hunting in straight lines, not using, never mind moving his head. Soon enough another left landed and sent his head rocking back, while Pac Man let loose three or four-punch combinations and stepped out of range as Hatton lunged forward.

It was all too familiar and although he managed to mess Pac Man up for the next chunk, Bayless warned him for a low blow and roughing on the inside as desperation took over far sooner than anyone had dared fear.

Horrendously

How he made it to within a whisker of the end of the session perhaps only Pacquiao can answer, but just as the seconds were getting ready, the Hatton dream was ruined. Absolutely, unequivocally and, as fiancee Jennifer's piercing ringside scream will testify, horrendously.

This time he didn't even walk onto the shot. Almost casually, Pac Man prodded out half a jab before unleashing a lightning fast left hook flush to the chin. Hatton toppled to his left, smacked the canvas hard and did not even need a count.

He did need extensive treatment and he will now need a serious assessment of just where to go next.

Pacquiao, in contrast, can look forward to the winner of Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Marquez later this year.

On this chlling evidence, he can do so with supreme confidence. Boxing has a new pound-for-pound king. And sadly, he was a class above the same old Ricky Hatton.

Source: skysports.com

Manny Pacquiao destroys Ricky Hatton in two brutal rounds

2009-05-03T02:30:00.000-07:00

The brutal end to Ricky Hatton’s dream of defeating Manny Pacquiao came with the British fighter in hospital here in Sin City, after he was floored three times by devastating power punches.

he last of the three knockdowns left Hatton listless on the canvas.
There will be some serious thinking about Hatton’s future after what had been a far-reaching build-up to this contest.

Only Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s astute trainer, had predicted the outcome, having said that his charge would “stop Ricky Hatton in the first three rounds”. His man went one better than that.

Roach said he had studied Hatton fight tapes for two months. “Ricky is wide open for the right because he goes back before he throws. He fights the same way over and over again. I’ve studied all of Ricky’s tapes for over two months. I knew him as well as my own fighter.”

Roach was not wrong. Hatton was floored in the final minute of the round by a Pacquiao right hook.

The scene was set with a thrilling atmosphere. Attended by 16,262 spectators, the MGM Grand Garden Arena was sold out, bringing a gate of $8.85 million. And the expectation was finally sated. A huge entourage enjoyed Pacquiao's success in the United States, with the now ubiquitous presence on these occasions celebrity A-listers, including Russell Brand, Jack Nicholson, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, and even Oscar De La Hoya in a Ricky Hatton mask.
Tom Jones sang "God Save the Queen." News from dressing rooms of both fighters revealed that Pacquiao had eventually weighed 148lbs, with Hatton 152lbs.

Hatton, whose record now stands at 45-2, had been poker-faced as he entered the ring while Pacquiao, now 49-3-2 (37 KOs), walked into the arena with a wide grin on his face, before reaching his corner and kneeling to pray. It was ominous.

Pacquiao might have smiled even more as he took his stool after a first round in which he had launched an all-out assault midway into the stanza, twice sending the Englishman to the canvas.

Hatton had started brightly, Pacquiao seemingly getting into the fight slowly, landing his jab as he had planned to do, but in the final minute of the round, a rapid right hook caught Hatton on the chin and sent him to the canvas.

Hatton took the count from referee Kenny Bayliss on one knee, but was soon in trouble again, as a straight left floored him in front of his corner. Hatton’s confusion was only saved by the bell.

After the minute’s respite, Hatton looked composed again for the second round, beginning it with some success and vim, knocking Pacquiao back, but was then warned by Bayliss not to hold and hit. Hatton was attempting to turn the contest into a roughhouse brawl, which at first unsettled Pacquiao.

The Filipino backed off, ducked out of exchanges, landing on Hatton with two left hooks. Yet, as the round ended, Pacquiao ended all thoughts of Hatton coming back with a punch of clinical brutality, a crunching left hook, which at first, drained the arena of energy and stunned Hatton's travelling army, before Pacquiao’s fans burst into shouts of celebration.

There was one second left in the round. It was as definitive a finish as could have been imagined. Pity Hatton. For he will see this knockout time and again as it gets replayed on KO reels. It was one of those that takes the breath away.
"In the first round, I expected my right hook was going to be dangerous for him because he's open when he's coming towards me," Pacquiao said. "He was very surprised because I have a new right hook."

It was, however, Pacquiao's trademark left hook that eventually felled Hatton, and there was initial concern as Hatton lay flattened in the centre of the ring.
Pacquiao gave his post-fight interview with medical treatment still being offered to Hatton. "I'm always doing my job in the ring, doing my best to make people happy," he said. "It's nothing personal for me, I'm just doing my job."
Roach added: “They say I’m the best trainer in the world. That’s only because I’ve got the best fighter in the world training with me. Manny is incredible. He just gets better and better, and when we prepare for fights now, we discuss how we will beat his opponents, and we also work on what is comfortable for him, too.”

Earlier yesterday morning, Floyd Mayweather Jr had announced he would be returning from retirement to take on Juan Manuel Marquez in July. If he had waited a few hours longer, he could have potentially mentioned that he would fight Pacquiao.

After seeing his destruction of Hatton, Mayweather may not be keen on a contest with the Filipino fighter. Yet Pacquiao-Mayweather could be a barnstormer of a promotion.
Hatton, who was taken to hospital immediately afterwards, on precautionary grounds, said: “I really didn’t see the punch coming, but I’ll be OK. It’s a hard loss but I’m OK.”

Hatton, when his head clears, will have some serious, serious thinking to do. The prospect of retirement will be pushed towards him, and only he will know whether it is time.

On this showing, it looks like that time may have come, as his dreams of beating the world’s No 1 pound for pound fighter were like the sands being blown away in the Mojave desert. Let’s hope Hatton is not too brave for his own good.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Ricky Hatton v Manny Pacquiao: How the fight unfolded

2009-05-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

Round One
Hatton starts well for the first 30 seconds, stays outside, moving well (and keeping to the game plan) as Pacquiao appears to start slowly. Then Pacquiao launches an assault catching Hatton flush with a straight left hand. Then a right hook. Then he launches an all-out assault, twice sending Hatton to the canvas. The final minute of the round is torrid for the Mancunian, a rapid right hook as Pacquiao moved to his left catching Hatton on the chin sending him to the canvas. Hatton takes the count from referee Kenny Bayliss on one knee, rises, but is soon in trouble again, as a straight left floors him in front of his corner.
10-7 Pacquiao

Round Two
Hatton looks composed, remarkably, at the start of the second stanza, beginning it with some success, knocking Pacquiao back, but is then warned by Bayliss not to hold and hit. Hatton lands with a left hook, and looks to be getting back into the contest but as the round ends Pacquiao enacts a punch of clinical brutality, felling Hatton flat onto his back, crumpling under a left hook which leaves him glazed and motionless. Hatton looked out before he landed on his back on the ground.

"I did not count," said Bayliss. "I called the fight over because Ricky was glazed in his eyes and was showing no motion to get back up." Promoter Bob Arum says immediately at ringside that Pacquiao can "go on to become the greatest pound for pound fighter of all time". Hatton is on the canvas motionless for three minutes, and walks out of the arena. He is immediately taken to hospital "on precautionary grounds".

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Pacquiao annihilates Hatton!

2009-05-03T02:24:00.000-07:00

There’s no question who is #1 pound for pound. Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) destroyed IBO light welterweight Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Hatton came out aggressively but was dropped by twice by Pacquiao in round one. In round two, Pacquiao dropped Hatton for the count with a left to the chin. Time was 2:59. Hatton was down for several minutes.

Source: fightnews.com

Expect a war!

2009-05-02T09:55:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my last entry.

I woke up to all kinds of rumours about me and Floyd on the internet. Some even suggesting that Floyd and me had split.

Well for the record we have not split and Floyd was at the weigh in with me and he will be in my corner come fight time. I don't know where these rumours get started.

Apart form the actual fight the hardest part is making the weight. I have done it so many times now that I know what to do and today was no exception.

You lose weight overnight when you go to sleep and I woke up bang on target. The toughest part of the weigh in is the hanging about until you step on the scales.

I went down the MGM Grand Arena and did the pre-fight interview for HBO with Jim Lampley, Emanuel Steward and Larry Merchant. After that I had a check-up with the doctor, and then the weigh-in.

Unbelieveable! The place was rammed and if it's possible I think there were more than the Mayweather fight. I heard that 25,000 Brits have travelled over for the fight. That's amazing, it makes me very proud.

I made the weight first time bang on 140lbs. After the weigh-in I re-hydrate and start putting my weight back on. I do this with recovery drinks and food and then it's back to the apartment for a big feast with all my team. By the time I get in the ring I will be about 151 to 154lbs.

After dinner we played cards and the last meal of the day was a pizza before retiring for bed.

The fight is less than 24 hours away now and all that remains now is to get in the ring and do the business. I know what I have to do and trust me, I will be do it.

Expect a war. I don't see this fight going the distance and I expect to win.

Finally thanks to you, the fans, for your continued support.

Lets have it.

Ricky Hatton.

Source: skysports.com

There’s Only One Hatton/Pacquiao

2009-05-02T09:49:00.000-07:00

The last few fights I have attended in Vegas, Margarito vs. Cotto, De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao, brought en electricity all their own to the town. Everywhere you looked people were talking about what the outcome would be, arguing, drinking, getting ready for a good time. But when you throw in two fighters as revered by their respective countries as Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao, electricity doesn’t come close to describing it. Try radioactive. Traffic stops, (sat in my car, blocks away from the MGM Grand for an eternity), throngs push and pull through the casino floor trying to get to the weigh in much less the fight. It’s a pure mayhem usually reserved for the Beatles or Elvis. But if you ask a Pinoy boxing fan, Manny Pacquiao is Jesus, Elvis, and Mike Tyson all rolled into one. And Ricky Hatton? Well, let’s just say he not excites his fans but if the UK took a poll, he would get “Most Likely To Kick it and Have a Pint with you.” He’s a peoples champ as well as being the 140 pound champ.

Making my way to weigh in through the crowds and security, I was counting one for one Hatton and Pacquiao fans. And as I entered the arena, I came across about 4,000 people, seemingly all singing the same : THERE’S ONLY ONE RICKY HATTON . . . ONE RICKY HATTON . . .” When Floyd Mayweather, Jr knocked out Hatton in December ’07, I thought that was the last I had heard from that song. How wrong I was. Drums, chanting, singing, drunken smiles and boos for the opposition filled the room as I settled into my seat to watch Pacquiao and Hatton weigh in.

First to the scales was promising young southpaw junior middleweight, Erislandy Lara (4-0 3 KOS) who came in at 155 to his opponent Chris Gray’s 156. Lara is an exciting and well schooled a prospect as you will find. All action but technically sound and for now, his power looks formidable. Don’t blink.

Russian amateur standout Matt Karabov (4-0 4 KOs), another well schooled, fights like a pro prospect came in looking trim and ready at 161 ½. His opponent, Anthony Bartenelli (15-12-2 with 13 KOs and weighing161 ) came in looking like Tarzan, long hair flowing. I don’t think I have ever seen a fighter with hair that long. Good luck with that.

Next up was prospect soon to be contender Daniel Jacobs (15-0 with 14 KOs and weighing 163) fresh off a co-feature bout on Friday Night Fights last week. His management said they could get him on this card if he won that fight quickly and the kid came through in 2. 2 fights, 8 days, and the guy still looks fresh. His opponent, Michael Walker (19-1-2 with 12 KOs and weighing 162 ) was in training for James Kirkland. If he trained as hard he needed to for that fight, then Jacobs, Kirkland’s replacement, and the fans are in for a treat.

The co-feature opponents, Humberto Soto (47-7-2 with 30 KOs) and Benoit Gaudet (20-1 with 7 KOs) came in looking ready for battle at 130 and 129 respectively. Soto is rarely if ever in a bad fight. His opponent isn’t exactly the most heavy-handed guy in the world but Soto has a way of making all action bouts out of gimmes.

Promoter and newly retired legend, Oscar De La Hoya came to the podium and talked about how excited he was to be promoting a fighter as dangerous and promotable as Ricky Hatton. Indicating he liked Hatton’s chances, De La Hoya said “If I fought Ricky Hatton in December, I would have been knocked out.” As for retirement, De La Hoya smiled and said “I’m glad I’m retired. Now I can go and enjoy a pint or ten.” To which the crowd exploded. Lot of retirees in attendance, I guess.

Finally it was time for the main event weigh in. Manny Pacquiao came in to a roaring crowd of supporters wearing his trademark Philippines flag sweats and shades. Manny was all smiles as he hopped up on the scales and planted a 138 on the crowd who roared their approval. This is one of the very few times I have seen Manny weigh in and not look a little starched. He looks good at the weight.

Ricky Hatton entered the arena and the crowd went nuts. Looking very serious and more than a little gaunt, Hatton walked up and hit 140 on the nose. Both men look in tremendous shape but Hatton appears to have to sacrifice to make the weight. During the standoff, both men look to be about the same size with Manny Pacquiao’s head being slightly bigger. After a long stare down, they shake hands at Hatton’s behest. The weight is on. So is the fight.

Source: maxboxing.com

Roach vs Mayweather Sr. - 24/7 Overtime

2009-05-02T04:59:00.000-07:00

Pacquiao vs Hatton 24 / 7 Episode 4

2009-05-02T04:54:00.000-07:00

Part1

Part2

Pacquaio vs Hatton Weigh-In Video

2009-05-01T22:43:00.000-07:00

Weigh-in Pics - Pacquiao vs Hatton

2009-05-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

Source: yahoo.com

Pacquiao, Hatton make weight

2009-05-01T15:50:00.000-07:00

From the MGM Grand in Las Vegas: Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton made weight for their showdown tomorrow night. Pacquiao was 138; Hatton was 140. Stay tuned for more photos.

Televised bouts:
Humberto Soto 130 vs. Benoit Gaudet 129
Daniel Jacobs 163 vs. Michael Walker 162
Matt Korobov 161.5 vs. Anthony Bartinelli 161
Erislandy Lara 156 vs. Chris Gray 155

Off-TV bouts:
Matthew Hatton 149 vs. Ernesto Zepeda 146
Mike Alvarado 142 vs. Joaquin Gallardo 141.5
Abner Mares 119 vs. Jonathan Perez 120
Bernabe Concepcion 126 vs. Yogili Herrera 126
Joe Murray 126 vs. Missael Nunez 126
Omar Chavez 144 vs. Tyler Ziolowski 142

Source: fightnews.com

Pacquiao-Hatton: Full Weight-In Report and Review

2009-05-01T15:30:00.000-07:00

A packed house was on hand for the year’s most anticipated event, the lineal super lightweight world title fight between defending champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton and pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

Hatton came in at the divisional limit of 140 lb; Pacquiao was considerably under at 138 lb.

Both fighters looked shredded in making weight for tomorrow night’s main event, though there was a considerable delay and deliberate stalling before both fighters were finally able to make their way to the scales.

The downtime did little dispel the enthusiasm among the thousands of fans from the UK and Philippines, both of whom wildly cheered their heroes, and also let loose a round of boos for guest host Mario Lopez as well as former undisputed middleweight king Bernard Hopkins.

It didn’t take long for the UK crew to remind the world that there’s only one Ricky Hatton. For all other boxing fans, there’s only one superfight to which we have anxiously awaited, which is now finally upon us.

As extensively reported by Boxingscene.com co-Managing Editor Cliff Rold (and since mentioned elsewhere by better-known but considerably less enlightened mainstream writers), a win for Pacquiao will make him the only fighter in boxing history to claim lineal world titles in four separate weight classes, having previously served as the true world champion at flyweight, featherweight and junior lightweight. He has also earned alphabet titles at junior featherweight and lightweight.

Saturday’s event will mark Pacquiao’s fourth weight class in as many fights, in a span of just 14 months. The Filipino icon claimed the lineal junior lightweight crown with a stirring split decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez last March.

Three months later came his nine-round beatdown of David Diaz for a lightweight belt before scoring the most notable win of his already legendary career, forcing Oscar de la Hoya to quit after eight brutally one-sided rounds last December.

Despite coming in as slightly more than a 5-2 betting favorite, the fight will be no walk in the park for Pacquiao.

The defending world champion, Hatton has never been beaten at super lightweight, where he has spent much of his 13-year career. This weekend’s superfight marks the seventh defense of the lineal 140 lb. crown he won four years ago with a career-best 11th round stoppage win over Kostya Tszyu.

He’s kept winning for the most part, though it’s been an uneven reign and career since then. Wins over Carlos Maussa, Juan Urango, Jose Luis Castillo and Paul Malignaggi came in impressive and conclusive fashion, while looking less than stellar in a title defense against Juan Lazcano and a close, controversial decision win over Luis Collazo in 2006.

The 11th round stoppage win over Malignaggi last November was Hatton’s first bout under the tutelage of outspoken head trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr, after having spent his entire career with Billy Graham. Hatton remains with Mayweather Sr for Saturday’s fight, although several media outlets have reported rumors of rifts between the outspoken trainer and members of Hatton’s camp.

In stark contrast, Pacquiao remains in the care of longtime head trainer Freddie Roach.

The super lightweight bout is scheduled for twelve rounds or less, headlining an 11-fight card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada (Saturday, HBO PPV, 9PM ET/6PM PT).

THE UNDERCARD

The supporting cast players were introduced in the order that their bouts will appear on the pay-per-view telecast.

Opening up Saturday night’s show will be a 4 round super welterweight contest between undefeated Cuban prospect Erislandy Lara (4-0, 3KO), who came in at 155 lb. He was one pound lighter than his opponent, Chris Gray (11-7-2, 1KO, 156 lb) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

On a similar prospect level comes a four-round middleweight bout. Longhaired Phoenix-based journeyman Anthony Bartinelli (20-12-2, 13KO) drew the unfortunate assignment of having to share a ring with ultra-talented Matvey Korobov (4-0, 4KO), the former amateur standout and member of the 2008 US Olympic squad. Bartinelli weighed in at 161 lb, Korobev slightly heavier at 161½ lb.

Undefeated junior middleweight contender James Kirkland was to receive a grand showcase on the undercard, but will instead sit in a jail cell during the biggest event of 2009, thanks to very poor decisions made outside of the ring.

Taking his place on the show is Daniel Jacobs, who enjoyed a brilliant amateur career before turning pro in 2007, on the undercard of the lone loss of Hatton’s career, his 10th round stoppage defeat at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Jacobs (15-0, 14KO) scored a 1st round knockout that evening, and hasn’t looked back, with all of his 14 knockouts coming inside of three rounds or less.

The lone criticism of Jacobs’ career to date has been the lack of improvement in his competition level. That changes tomorrow night, when he squares off against once-beaten middleweight Michael Walker. Jacobs’ superb discipline was displayed, weighing in at 163 lb just one week after appearing in a middleweight contest on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights. To put it in proper perspective, Jacobs has only gained two pounds between weigh-ins just eight days apart, which includes replenishing for last Friday’s fight.

Walker (19-1-2, 12KO) came in one pound lighter at 162 lb.

The lone “major” alphabet title fight of the night serves as the evening’s co-feature. Super featherweight titlist Humberto Soto receives much-needed exposure, as he defends in the chief supporting act against once-beaten Canadian contender Benoit Guadet (20-1, 7KO), who came in just below the division limit at 129 lb; Soto (47-7-2, 30KO) hit 130 lb. on the dot.

Source: boxingscene.com

Manny Pacquiao must find a ruthless streak to overcome Ricky Hatton

2009-05-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

Michael Moorer, like Manny Pacquiao, is a southpaw, albeit a good seven stones heavier and with the sort of towering sullenness found outside late-night entertainment establishments in, say, Monessen, near Pittsburgh, where he grew up. Freddie Roach brought him in recently as an assistant trainer and, while the former world heavyweight champion is strategically valuable in talking right-hand-first boxing with Pacquiao, he is also a loyal gatekeeper of "the Pacman legend".

Moorer brings a certain order to the maelstrom that swirls around Pacquiao, a man the promoter Bob Arum calls "a global phenomenon", and is fiercely protective of the world's best little fighting man.

You are not going to get an objective assessment from the hired help, obviously, but it is easy to believe Moorer when he says in that knowing manner that intelligent boxers have: "It's in his eyes. You can see it. I can see it. You might not. He's calm. He's ready. Just look in his eyes. You might see it. You might not."

When the fighters face off in centre ring at the MGM Grand tomorrow night, what Ricky Hatton will see in those dark, brown, almost-crossed eyes, set deep in a face surprisingly well preserved after 14 years of fighting, is the gaze of self-belief and contentment. While Pacquiao, like the good Catholic he is, has faith in destiny he is not such a prisoner of fate as to ignore his own part in the journey, a waif who once lived in a cardboard hut and punched and sweated all the way to an honoured place in boxing's Babylon.

The contentment comes from the knowledge that he has tried hard not to compromise himself. He is not perfect – indeed there is criticism of him at home for bringing a swag of fat cat Filipino senators and other hangers-on with him to Las Vegas – but he is learning. What mistakes he has made, he has apologised for. Mostly the 90m people spread across the islands of his homeland, where wages can be as low as $1.25 a day, adore him.

They might not agree with Arum that he will one day be president of his country (they rejected by nearly two to one at the ballot box his bid for Congress last year), but his boxing exploits transfix Filipinos from the crowded capital Manila to General Santos City, his home town.

When Aling Dionesia Pacquiao, a doll-like, dark-haired woman barely 5ft tall, was ushered into a large room inside the MGM Grand this week to take her place in the middle of a scrum of reporters, she looked up at Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao and saw not a fighter but a son.

"She is scared to watch it live," Pacquiao said. "To have her here, it's going to give me more inspiration to do my best and win. It's going to be one of the best times I've had in my life."

Mrs Pacquiao did not stick with the script, though. "I'm not scared," she told reporters through an interpreter. "Manny is going to go all the way."

It is her first visit to the United States and, when she arrived at the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel, where he is staying, she was shocked to see he was occupying living quarters on the 60th floor that would be the size of a mansion where they grew up.

They have battled life side by side, along with Manny's two brothers, since his father left to live in the mountains when he was a young boy. They had lived on a farm but she was forced to sell fish-crackers, an Asian crispy snack, and Manny sold cigarettes.

The fighting? It came naturally to a boy with whip-like reflexes and a wild, mischievous streak to go with his humility.

The lives they lead now could hardly be more different; she has a home next to his, which is full of the usual gadgets and has a swimming pool in the shape of a boxing glove. He is married to Jinkee and they have four children, the youngest born in January and whom they have called Queen Elizabeth. Pacquiao will add $12m from this engagement to the millions he has already accumulated in a career in which he has won world titles at four weights and all the accolades on offer.

Remarkably, in a country where the wealthy are an easy target for assassins and the jealous, Pacquiao suffers few such bad vibes. When fans go to his house, they are hungry and want food or even a little money. They, too, are embraced, even if satisfying their more basic requests involves Pacquiao in a more serious and recurring engagement with the thousands who love him. Nobody is turned away, though. Everyone leaves feeling a little better, from their stomach to the soul.

What binds Pacquiao and Hatton, apart from their fighting styles, is they are rich fighters from humble roots, albeit separated by geography and circumstance, and have not lost the connection.

Pacquiao, however, seems more vulnerable to the blandishments of strangers. He has given away considerable sums to people he barely knows for reasons he hardly questions. There is something of Muhammad Ali about his generosity.

"Everyone knows what life is like in the Philippines," he says. "I'm just trying to do anything to give happiness – food, clothes – and go out to help people have a better way of life."

His mother says of Manny's core values: "It's the way he processes everything, humbly and with kindness."

Roach worries about him sometimes.

"I had to throw a lot of fans out of the gym two Saturdays ago," he said. "After the training session, we had 350 people in the parking lot. We signed autographs and that took about three hours. He loves it.

"When the movie stars started to come – Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Mickey Rourke, some jockeys from the race track – I kind of felt obligated to let them in. I said to Michael [Moorer]: 'He's not focusing'. He was playing, talking to his sparring partners, he was doing thedouble punch, which he does when he plays. So, that was the last day of that stuff."

Now, though, it is time to get serious.If he is not focused, Hatton will sense it.

"For me this is not a regular fight," Pacquiao said. "I consider this fight to be the toughest of my boxing career. After all, he is undefeated at 140 pounds. We have been working on different techniques [to counter Hatton's left hook]. I don't want to tell you what they are. I want to surprise you. And Ricky. There's nothing personal about this."

Roach has trained many fighters but he has stayed loyal to one, Pacquiao. Nobody knows him better.

"Manny's a compassionate guy," Roach says. "I've seen him hurt people, then lean back off them, not finish 'em, because he doesn't want to embarrass them. That's what he's told me. But, like in the fight with Oscar [De La Hoya], I said to him: 'Manny it's your job to knock this guy out. Go knock him out.'"

Of all that has been said this week, that was the hardest to believe. Pacquiao did not knock De La Hoya out but he spared nothing in sickening him into quitting on his stool. A more reliable barometer of Pacquiao's intentions could be found where Moorer directed us. And when you looked in those eyes, well, you would not want to be in that particular argument.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Hatton vs. Pacquiao May Come Down to the 'Circle'

2009-05-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

In boxing, statistics often don't tell the whole story. Many ring insiders reject numbers and say it's really about styles. To some, the only relevant number in Saturday night's junior-welterweight clash in Las Vegas between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao is 360. Or to be specific, 360 degrees.

To get a sense of a fighter's style, it helps to draw a circle from the top of his opponent's head down to the canvas. Mr. Hatton wins by fighting in close -- he does his best damage inside the circle. He will live in that circle if the referee lets him, hammering his opponent's body with left hooks and bashing him with rights to the head.

In Mr. Hatton's breakout victory in 2005, the Briton got inside and mauled Kostya Tszyu until the Russian champ quit after 11 rounds. But in Mr. Hatton's only loss in 46 fights, the speedy Floyd Mayweather Jr. was able dance out of the circle, maintain separation and punish Mr. Hatton with potshots (eventually flooring him) as he tried to charge in.

Mr. Pacquiao is a slugger, too, but it's his speed that kills. He works best from outside the circle -- darting in and out. The velocity of his body as he moves toward an opponent generates the power behind his fists. That's how the southpaw destroyed Oscar De La Hoya in December.

Mr. Pacquiao's weight has varied widely: He began his career at 106 pounds and now fights Mr. Hatton at 140. But size may not matter here as much as space. If Mr. Pacquiao can keep the battle mostly outside the circle, he'll likely dominate.

Source: online.wsj.com

Hatton struggling to make 140-lb weight

2009-05-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

It appears cracks are beginning to show up at Ricky Hatton’s camp less than 48 hours before the “Hitman" slugs it out with Manny Pacquiao in the Battle of East and West on May 2 (May 3 in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Weight problems and a reported misunderstanding with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. had left Hatton cramming for form – physically and mentally – going into his 12-round fight with Pacquiao where his International Boxing Organization (IBO) light-welterweight title is at stake.

Alex Ariza, Pacquiao’s conditioning coach, believes the 30-year old boxer from Manchester, England has yet to comfortably meet the 140-pound limit based on the road work Hatton was still doing Thursday at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas campus.

Ariza talked to one of the strength and conditioning coach who was around when Hatton jogged around the campus oval. “My source saw them running out in the sun, so probably he’s still struggling to make weight."

A known beer drinker when not in training camp, Hatton had struggled several times in the past just to meet the junior welterweight limit.

Ariza’s revelation came in the heels of the alleged rift between Hatton and Mayweather Sr. Hatton reportedly felt miserable working out under the outspoken Mayweather Sr., whose practice of coming late in training doesn’t sit well with the two-time world champion.

Mayweather Sr., hired by Hatton last year to replace long-time trainer Billy Graham, didn’t deny the matter, but stressed out that everything else had been settled with Hatton.

“I addressed the situation and the problems I had with him," admitted Mayweather Sr. “I addressed things with him. I let him know I don’t play that, don’t do that. He knows now."

“I won’t disrespect him. If I don’t want someone else disrespecting me in no kind of a way, I’m not going to disrespect anybody else in no kind of a way. We have a very clear understanding between each other. I make sure I have a clear understanding with everybody I train because nobody is going to be jerking me around and I take no mess off nobody," said Mayweather Sr.

Ariza, however, couldn’t care less about Hatton’s rift with his trainer. He’s more concerned on the physical condition of Pacquiao’s opponent.

“The tale would be after the weigh-in when I hear how much he weighs in," Ariza said. “If he’s over 150 pounds, his body is gonna be weak and I think Manny will go right after him."

Source: gmanews.tv

Ricky a Brit of alright

2009-05-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton has told Manny Pacquiao he is better a fighter than he thinks - with added bite.

The Hitman has warned his opponent to expect more than a brawl when they meet for the pound-for-pound title at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, live on Sky Box Office.

And as his army of fans began to fill the casinos and bars in Vegas, Hatton says his defeat by Floyd Mayweather left him with no choice but to change - for the better.

"If anything, Floyd Mayweather knocking me on my backside has taught me that I've got to go back to basics," he said. "I had to start jabbing and moving my head.

"Everyone expected Malignaggi to outbox me and outspeed me and make me look silly and I beat him at his own game.

Improved

"Mayweather, (Juan) Lazcano, even (Jose Luis) Castillo, which was one of my best performances, the tactics were just the same," he said. "But I'm not fighting like that now.

"Three or four years ago Manny would have won... but he's not just fighting the British bulldog now. That British bulldog's still there but he's been improved on."

Hatton's battle-cry is sure to fire up the thousands of Brits heading for the Nevada desert this weekend.

His sole defeat at the hands of Mayweather Jr attracted an estimated 35,000 travelling fans to the fight capital of the world.

That number is expected to drop due to the financial climate, but the MGM Grand Garden Arena is still a sell-out, with as many as 20,000 making the trip this time.

Incredible

And the Hitman believes he can live up to his fanatical following and like them, become the best in the world.

"They pay their money time after time," he said. "Against (Paulie) Malignaggi, I think there was 8,000 who still came and that was just before Christmas. It's incredible.

"It's unbelievable. The sports fans in Britain do follow their football teams and boxers fantastically well. Whenever there's been a top boxer, a Lennox Lewis or Naseem Hamed, they've always come out in their droves.

"But I feel proud to say, and I've still got to prove I'm the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but the support that the Brits have when they go fighting abroad, they are head and shoulders the best fans in boxing."

Source: skysports.com

'Problems' dog Hatton before Pacquiao fight

2009-05-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton heads into his light-welterweight super-fight against Manny Pacquiao with his trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr admitting that there have been "problems" in their camp.

Hatton has been unhappy with Mayweather's punctuality for training sessions, but the American tried to play down the issue ahead of Saturday night's clash in Las Vegas.

"It doesn't mean a camp is not a good camp because there are problems," Mayweather Sr told Press Association.

"I think he had a good camp and was there a problem there? Yes.

"It was a problem that could be addressed and taken care of without being in the media.

"It didn't need to be in the media. We straightened it out." Mayweather added:

Mayweather's son ended the British fighter's unbeaten record in another 'super-fight' showdown in Vegas in December 2007.

That bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was at welterweight, with Hatton dropping down to his best weight for the clash with Filipino hero Pacquiao.

Mayweather's father took charge of Hatton's training ahead of his last fight against Paulie Malignaggi where he scored a convincing victory.

He has been credited with helping Hatton adapt his style and also making changes to his diet between fights.

Hatton's undefeated record at light-welterweight will come under threat from southpaw Pacquiao (48-3-2) who is bidding to become a global champion in a sixth different weight class.

Pacquiao sent Oscar de la Hoya into retirement with a stoppage victory in his previous fight and has been installed as a narrow favorite.

The 30-year-old is a national hero in the Philippines with massive interest in all his fights.

He is expected to take home $12 million from the bout with Hatton getting $8million.

The worldwide pay per view revenues are predicted to be at least $40 million to watch two all-action fighters with solid chins.

Source: cnn.com

"Ricky Hatton is a different fighter from what I have fought before," said Pacquiao. "I expect him to be fast and strong. It's going to be a hard fight," he told a pre-fight press conference.

Hatton will be supported by his usual massive contingent of British fight fans who have flooded Vegas as they did for the Mayweather Jr. adn Malignaggi showdowns.

Dougie's FAT Friday Mailbag

2009-05-01T03:11:00.000-07:00

I'M SO EXCITED!

Heya Dougie,
Real quick question, do you know who the ref is going to be for the Pacquiao/Hatton fight? I think Manny Pacquiao’s feet are too quick for Ricky Hatton to successfully clinch and hit, but just in case, I wonder if the referee is the type that will quickly break or maybe even take away a point (gasp!) for excessive holding a la Keith Hughes in the Berto-Collazo fight.

STOKED, BUZZED, HYPED UP, EXCITED, damn it, is today only Thursday??? -- JL, San Diego

Now it’s Friday. We’re only a day away from the big fight. I hope it’s a good one. I know the referee is a good one. Kenny Bayless got the gig.

Pacquiao’s got quick feet, but Hatton’s feet are not slow. He has a way of getting in close before his opponents know what happened. That’s how he beat Kostya Tszyu. Well, that and a lot of mauling during their clinches.

I don’t think Bayless will allow Hatton to hold and grapple as much as referee Dave Paris did against Tszyu, but I don’t believe he’ll get between Pacquiao and Hatton every time they get close to each other the way Joe Cortez did in the Mayweather fight.

PACQUIAO VS. HATTON

Dougie, what’s good?
I’m enjoying your work on The Ring website. When is the Southern California Notebook gonna make a comeback? Those articles are always top shelf.

Regarding this weekend’s mega-fight, I’m picking Pacquiao. I see his attributes of speed, power, and boxing skill getting the best of Hatton. BUT, is there the slightest chance Manny is distracted heading into Saturday night and thus, take the Hitman’s challenge less seriously?

Ever since this fight was signed and sealed, I’ve read all the media coverage I can find. It’s been noted on several occasions that Freddie Roach has had to get Pacquiao refocused (especially in sparring) on the task at hand. Is it just me, Doug, or could Pacquiao suffer from a huge victory hangover, like Margarito did against Mosley, and take a very live fighter for granted? Hope the family is well. Peace. -- Robert, Dallas

Margarito didn’t take Mosley for granted and Pacquiao isn’t taking Hatton for granted. Margarito got KTFO by Mosley because A) Shane is the better fighter, B) Tony had taken too much punishment in the ring and in camp in 2008, and C) his team weighed him on their own scale before the official weighin and thought he was a pound and half over when he wasn’t. He ran the weight off before the real weighin, thought he was at 147 pounds, but was really 145.8.

Is it possible that Pacquiao isn’t as “up” for Hatton as he was for Oscar De La Hoya? Definitely. I think there could be some psychological letdown after that apex he hit in December, but he’s training just as hard for Hatton as he did for De La Hoya. If he’s not as focused Saturday as he was Dec. 6, perhaps Hatton has a chance. We’ll find out soon.

My reports on Pacquiao’s camp were pretty much SCN-style stories. I think as the year progresses, I’ll work in gym notebook at least twice a month.

If you’re interested in following Pacquiao’s camp progression, as I witnessed it, here are the links to those RingTV stories and the dates they were posted on the site:

March 4 (Pacquiao begins training camp)

http://www.ringtv.com/blog/398/pacquiao_begins_training_camp/

March 10 (Rumors, news & notes "Pacquiao camp: Week No. 2" - Pacquiao works mitts with Michael Moorer for first time)

http://www.ringtv.com/blog/422/rumors_news_notes_and_more/

March 20 (Pacquiao and Linares wage gym war at Wild Card)

http://www.ringtv.com/blog/459/pacquiao_and_linares_wage_gym_war_at_wild_card/

April 1 (Pacquiao continues tough sparring sessions with Antillon)

http://www.ringtv.com/blog/515/pacquiao_continues_tough_sparring_sessions_with_antillon/

April 22 (Closed camp policy for Pacquiao's good)

http://www.ringtv.com/blog/591/closed_camp_policy_for_pacquiaos_good/

THE WHITE MEXICAN

Alright Dougie, I don't want to go to much into the technical advantages for both Hatton and Paquaio, leave that to the armchair geeks. The Pacman's most celebrated punch is probably the straight left while the Hitman's could be his left hook. I think that Ricky's left hook especially to the ribcage is going to give Manny trouble. If Hatton can land the shot, what do you think? They don't call Ricky the white Mexican for nothing. Hatton's really strong and although Manny is faster of hand and foot, the Mad Hatter is no slouch in the footwork department.

This fight is really tough to call. I just feel that this time Manny's going to feel the force of a stronger fighter. I know I'm biased but I think Hatton will stop the Filipino buzzsaw with a devastating hook to the liver, dropping Manny like a sack of spuds. Am I in a dream world? What's your opinion? Or what about Hatton pulling out a Carl Froch at the end of the twelfth round? That would be funny. -- Ryan, Manchester, UK

Pacquiao getting tired and fading out in the final round like Jermain Taylor did against Froch is unlikely. However, Hatton hurting Pacquiao with a body shot is very possible. It’s one of the X-factors in Saturday’s fight.

It will be interesting to see how Hatton takes Pacquiao’s body punches.

PAC & THE MAD HATTER

What's up dude? Though I am looking forward to seeing Manny Pacman vs The Hitman I am going on record to say that I am not buying this PPV. This undercard is just as bad as the crap that I had to endure while sitting in the crowd while waiting on Spinks-Latimore to kick off.

Even BEFORE james Kirkland was taken off the card it was a piece of poop. Can't believe that with all the fighters these two promotional giants have in their stables this is the best they could come up with. I paid for De La Hoya-Pacquiao but they ain't getting me this time, Playboy. Hatton W12 Pacquiao. Holla back!

(p.s. Mayweather is going to fight Marquez. Typical bullsh*t from a guy that I thought was going to go down in history as an ATG. I guess Erik Morales wasn't available.) -- Fleetwood St. Louis, Mo.

I feel ya on the proposed Mayweather-Marquez bout. If it was set for 140 pounds, I think I would be genuinely excited about it. But at 145.5? What’s the point? Why don’t they just do it at junior middleweight? Geez.

I also feel ya on Saturday’s undercard. Fans and everyone in boxing love to s__t on Don King, but damn, he used to put together some worthy undercards on his pay-per-view shows in the 1990s; even the ones that were headlined by the pre-jail Mike Tyson! I’m thinking about Brown-Blocker on the Tyson-Rudduck I undercard and Nelson-Fenech I on the undercard of the rematch.

It’s not that the undercard fights will be total crap Saturday, I think Jacobs-Walker could be interesting, but they are the kind of bouts that should be on basic cable -- not a pay-per-view undercard.

The only explanation I have for the gradual watering down of major PPV undercards is greed, by both the promoters and the star fighters. These days the PPV main event fighters want to be guaranteed so much money that promoters don’t want to shell out anything extra to make for a worthy undercard.

Oh well. You can read about how prospects Danny Jacobs, Matt Korobov, and Erislandy Lara looked in post-fight undercard reports. However, you can watch the non-televised undercard live on the Yahoo! Sports boxing page. There are some decent matchups including Mike Alvarado vs. Juaquin Gallardo, Abner Mares vs. Jonathan Perez, and Bernabe Concepcion vs. Yogli Herrera.

MANNY VS. THE ALL-TIMERS

I thought your analysis on each fight was very terse and well written. A slight difference on opinion is that I honestly believe the Hawk would stop Manny, he was really a whirlwind. Your Duran prediction was spot-on, it would be scary to watch that fight as a Manny fan; the Sanchez and Gomez fights would most likely play out the same way as well. I actually believe Arguello could stop Manny as well based on how Marquez was able to hit Manny flush a lot of times in their first bout, but then I have to remind myself that Arguello wasn't that kind of accurate counter-puncher. Anyway great article.

I have a friend that thinks Manny would have beaten Floyd at 130, how do you see that fight playing out?? Better yet how do you see Floyd against Arguello at 130, Duran at 135, and Pryor at 140??

Thanks for your time. -- Dexter

If there was a knockout in the mythical matchup between Aaron Pryor and Manny Pacquiao, the Hawk would have scored it. However, the I believe the 140-pound version of Pacquiao is a smart boxer, who picks his shots and utilizes a lot of movement. With his straight punching and faster hands, I think Pacquiao could have competed enough with Pryor to go the distance (at least the 12-round distance).

Of course Arguello could stop Pacquiao. He could stop anyone he nailed clean not named Aaron Pryor. However, don’t forget that my mythical matchup between Arguello and Pacquiao was the 130-pound versions. Arguello wasn’t facing the headstrong 126-pound version of Pac that Marquez fought in their first bout. In my imagination Arguello was fighting the more complete 130-pound version.

I would pick Mayweather to beat Pacquiao in a 130-pound mythical matchup. I would also pick Mayweather to out-point Arguello at 130 pounds. I think Duran flat-out kicks his ass and knocks him out at 135 pounds. (I mean, come on, if you go life-and-freakin’-death with Jose Luis Castillo at lightweight, Hands of Stone is going to own your narrow ass.) Pryor beats Mayweather down at 140. Floyd doesn’t punch enough to get any respect the Hawk.

THE HAYE-FAKER

Can you tell me why David Haye gets a shot at WK? I mean what has he done to earn the right to fight for the title. I think that is a joke. I mean he barley beat Barrett!!! I think that Wlad KO's him quick, just to shut him up!!! Anyway, how do you see the Pac/Hatton fight? I think that Hatton will be a lot better than people think. I am going with the Mad Hatter!!!! Look forward to hearing from you. -- Michael from Tampa

I like Pacquiao by late stoppage, ninth or 10th round, but I think Hatton can win three rounds and make it interesting.

Haye has done nothing in the ring to earn a shot at Klitschko. His brash and bombastic personality, exciting style and popularity (in the UK) is what “earned” him this fight.

THANK YOU!

Doug,
Just wanted to say a massive thank you for an article (PacMan vs. the greats) that commented on the Pacquiao/Hatton fight without writing Hatton off.

As a Brit, it was hugely refreshing to read a North American give Hatton the credit he so rightly deserves. He is the biggest, strongest and easily the best junior welterweight fighting today.....and Manny will certainly have his hands full!

For the record, I'm going for a Hatton win by stoppage in round 10/11. I noticed you neglected to give us your prediction....

Thanks again!

(P.S. Aaron Pryor - Doesn't come up enough in 'fantasy fight' conversations. He was truly incredible!) -- Arron

Yes he was. I watched a lot of tape of The Hawk in research for that piece and, man, he was fun!

I think Hatton is the most competitive fighter Pacquiao has taken on since his rematch with Marquez, which we all know was a very close fight. Before and after the Marquez rematch, Pacquiao really wasn’t being challenged in the ring. That won’t be the case Saturday.

PACQUIAO VS. THE GREATS

Great article. But I think you're being generous. Even against Arguello, he would have more difficulty than you mention. I mean, who has Pacman fought with Arguello's power? Morales, Barrera, Larios were all past their prime when Pacqiuiao finally got to them. The fact is that Pacquiao came in to the spotlight by defeating worn down fighters. How many wars had Barrera had before he fought the Pacman? How many wars had Morales had by the time he faced Pacquiao? Even when Pacquiao came up to 135 pounds, he wouldn't fight Casamayor. He elected to make a fight with a heavy footed and seriously overrated Diaz. And the only reason Diaz even made a name for himself is because he too defeated an old Morales.

The best fighter he's faced is Marquez. And many believe Marquez won both fights. And the entire De La Hoya situation is ridiculous. For anyone to even think Pacquiao would have lasted three rounds with a De La Hoya in his prime is nuts! De La Hoya fought the best of the best in their prime. Quartey, Trinidad, Vargas, Mayweather, Hopkins, Mosley, etc... What a resume. He won some and he lost some. But with the exception of the Hopkins fight, all his fights were extremely competitive and close calls. And all the guys in De La Hoya's resume had much more power than Pacquiao. Again, who has Pacquiao fought in their prime? If Pacquiao is really as great as everyone thinks he is at 147, then I'd like to see him fight against someone like Cotto. That would be a real gage at how great he is at that weight.

I also criticized De La Hoya when he fought the old versions of Chavez and Whitaker. So this is not a knock on Pacquiao, just a reality check.

And as for Pacquiao fighting Chavez, Whitaker, or Mayweather in their prime; please! -- J. Carlos

Pacquiao fought Marquez in his prime (2004). Whether you think he won that first bout or not (or felt that the draw was the right call as I did), you have to give him credit for taking on a badass like that immediately after beating Barrera, who most rated as a top 5 pound-for-pound player at the time (2003). And you have to give Pac credit for facing Morales in his first fight at 130 pounds. No, Morales wasn’t in his prime, but he wasn’t over the hill either. Don’t forget, Morales has unified two 130-pound titles and given Barrera a hell of a fight in their rubbermatch the year before he fought the PacMan.

Oh, and Pac is fighting Hatton in the Brit’s prime.

I had Pacquiao going 1-4 against my five all-timers. How is that being generous? Pacquiao hasn’t fought anyone with Arguello’s power, but Arguello wasn’t always able to drop that bomb. He usually was, but not always. It’s not inconceivable that an ultra-fast, gutsy, sharp shooter with frenetic feet like Pacquiao could out-speed, outmaneuver and out-hustle the Explosive Thinman.

PAC & THE PEA

Nice Pacman mythical matchup article Dougie. No way he beats Sweet Pea IMO. Peace. -- Adam

I haven’t really thought about it, but I would probably go with Whitaker in any weight class. However, I don’t think it’s out of the question that the lightweight version of Pacquiao could give Sweet Pea a good fight at 135 pounds. Jorge Paez was able to win rounds against Whitaker at lightweight. So was Poli Diaz and Freddie Pendelton. Pea wasn’t untouchable or unbeatable. I thought the 140- and 147-pound version was better than the lightweight version.

ringtv.com

Head to Head: Hatton vs. Pacquiao

2009-05-01T03:08:00.001-07:00

RICKY HATTON vs. MANNY PACQUIAO

When: Saturday, May 2

Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas

TV: HBO Pay-Per-View, 6 p.m. PT/ 9 p.m. ET

Weight: Welterweight (140 pounds)

Title(s) at stake: THE RING junior welterweight championship

Also on the card: Humberto Soto vs. Benoit Gaudet, 12 rounds, junior lightweight, for Soto‘s WBC 130-pound title; Daniel Jacobs vs. Michael Walker, 8 rounds, middleweight; Matt Korobov vs. Rodrigo Aguiar, 4 rounds, middleweight; Erislandy Lara vs. Chris Gray, 4 rounds, junior middleweight; Matthew Hatton vs. Ernesto Zepeda, 8 rounds, welterweight; Mike Alvarado vs. Juaquin Gallardo, 10 rounds, junior welterweight; Abner Mares vs. Jonathan Perez, 8 rounds, bantamweight; Bernabe Concepcion vs. Yogli Herrera, 8 rounds, lightweight.

HATTON

The essentials

Age: 30

Height / Reach: 5-7 / 65

Hometown: Manchester, England

Turned pro: 1997

Record: 45-1 (32 knockouts)

Trainer: Floyd Mayweather Sr.

Fight-by-fight: http http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=020755&cat=boxer

The Ring rating: Junior welterweight champion

Titles: THE RING and IBF junior welterweight (2005-present; he was stripped of the IBF title when he challenged Luis Collazo at welterweight); WBA junior welterweight (2005; later vacated the title to campaign at welterweight); WBA welterweight title (2006, vacated title to go back to junior welterweight); regained IBF junior welterweight title (2007, vacated to challenge Floyd Mayweather Jr. at welterweight).

Biggest victories: Kostya Tszyu, June 4, 2005, TKO 11 (wins THE RING and IBF junior welterweight title); Luis Collazo, May 13, 2006, SD 12 (wins WBA welterweight title); Jose Luis Castillo, June 23, 2007, KO 4; Paul Malignaggi, Nov. 22, 2008, TKO 11.

Only loss: Floyd Mayweather Jr., Dec. 8, 2007, TKO 10.

PACQUIAO

The essentials

Age: 30

Height / reach: 5-6 / 67

Hometown: General Santos City, Philippines

Turned pro: 1995

Record: 48-3-2 (36 knockouts)

Trainer: Freddie Roach

Fight-by-fight: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=3600&cat=boxer

The Ring rating: No. 5 at welterweight

Titles: WBC flyweight (1998-99; lost title to Medgoen Singsurat); IBF junior featherweight (2001-03; vacated title to campaign at featherweight); WBC junior lightweight (2008; vacated to campaign at lightweight); WBC lightweight (2008; vacated to campaign at welterweight).

Biggest victories: Chatchai Sasakul, Dec. 4, 1998, KO 8 (won WBC flyweight title); Lehlo Ledwaba, June 23, 2001, TKO 6 (won IBF junior featherweight title); Marco Antonio Barrera, TKO 11, Nov. 15, 2003, TKO 11 (gained recognition as lineal featherweight champ); Erik Morales, Jan. 21, 2006, TKO 10; Morales, Nov. 18, 2006, KO 3; Juan Manuel Marquez, March 15, 2008, SD 12 (won WBC 130-pound title); David Diaz, June 28, 2008, TKO 9 (won WBC lightweight title); Oscar De La Hoya, Dec. 6, 2008, RTD 8.

Losses: Rustico Torrecampo, Feb. 9, 1996, KO 3; Medgoen Singsurat, Sept. 17, 1999, KO 3; Erik Morales, March 19, 2005, L 12.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Skills: Pacquiao has evolved from a headstrong, one-armed bandit who sought to overwhelm his opponents with his phenomenal speed and power to a disciplined boxer-puncher with a complete arsenal of punches and underrated defensive ability. Hatton is thought of as a brawler or pressure fighter and often dismissed as a “grappler“ because of his roughhouse tactics in close. However, the Brit has underrated footwork and timing. His jab is also world class when he remembers to use it. In recent years, Hatton has been more likely to neglect his boxing ability during a fight than Pacquiao.

Edge: Pacquiao

Power: The naturally smaller man has the faster hands, the sharper technique and is the busier fighter, which translates into being a more-damaging puncher. That doesn‘t mean the natural featherweight hits harder than the natural junior welterweight. Neither fighter possesses one-punch KO power. Both score knockouts by gradually wearing down their opponents. Pacquiao does it with volume and combination punching. Hatton does it with grappling and a brutal body attack. However, Hatton is used to doing it against much bigger opponents than Pacquiao is. The hunch is that the Brit’s hands are a bit heavier.

Edge: Hatton

Speed and athletic ability: Hatton possesses above-average hand and foot speed for a junior welterweight. His reflexes are world class. Still, he’s absolutely outclassed by Pacquiao, who hasn’t lost much in the way of hand speed since he left the 122-pound division. The Filipino icon’s speed, reflexes and hand-eye coordination are simply off the charts. No one in the sport can maneuver about the ring or deliver multi-punch combinations with the speed and fluidity that he does.

Edge: Pacquiao

Defense: Neither fighter is a defensive wizard, as both have used their offense as their defense in the past. However, both fighters have tried to add head movement and blocking tactics to their overall game recently to aid in their ring success and longevity. Hatton showed marked improvement in these departments in his most recent fight, against Paul Malignaggi. Pacquiao appears to have seamlessly incorporated a bob-and-weave approach to his usual in-and-out attack, which has produced near perfect performances in his last two fights, against David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya.

Edge: Pacquiao

Experience: Both are among the most experienced active fighters who are still in their athletic primes. Pacquiao has won 48 of 53 pro bouts, Hatton 45 of 46. Pacquiao has been a pro for 14½ years, Hatton for 11½ years. Both have fought their share of top opposition. However, Pacquiao broke into the world-class scene back in 1998, when he won the WBC flyweight title at age 19. Hatton didn’t emerge as a true world-class player until his breakthrough fight with Kostya Tszyu in 2005. Pacquiao has gone 4-1-1 (3 KOs) against future hall of famers Barrera, Morales, Marquez and De La Hoya. Hatton has gone 1-1 (1 KO) against Tszyu and Mayweather.

Edge: Pacquiao

Chin: Both fighters have lost by knockout, but Pacquiao hasn‘t been stopped in 11 years; Hatton was KO'd 1½ years ago. Pacquiao’s first KO loss occurred back in 1996 when he was 17 years old. His other KO loss was due to the extreme weight drain of trying to make 112 pounds when his body had outgrown the flyweight division. Hatton was worn down by Mayweather and then was caught by a good punch, which left him discombobulated.

Edge: Pacquiao

Conditioning: Both fighters are renown for their work ethic in the gym and their frenetic pace during their fights, but Hatton is just as well known for his lack of discipline between bouts. Hatton has excellent condition come fight time, but like the speed and athleticism department, Pacquiao is in a class by himself in terms of conditioning.

Edge: Pacquiao

Wear and tear: Both fighters have absorbed the kind of punishment that naturally comes with being a prize fighter for more than 10 years. Pacquiao has been a pro longer and has more fights, but might be better preserved than Hatton because of a more-controlled lifestyle between bouts. However, Hatton has not been in as many tough fights as Pacquiao, who has engaged in more than a few grueling 12-round bouts with elite fighters, such as his classic first confrontations with Morales and Marquez.

Edge: Even

Corner: Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr. are among the sport’s Top 10 active trainers. Roach has worked with more world champions than any other active trainer in the past two decades. After splitting with his son in 2000, the bulk of Mayweather’s work was with De La Hoya, who showed some improvement in certain areas of his game after a few years with the flamboyant and bombastic trainer. Mayweather’s combination drills, shoulder-roll moves and block-and-counter technique enhanced the skill set of some fighters like Steve Forbes, but didn’t seem to help others, such as Francisco Bojado. Nobody Mayweather has trained has taken to his tactics as well as his son, his masterpiece. What separates Roach from Mayweather in this fight is that his masterpiece, Pacquiao, will be in the ring on Saturday.

Edge: Roach

Outcome: The outcome of this fight will be determined by distance. Whoever can establish it and control it will win. Hatton will be at his best if he can close the distance and impose his size and strength on Pacquiao on the inside. If he can back Pacquiao to the ropes, he can dish out punishment. If he can’t get inside, he’s going to get punished by the quicker, sharper, busier puncher. Hatton will be careful in the early rounds as he tries to employ some of Mayweather’s technique to get in close without getting caught with anything flush. Pacquiao should enjoy success early on using his feet as much as his hands to keep a healthy distance between Hatton and himself, while he peppers the champ with jabs and straight shots to the body. Hatton will land a few counter shots as Pacquiao darts in, which will set off heated exchanges that thrill the crowd. However, as the fight continues, the more consistent offense from Pacquiao -- to the body and head -- will tell on Hatton, whose form and technique will break down with fatigue, setting him up for a late-rounds stoppage that is eerily similar to the one he suffered to Mayweather Jr.

Prediction: Pacquiao wins by ninth-round TKO.

Source: ringtv.com

Dougie's keys to victory

2009-05-01T02:53:00.000-07:00

Source: ringtv.com

Is There a De La Hoya Hangover for Pacquiao?

2009-05-01T02:31:00.000-07:00

You know the scenario, it's happened countless times in sports. A team comes up with a brilliant performance in a big game, but then falls flat on their face in their very next outing. Either they are emotionally spent from the previous effort, fall prey to complacency, or a combination of both. In the immediate aftermath of the initial victory, while everyone else - from friends, family, fans and the media - lavishes the victors with praise, it's up to the coaches to bring them back down to earth and to get their troops to refocus on the upcoming task.

That was the job of one Freddie Roach, who guided Manny Pacquiao to his career-defining victory over Oscar De La Hoya last December. It was a victory that propelled 'the Pac Man' to unprecedented levels of popularity and influence. This Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, he faces the hard-charging Ricky Hatton for the jr. welterweight championship of the world.

The veteran trainer, who was forced halfway through training camp to run the most private camp he had ever had at his Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, believes firmly that Pacquiao has had no 'Golden' hangover.

"Not at all," said Roach, without hesitation. "Manny doesn't take anybody lightly. He trains the same for every fight, and we're in great shape for this fight. Our program is pretty much the same; the only difference is the sparring partners’ style. The game plan’s a little different, but not far away from Oscar though, because Oscar was bigger and I thought he was going to attack us. We couldn't stand in front of him and Hatton's very similar. So a lot of the last camp is carrying over into this camp and he's doing very well."

Roach made these comments on April 22nd, five days before they broke camp and headed off to Las Vegas. He was so secure in the work that they had already put in that he gave Pacquiao the day off from the gym, as they had come in late the night before from San Francisco, where Pacquiao and Co. made an appearance at AT&T Park for Filipino Heritage Night, where he threw out the honorary first pitch before the Giants took on the San Diego Padres.

The game of boxing is every bit as mental as it is physical. It's impossible to know just how big of a threat Pacquiao perceives Hatton to be. But as you watch Pacquiao work out, it's clear he's putting in his usual Spartan work. His energy level isn't just frenetic; it's downright nuclear at times. Nobody grinds as hard - and with as much enthusiasm - as the Filipino icon.

Roach had famously and accurately made the comment before Pacquiao's last fight that their opponent simply 'couldn't pull the trigger' anymore. This time around, they face someone who can at least let the leather fly.

"The thing is, he'll have a hard time doing it with Manny's movement, though. But we're not going to stand in front of this guy and let him get us on the ropes and throw that left hook. He'll have some difficulty with it but I know he's very capable of doing it, if you let him," said Roach.

There is a train of thought that in De La Hoya, Pacquiao was facing about as live a body as 'Weekend at Bernie's', that they faced a shell of a fighter who was simply too depleted to fight effectively. Some believe that Hatton - who has never been defeated at 140 pounds - has the natural advantages in size and strength.

Roach believes that's a huge misconception, "Because Manny's getting used to the 140 pound weight. He's punching better, he's settling into the weight much better now. He's knocking sparring partners out, which he doesn't do too often. We've gone through about four sparring partners this time. The thing is, by fight time, Ricky's going to be heavier than Manny - but that doesn't make you stronger. Manny's become a very strong 140-pounder. Everyone thinks he's a blown-up 112-pounder and '22-pound but that's not true. He's really developed into this weight. He had trouble making 135, he felt like he was starving himself. So that's why we went to 147. But '40 is the best weight for Manny, I feel."

But what really emboldens Roach is that after years of spit and polish, he has a 24-karat diamond on his hand. No longer is he the one-dimensional offensive whirlwind. Pacquiao is now a consummate fighting machine.

"Definitely, something clicked inside his head. Everything we've ever worked on, he's now doing. His head movement is much better, defense is much better, he's setting things up. He's thinking a lot more. He's really matured as a fighter," stated Roach, who has trained Pacquiao since 2001. "He's become more of a complete fighter, now. At one time, he wouldn't hold to a game plan for 12 rounds because he'd get hit and get excited. He'd start firing away. He's lost that part of him.

"Some people think that was wrong for me to take that away from him, but it's made him a much better fighter. He's not so reckless and people like him being reckless at times because it's exciting, because he's exchanging back and forth. I don't want him exchanging back and forth. I want him doing all the hitting and not taking."

SUPPORTING BOUT

I don't want to say that this undercard is horrible - but geez, it's horrible. In fact, the last major pay-per-view undercard that was this putrid was Pacquiao-De La Hoya. Some have cracked that if you put Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr. as a supporting bout, it would greatly improve the undercard. They may have a point, as both men have taken the gloves off during their verbal sparring leading up to this fight.

“He is just so jealous, I think, of me," said Roach. "He says who have I ever trained, I've never taken a fighter all the way from the start. 'I had my son.' Yeah, he got his wife pregnant with his son, but Roger (his brother) taught him how to fight."

Oh, yeah, Freddie went there. But he can't help himself, and after taking verbal shots for a few years (starting when Roach replaced Mayweather Sr. in De La Hoya's corner when he faced his son in 2007) he just had to fire back.

"Yeah, I try to be OK and not say nothing back because I gotta consider where it's coming from. I don't even dislike him, he's kinda harmless, he's a bit funny at times," Roach concedes. "And y'know, what? As a trainer, he might be OK, I don't know, I've never really worked with the guy. He's had some success, I'm sure he's good at what he does. But why does he have to attack me? I just don't understand it so much. But the thing is, am I better than him? Who cares? I have the better fighter. That's what counts."

Does Roach believe that Mayweather Sr. has made any real change in Hatton?

"You watch the Paulie Malignaggi fight and they say he boxed better in that fight. I've studied that tape over and over, he's the same guy," is Roach's opinion. "He just threw more right hands because he had success with it early in the fight. Usually, he throws more left hooks. But he didn't use his jab, he didn't box well. Paulie, he's non-threatening; let's face it, Paulie's not in the class of Manny. I mean, he couldn't even knock Paulie out. Buddy (McGirt) had to stop the fight. He wasn't impressive."

That being said, Hatton is, if anything, tough and determined. Does Roach really believe this fight is over in three rounds?

"I just said that to mess with Floyd," he admits, laughing. "He got mad. I know he's a tough guy. We're ready to go 12 hard rounds, but I do believe we'll knock him out before the fight’s over. I'm going to bet the under because I think the over/under is 10.5 rounds and I will bet that. And I will win."

AA

The man in charge of Pacquiao's physical conditioning and monitoring his weight is Alex Ariza. Did he ever see any sense of complacency in Pacquiao?

"No," he stated, "if anything, reverse. I don't think I've ever seen Manny so confident and so he's like on a whole different level now. I think everybody sees it in the sparring. I think he got so used to fighting these bigger guys and stronger guys that now when he faces a guy just a weight class bigger than him or the same weight class, he just dominates."

As for his work ethic, Ariza says, "Honestly, for this camp, he trained harder. I absolutely think he trained harder in this camp. There have been no late morning sessions, he's completed everything as far as the conditioning, plyometrics, he's picked up with the speed training earlier than we did last time. I think those new things with De La Hoya fight, you second-guess them. But I think he feels more confident. He knows how his body is going to feel after. So he’s putting in 100-percent."

In other words, this time around, he has complete buy-in from his charge.

"As far as doing the new things, the new, more scientific approach to conditioning, yes," Ariza said. "He's more confident and he knows what to expect as far as how his body is going to feel. How he's going to feel sore and he knows all of that now."

For the fight with De La Hoya, Pacquiao weighed in much closer to the jr. welterweight limit than as a welterweight, at 142 pounds.

"We're doing the exact same thing," Ariza says, of that particular issue. "I spoke to Freddie about it last week, how we're going to do this. We're not going to make any changes until the week of the fight. And just going to make some minor adjustments, the same thing we did for the De La Hoya fight. Eat a couple of times before the weigh-in."

PAC KICKS

Not only does Pacquiao have the distinction of being the only fighter in the world that had his own bobblehead doll (which were given away in San Francisco), but he also has his own shoe, the Nike Trainer 1. It's a sharp looking shoe, to say the least. But even more than that, they are extremely limited in quantity from what I'm told. (For those of you that collected baseball cards as a kid - which I did - think 1990 Leaf.)

The shoe is scheduled to launch on, of all dates, May 2nd, at five locations in the United States: the Montalban Theatre in Hollywood, Ca., Niketown Las Vegas, UNDFTD (Las Vegas), Niketown San Francisco and Fatlace (San Francisco). Word is that people are already camping out for this shoe at these locations.

The Swoosh is also hosting an exclusive viewing event of this weekend’s fight on Saturday night in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The only thing Pacquiao needs now is his own Fathead.

Source: maxboxing.com

I am ready – Pacquiao

2009-04-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton behaved as though they were hosting a luncheon party for dignitaries on Wednesday at the MGM Grand.

They hardly spoke words of hatred towards each other and conducted themselves in a manner as though they were long-lost friends who suddenly bumped into each other during a social gathering.

They even shook hands, tapped each other on the shoulder and smiled back when one of them was smiled at.

It didn’t appear they are going to punch each other in wild abandon come Saturday night before an expected sellout and boisterous crowd of over 16,000 at the Grand Garden Arena.

It was only the support cast — Hatton’s trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. — who actually made some noise when he opted to call Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach as ‘joke coach Roach” and “cockroach.”

Roach just muttered a few words when he was asked to speak on the dais, telling the audience in a polite manner that since Pacquiao is superior than Hatton, victory would be theirs Pacquiao also didn’t resort to trash-talking, a common ingredient in these types of events, while Hatton’s statements were just rehashed from his previous remarks during the countless Q&A sessions conducted by the organizers.

“I am ready for the fight on Saturday,” said Pacquiao, dressed in a mafia outfit from head to toe.

“I know Ricky Hatton has trained for this fight. I have seen it on (HBO’s documentary) 24/7.”

“I respect Ricky Hatton. He is a good person,” said Pacquiao, eventually telling the people that he is even praying and hoping that nobody gets (seriously) hurt in the fight.”

Hatton’s words had more substance, boxing-wise.

“It doesn’t scare me being in this position. This is my weight division, but I understand that I am the underdog. I understand why people are picking on me especially since Manny Pacquiao is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world who had just an exceptional win over Oscar (De La Hoya).”

It was Mayweather Sr., who stole the show with his rough rendition of a poem predicting Pacquiao’s downfall.

“Come May 2nd, you (Pacquiao) will be uncrowned with your head hanging down. The pain and stress left to confess that the Hitman’s the best. So let’s make it simple and plain after this fight, Pac will never be the same. It aint no diggity it aint no doubt, Pac’s gonna find out what it’s all about, when he beat ole legend Oscar De La Hoya, he was over the hill. Now it’s time for you to swallow the same damn pill.”

Top Rank chief Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions boss De La Hoya acted as the emcees.

Source: mb.com.ph

Manny Pacquiao’s ambitions of power put on hold for tough date with Ricky Hatton

2009-04-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

The streets of the Philippines will be quiet on Sunday morning as a nation sits down to watch its hero. When Manny Pacquiao boxes, nothing else is important. Crime stops, shops close, even the guns fall silent in the continuing insurgency.

Pacquiao has had a remarkable career. A man who began boxing as a light-flyweight has won four world titles and dominated in divisions right up to welterweight, in which he beat Oscar De La Hoya in December. But his life story is even better. As a boy he lived on the streets and he is seemingly destined to be his country’s president one day. In the meantime, he uses his wealth to help his countrymen.

“The Philippines has a great social welfare system and it is called Manny Pacquiao,” Bob Arum, his promoter, said. “He has easily given away $10 million and perhaps $20 million. I can’t put a figure on it, but huge amounts — hospital beds, scholarships. He is a one-man welfare system.

“Telling him to stop is like telling someone they shouldn’t pray as much. This is not p***ing money away. He is doing good with the money. Other people come up from poverty and forget everything, he hasn’t.”

Pacquiao is hero-worshipped by his countrymen. Everywhere he goes, Filipinos throng to catch a glimpse of the small man with the ever-present smile. On a promotional trip to London in March, hundreds turned out to watch him take Mass at Westminster Cathedral.

When he challenges Ricky Hatton for his Ring magazine and IBO light-welterweight titles here tomorrow night — Sunday morning in the Philippines — life will stop in his homeland, even the skirmishes between government forces and Islamic insurgents.

“The whole country will watch,” Pacquiao said. “When I fight there is no crime, no traffic, you cannot see a car outside. There is a ceasefire for one day to watch the fight.” His compatriots will see the benefit of the minimum $12 million that he will be paid. “Everyone knows what life is like in the Philippines,” Pacquiao, 30, added. “There are a lot of poor people and they need help. I want to win this fight for the Filipino people, to inspire them.”

And one day he could lead them. Next year he intends to run for Congress in his country. He ran once before, but his defeat was blamed by most people on voters fearing he would retire from boxing if elected to office. When asked if one day he will be his country’s president, he giggles. “Step by step,” he said. “I have a few fights more and that’s that.”

Pacquiao has been joined in his preparations this week by Amir Khan, who is also trained by Freddie Roach and who had come to Las Vegas to begin the camp for his challenge for Andreas Kotelnik’s WBA lightwelterweight title in London on June 27.

“Manny is looking strong, he’s in the best shape I’ve seen him,” Khan said. “Sometimes when he was training to fight Oscar, he never used to get up in the morning, he used to miss training. But he knows this is a tough fight and he’s trained a lot harder.

“I saw Ricky training the other day and he looked so strong and so quick, the best I’ve seen him for a long time. I think he can cause an upset.

“I know the odds are against him, but I think he can beat Manny. What he mustn’t do is start off slow and let Manny win the first few rounds. That would leave Ricky chasing the fight and he would then get caught with stupid shots. It’s a 50-50 fight.”

Khan said he is grateful that neither boxer has pressed him to take sides. “I’m sort of in the middle because I’m friends with both fighters, and what’s good is that Ricky hasn’t asked me what Manny’s doing in training and Manny hasn’t asked me anything about what Ricky is doing,” Khan said. “I’ve got a lot respect for them because of that.

“Both fighters are very alike. They’re both funny. They never take things seriously. They are always having a joke. But when they get in that ring, Manny is going to try and knock his head off and Ricky is going to try and do the same to him.”

Source: timesonline.co.uk

Pacquiao: My dad didn't eat my dog!

2009-04-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

One of the more unusual stories doing the rounds in recent weeks was the tale that Manny Pacquiao took to boxing after his his father ate his dog. The tale goes that the 14-year-old Pacquiao ran away from home in General Santos City when his father killed and ate his pet, ending up in a Manila boxing gym.

But Pacquiao, 30, says the story is not true, although the poor pooch did meet an untimely end.

"I had a little dog, it got killed by a friend of my dad and then he ate it," Pacquiao said. "I was 12 years of age, it was a tough childhood."

**********

Talking of tall tales, Hatton has denied rumours that he had to stop sparring early because of an elbow injury that required a cortisone injection. "I'm in the shape of my life," Hatton said.

**********

Pacquiao will have a very special fan ringside for the first time on Saturday night, his mother Dionisia. "It’s the first time my mother ever comes to a fight," Pacquiao said. "It gives me even more inspiration to win. She’s scared to watch it live."

So what is the difference this time? "Confidence for this fight."

Source: timesonline

DAVE BATISTA TO CARRY ONE OF PACQUIAO’S BELT

2009-04-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

Las Vegas NV:- One of the good things about hanging out at the Media Rooms after the formal press conference is over is ending up with a scoop the others guys never got.

This afternoon, that is exactly what happened at the media room after the presscon for the undercard fighters of the Pacquiao-Hatton East Meets West battle at the MGM Garden Arena.

I was having lunch with Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin and Lee Samuels of Top Rank Promotions joined us at the table. Incidentally, we found out from Lee that the sumptuous boxed-lunch we were enjoying was provided by MGM Grand.

While we were having a conversation, Lee told us a “scoop” that he haven’t gotten a chance to tell the others because he never got to it on account of his hectic schedule.

Lee showed us his cell phone with an e-mail from Claire Murphy, the Senior Director for International Communications of the WWE.

The e-mail indicated that Dave Batista, the part Filipino wrestling star is on the plane enroute to Las Vegas from London, England .

On Saturday night, he will walk with Manny Pacquiao to the ring carrying one pf Pacquiao’s belts.

Source: philboxing.com

Pacquiao vs Hatton - Countdown

2009-04-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

Will the Second Time Be the Charm for Hatton?

2009-04-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

It’s been almost two years since Ricky Hatton last battled for boxing’s mythical pound for pound title against then consensus titleholder Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Next to the coming out party that was the Kostya Tszyu fight, it was the biggest fight of ‘The Hitman’s career. Fought at welterweight, seven pounds above the division where Hatton has long been the linear titleholder and is still undefeated, the Mayweather fight was the kind of nightmare no fighter wants to have. “Money” Mayweather simply had too much for Hatton; too much agility, speed, and too high of a boxing I.Q. The fight for pound for pound supremacy ended in one-sided fashion with Hatton eating a brutal hook from a sidestepping Mayweather and bouncing head first off the turnbuckle. He would rise but the fight would be quickly stopped as Mayweather pound for pounded Hatton along the ropes and to the canvas again. It was a crushing defeat for a man who had never tasted it before.

As he had following his previous effort at 147 (a tough, close win over Luis Collazo in 2006 in which Hatton claimed a version of the welterweight title), Hatton returned back to the 140-pound division where he spent his whole career.

“My last fight against Floyd was out of my weight division and my two fights at welterweight never really - didn't look comfortable for me,” says Hatton. “Going up the extra 7 pounds, even winning the world title against Collazo, I didn't - don't think I looked particularly comfortable. But, you know, [140] is my weight division. This is the weight I feel more comfortable at.”

Despite returning to a more comfortable weight, Hatton didn’t exactly return to form. He looked vulnerable and a bit worse for wear in his return to the ring against the not exactly Tysonesque power of Juan Lazcano. Hatton was rocked on several occasions in the fight and many in the industry (as well as in his own camp) began to question whether or not it was time to get out while the getting was good.

The Hitman did some questioning of his own. And after evaluating his situation (44-1 with 30 KOs and titles in two divisions), he decided there was still more to be done in the ring. But change was indeed coming as he fired long time trainer Billy Graham, the man who was with Hatton from the beginning. Graham’s deteriorating health in recent years had become a source of distraction for the easy going Hatton.

“Trainers have got to be fun and it’s a long time since I’ve enjoyed my training camps,” says Hatton, “My former training at Billy Graham Training was becoming hard work due to Billy’s health and his injuries, you know? Training became pretty difficult really because I was worried whether Billy was going to get through the training camps.”

If he was looking for fun and a new direction, Hatton couldn’t have picked more on the money in choosing Floyd Mayweather, Sr. to return him to the Promised Land.

“You know, there were too many fights that were getting so similar tactically and style-wise. I think if you look at the Collazo fight, it was like 100 mile an hour. I was trying to steamroll my opponent. I tried 100 mile an hour to steamroll Floyd. The Castillo fight my tactics would stay much the same, just get stuck in there, although that was one of my best wins. That Lazcano fight, after the Mayweather fight, - I was just trying to steamroll him as well. And I don't think there’s any real thought into the way I was fighting. And it all accumulated with the defeat by Mayweather. That made me think to myself ‘come on, Ricky, you've always been able to box. You've always had a good jab. You've always had good boxing ability. But, you know, you’re not using it any more.’ And that’s why I opted to go with Floyd Mayweather because I thought to myself ‘well, I know I can fight. You know, what’s the areas I need to work on?’ And the areas were my defense, my left jab, my head movement, my footwork, my combinations, my speed. And I think you saw the difference in the Malignaggi fight.”

A Manchester brawler/mauler being trained by the man who first taught Floyd, Jr how to punch and shoulder roll? If the match doesn’t seem made in heaven on paper, watching the two of them interact coupled with Hatton’s next performance against Paulie Malignaggi, it appears that the chemistry between these two is as solid as you’ll find. As is the case in all sports, whatever you think is helping you win, probably is.

In the Malignaggi fight, Mayweather, Sr got Hatton back to basics and re-employed a long missing weapon: the multiple jab. While his head still appeared stationary for too long at times, Hatton appeared to be going about the business of tracking down the moving Malignaggi in a more efficient and effective manner than ever before. Utilizing the jab get inside without eating too much leather and quick, educated feet to cut off the ring, Hatton doled out serious punishment to the feather fisted Malignaggi. Hatton appeared comfortable following the game plan of the self-proclaimed “greatest trainer of all time.” But the transition wasn’t as smooth as it appeared. For one, their first camp together was a short one of seven weeks. Barely enough time to develop a way of communicating much less implement every change needed in Hatton’s game.

“You know, there’s only so much you can do in seven weeks,” says Hatton. “And I think the way I performed after just seven weeks I think was a credit to me and my team and just shows you how much I've got left. To be honest, you need seven weeks sometimes just to get used to a new trainer. To be perfectly honest with you, for the first two or three weeks of that seven weeks, I couldn't understand a word Floyd was f@*#king saying. So you can imagine, you know, we have to sort of like, you know, get used to each other, get used to each other’s personality, each other’s training methods.”

The most important aspect of this retooling process was the idea that Hatton wouldn’t completely abandon what had gotten him to this point but rather tighten up the areas that had slipped over time.

“Everybody’s expecting me now I'm with Floyd Mayweather to get up on me toes, start shuffling and jabbing,” laughs Hatton. “And that’s never been Ricky Hatton. I didn't revert back to the old Ricky Hatton in the Malignaggi fight, so I certainly won't do it this time. I'm just my usual aggressive self, but just a lot more tidied up in certain areas I feel. And that’s what the Mayweather fight taught me more than anything I think. I needed to pull my socks up and stop thinking I could just run all over people.”

So now, following an extensive training camp, (“Come fight night it would have been 12 weeks of training time”), Hatton squares off yet again for the pound for pound title. This time, however the puzzle in front of him isn’t named Mayweather. It comes in the form of a 5’ 6” ½ Filipino phenom named Manny Pacquiao, an aggressive puncher/boxer with all the speed and power that a fighter could ever want. While Hatton respects his attributes and fighting style, but the Man from Manchester feels he has what it takes to negate the “Pacman’s” strengths.

“I do really believe he’s very effective at what he does,” says Hatton. “But I think he fights the same way all the time. He throws the same punches all the time. He throws a right jab, a one-two. He shuffles in and out with his feet, which obviously if you don’t get to - if you don’t get adjusted to the style of his feet obviously it could cause you problems. But I think you get adjusted to this style - I don’t see a versatile fighter in Manny Pacquiao. So I think I will have more game plans in my favor. Especially the way I’m fighting now really. I mean if you’d watched tapes maybe - I don’t know three, four, five fights ago, you could just - I could have been easy to read. But I feel I’m a lot more difficult to read now and I hope to show that.”

After debuting at 106 pounds back in 1995, Manny the “Pacman” has slowly become the biggest star to ever come out of the Philippines. Moving up through the years, Pacquiao defeated legends Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez, collecting fans and title belts in four divisions along the way. Last December, he capped off a year that saw him beat Marquez in a hotly contested rematch, move up and claim a version of the lightweight crown, then hop a division on his way to a dream match/one-sided beat down at 147 over Oscar De La Hoya.

It was a banner year but in Hatton’s opinion, the De La Hoya fight was a bit of mirage. It was widely reported that De La Hoya botched his move back down to 147, making weight weeks in advance and weakening himself to the point where he was a mere shadow of his former self come fight night.

“I don't want to sound too disrespectful to my promoter, my friend Oscar de la Hoya,” begins Hatton, “but [Pacquiao] could've done the same thing hitting a punch bag that night, no disrespect to Oscar. That’s not the Oscar that we've come to love over the years. So this is a new weight division for him. He may've had one fight at 147, but trust me, this is a new weight division for him. And I feel very, very confident because I've never lost at this weight division. I've always proved too big and strong, then unlike the Mayweather fight, where there was really no real method to the madness and it made things quite easy for Floyd by going in carelessly. I'm not doing that now, I expect to perform a lot better, one, because, you know, I've got a new training camp and I'm working on different things, and two, it is in my weight division.”

One aspect of Pacquiao’s style that pundits feel will trouble Hatton is his southpaw stance.

“Well, a lot of people say I’ve struggled against southpaws,” says Hatton. “I mean, I am only putting that down to the fact that against Collazo, it was a very, very tough fight. But, again, as I keep stressing, that was up at 147. Collazo was a fast southpaw. And he was a big southpaw, hand speed. If you stuck Manny Pacquiao next to Collazo, you've got like David and Goliath. I mean, you know, so if that’s struggling, you know, I would still say more to the weight rather than the southpaw. But I just think that that Pacquiao has underestimated me full stop. They think I struggle with southpaws. If that’s their opinion, you know, don't expect me to share their enthusiasm. But if they think I struggle with southpaws and they think, you know, Manny’s going to knock me out in three rounds and, you know, brilliant, you know, brilliant. Bring it on.”

Looking back over Pacquiao’s resume, Hatton points out that Pacquiao hasn’t taken on a come forward, all-pressure, all-the-time type of fighter like himself. That knowledge is what fuels Hatton now as he powers down training and gets ready to get at Pacquiao this Saturday night.

“I think Marquez is very patient, a safety first fighter,” he explains. “I think Marco Antonio Barrera is a boxer who tried to box on the move. What I’m basically getting at is I don’t think Manny has fought anybody as fiery, as ferocious, as rough and certainly not as big and as strong as Ricky Hatton. There’s one thing that comes to mind is Ricky Hatton is a handful, he’s all over you. He’s an absolute handful. And I’m using a left jab hand, movement, and hand speed as well now. There’s no doubt in my mind who’s going to win this fight. I’ve never been more certain, I’ve never been more confident.”

Whether he boxes a lot, a little, or just enough, Hatton is certain of one thing: this fight is not going the distance.

“I don’t see it being a distance fight,” says Hatton. “One, because Manny doesn’t fight like he claims to go the distance. In fairness Manny goes for the knockout, I go for the knockout. But I think Manny is not the most elusive. You know I think he’s there, and sometimes he’s a southpaw and when he comes - very square on, he puts himself in the pocket so if there’s a hit, it comes square on. He likes to engage in a fight, which obviously anyone who engages in a fight there’s obviously dangers for me and I am aware of that. But if he engages and wants to have a fight with me, I do strongly believe he will come second best.”

With everything on the line and his new techniques and tactics in place, all that is left is winning the fight. For Hatton, this isn’t just about beating a big name. This isn’t just defending his title. This fight is about something you can’t touch or put around your waste. This is for pound for pound supremacy.

“If I perform like I did [against Mayweather, Jr],” confesses Hatton, “I'll get beat again. I mean you'd have to be stupid to say that it’s not the most important fight. Of course it is. It’s for the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world title. Everyone’s goal is to become the world champion the first day you lace a boxing glove on. But beat the pound-for-pound number one? You’re beating the best fighter in all weight divisions. A boxer cannot go any higher than that. So it’s the biggest fight of my career.”

Source: maxboxing.com

Roach, Mayweather Sr. in war of words

2009-04-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS -- Respectfully. That is how junior welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao have conducted themselves toward each other during the buildup to their super fight.

Their trainers? Not so much.

While Hatton and Pacquiao, who is gunning for a world title in a record-tying sixth weight class, will meet in the main event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET) in a much-anticipated showdown, Hatton's trainer, the irrepressible Floyd Mayweather Sr., and Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach sound as if they are getting ready to throw down in an undercard fight.

They even did a traditional staredown and posed together à la the main event after Wednesday's final news conference, much to the delight of the media.

Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), who demolished former titleholder Paulie Malignaggi in a November title defense, and Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs), who sent Oscar De La Hoya into retirement with a December pummeling in a welterweight fight, are the kinds of fighters who like to let their fists do the talking inside the ring. They are confident that they will win and don't spend time before the fight making disparaging remarks about their opponents.

Mayweather and Roach, however, have been at each other throughout the promotion. From the kickoff news conferences in Hatton's native England to their weekly comments about each other during HBO's "24/7" series, there's been just as much talk about Roach vs. Mayweather as there has been about Hatton vs. Pacquiao.

"Freddie 'The Joke Coach' Roach. That's what I think he is. He's a joke of a coach," Mayweather said, repeating for the umpteenth time his nickname for Roach.

Although Roach is typically far more laid back than Mayweather, he has also gotten into the act.

"A lot of people ask me if I'm worried about Manny fighting Hatton since Hatton has never lost a fight at 140 pounds," Roach said. "As long as Floyd Mayweather is in Hatton's corner, I have absolutely no concerns. It's not like his brother Roger is training him. Floyd training Hatton for this fight is our biggest advantage."

With the fighters taking the high road, trainers bashing each other will have to do. They've given the media all kinds of tasty and inflammatory quotes.

Mayweather has disrespected Roach ever since De La Hoya parted ways with Mayweather to go with Roach for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May 2007.

"Who has he really worked with," Mayweather said of Roach. "He had a lot of big fighters, but he hasn't done anything with them. What has he done with them? He got one man in his court; it's Pacquiao. Who else do you know that he got that he's done something with? And what fighter has he made? I made my son, and who has he made? He hasn't made anybody. Explain it? That's all I can tell you, man; the guy ain't made anybody. Simple."

Roach's response?

"My first champion, Virgil Hill, I started him out from his first pro fight," Roach said of one of his numerous champions. "I mean, I've made a lot of good fighters out there. He made his son through birth, but Roger [Mayweather, Floyd Sr.'s brother] made him as a fighter. So, it doesn't bother me."

De La Hoya, who worked with Mayweather for several years and with Roach for one fight, said they're both good trainers, although when asked to pick one over the other, he went with Mayweather.

"Both of them will get you in tip-top shape," said De La Hoya, whose company, Golden Boy, promotes Hatton and is co-promoting the fight with Top Rank. "They'll train you, they'll make you run many miles, they'll make sure you're in the best shape of your life for that fight. The difference with Freddie and Mayweather is, I think, Mayweather is more technically sound when it comes to using different combinations with the mitt work. Freddie, he'll have you throw combinations, but it's a repeated combination over and over and over. The strategy really isn't 100 percent.

"I love Freddie Roach to death, I really do. Nothing personal to him, but from my experience, Floyd really had me at the top of my game."

When the promoters put Roach and Mayweather on a recent teleconference with the media to discuss the fight, they knew what they were doing. They knew they would get a lot of jawing back and forth between them, and they were right.

When one reporter asked who the better fighter was, since both boxed professionally before becoming trainers, Mayweather spoke up quickly.

"I most definitely was the better fighter than Freddie Roach. As a matter of fact, I've got a poster down at the gym where Freddie's on my undercard," Mayweather said.

Said Roach, "Well, you know what, I tried really hard. I fought on TV a lot more than him. I was a lot more popular than him."

Then they got into it.

Mayweather: "You were a bum."

Roach: "You know, his brother [Roger] was a great fighter, but he lost to my fighter Marlon Starling twice. He got his ass kicked twice. So, how good was he? He was OK."

Mayweather: "You weren't OK. You were a bum."

Roach: "So you think."

Mayweather: "You got whopped so much, Freddie. Come on, Freddie."

Roach: "You're the expert. Hey, Floyd, can I ask you a question?"

Mayweather: "Yes, sir."

Roach: "When I get presented the [2008] trainer of the year award [in June], I want you to present that to me this year because that's as close as you'll get to it."

Mayweather: "We're gonna see about that, Freddie. We'll see about that."

Roach: "I'd like for you to do that."

Mayweather: "And what are you going to do when I win it, Freddie?"

Roach: "I've won it three times. You've never won it. You're not going to win it ever."

While Roach seems genuinely peeved by Mayweather's putdowns, Mayweather seems to have a bit of a glint in his eye when he talks smack.

"It's not animosity, man," Mayweather said. "I'm having fun, whether you believe it or not. I'm having fun with this. I'm not afraid of Freddie at all or anything. I'm having fun with this.

"This is a build-up. That's all it is, man, to me. Everybody wants their fighter to win. But with me it's talking. Even if you look back with [Muhammad] Ali when he was doing his thing, everything is a build-up, man. Some guys get in each other's faces and never get out of each other's. But this is something with me. I'm having fun with this. I mean, I'm looking to win the fight and I'm sincere about winning the fight but as far as me, the animosity and the bad talk, I don't have nothing against Freddie right now. When this fight's over, me and Freddie can still shake hands and hug and you know. I don't have nothing against Freddie. I really think Freddie's a nice guy, but right now, this is warfare and I'm looking forward to my man winning, and I'm gonna do whatever it takes for him to win."

Roach made fun of Mayweather's stint in jail. Mayweather mocked Roach for being manhandled once in a sparring session by Roger Mayweather. The trainers have praised the other man's fighter, just not each other.

"I think Manny's a very good fighter," Mayweather said. "I think he can be a much better fighter, though, under different circumstances. But Manny's a very good fighter. I can't take anything away from Manny. I can think of a lot more things he can do that's he's not doing. So, you'll have to take that up with his trainer."

Real or manufactured, the Roach-Mayweather battle is good for the promotion, according to De La Hoya.

"It's huge. It's priceless because you're not going to get Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao talking bad about each other," De La Hoya said. "You're going to get some great action inside the ring, but people have to know about the fight, and we can do that through Floyd Sr. and Freddie Roach. Apparently, it's become a Floyd Sr.-Freddie Roach circus, but at the end of Saturday night, we'll see the bear and lion going inside the ring and duke it out."

But Saturday night isn't here just yet, so the trainers are still battling:

Mayweather: "My man's ready, and I know Freddie 'The Joke Coach' Roach is scared right now."

Roach: "Oh, he is?"

Mayweather: "And he's probably going to go crawl up in some hole somewhere."

Roach: "Enough with this dueling, man. It's old."

Mayweather: "It's the truth, man. You the Roach. … You see me come [Saturday] so we can fight. You understand me?"

Roach: "You want me come get me? You know where I live."

Mayweather: "I've got you, Freddie."

On and on it goes.

Source: espn.go.com

Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao electrify Las Vegas

2009-04-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

But the smiles will be replaced by grimaces come the first bell. “Manny goes for the knockout, I go for the knockout,” Hatton said, before turning on those who believe that the Mancunian cannot win against the Filipino who is regarded as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter. “They said I was an over-hyped, over-protected, beer-drinking Englishman, but I’m here to shock the world again.”

Pacquiao’s response? “I never hate my opponent, and I have no fear in this fight. We will be firm friends after the fight, and I’d like a rematch at darts, too.”

Americans are coming to terms with a certain singularity: that the biggest fights in their country at present involve men who require a stamp in their passport to ply their trade in the world’s fight capital, following the retirement, two weeks ago, of their leading boxer, Oscar De La Hoya.

His mega-fights brought in just short of $700 million (£474 million) but after his capitulation – at the blurred hands of Pacquiao last December – there is nary an American fighter in sight with a comparable level of appeal.

In the case of this promotion, the lights of the Mojave Desert’s neon strip, dulled by the recession, have been relit by Hatton v Pacquiao, as both bring with them a huge following. One million pay-per-view buys (at almost £40 each) are expected to be sold in the US for this fight – the record is 2.4 million buys for De La Hoya v Floyd Mayweather in 2007 – while in the UK, Sky executives are optimistic of more than 700,000 buys.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena here has long since sold out its 14,000 seats. The gate will bring in $9 million (£6 million), while the promotion, overall, is expected to bring in £40 million.

Ringside seats will be resold for thousands of dollars. To cater for extra demand, closed circuit screens having been set up at seven other casinos along the strip, with seat tickets priced at $50. Such is the demand for the two most popular fighters in the world, seats were always going to be at a premium. Fans float like ghosts around the lobby of the MGM Grand, looking for that golden ticket.

Pacquiao is followed by an entire nation and the Philippines will grind to a halt when the two little men with huge hearts stage their electric dance. When the two men opened formal proceedings this week, known as 'The Grand Arrival’, the supporters turned out in force.

It was no surprise that a group of 6ft 10ins tall Filipinos in tracksuits – the Philippines men’s basketball team – and no fewer than 27 Filipino politicians, ministers and senators, had gathered, with hundreds of well-wishers, for the arrival of Pacquiao at his base at the Mandalay Bay Resort yesterday.

No one could confirm whether there were actually any 'summit talks’ scheduled between the Filipino politicians and their American counterparts. Nor indeed, does it transpire, that the basketball team have a single match scheduled on their 'tour’. This is Hatton-mania v Pac-mania. Sin City is beginning to hum with debate in the taverns. Bookies run a brisk trade.

High up in Pacquiao’s giant suite last night – to which The Daily Telegraph gained exclusive access – an entourage of 30 Filipinos enjoyed animated discussion, while Pacquiao watched Bruce Lee movies, his eyes darting at the action, before rising to his feet to enact the moves. Not a bad way of psyching himself up.

Hatton employs a converse method, slowly building his animosity for fight time towards his opponent.

Only these two men know the deep dark places they will need to take themselves in the last two days before they meet in the ring, while those around them fill the fighters with the certainty that victory will be theirs.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Ode-blooded rivalry

2009-04-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

All kidding aside, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton was able to keep his humor at bay during today’s final presser held at the MGM—long enough to promise the press that he was going to prove ‘em wrong in his fight with Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao wasn’t so successful, for during a face-off, the only profile boxing’s pound-for-pound king showed, was his humorous side. Unable to keep a straight face, Pacquiao broke out laughing.

Others broke out in poetry.

Proclaiming Saturday night’s mega-showdown between Pacquiao and Hatton to something “more than a prize fight,” Top Rank boss Bob Arum read from Rudyard Kipling’s “The Ballad of East and West”—the source of inspiration for Saturday night’s entitled showdown, “The Battle of East and West.”

Read Arum:

Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat;
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face,
tho' they come from the ends of the earth!

By the time the podium was occupied by Floyd Mayweather, Sr., however, literature had been reduced to . . . well, something else.

Spoke Mayweather:

I am being for real and saying what I feel,
This is the truest quote that I ever wrote,
From the first to the last note,
Hey Pac,
Its over, so quit wishing on a four leaf clover,
You got a choice to make,
You're at the cross roads,
You gotta make up your mind,
You can go right or you can go left,
And you can't depend on nobody else,
We need to do what we need to do
It ain't personal between me and you,
Come May 2nd, you will be uncrowned with your head hanging down,
The pain and stress left to confess that the Hitman's the best,
So lets make it simple and plain after this fight, Pac will never be the same,
It ain’t no diggity it aint no doubt, Pac's gonna find out what its all about,
When he beat the ole legend Oscar de la Hoya,
He was over the hill,
Now its time for you to swallow the same damn pill,
So get your tickets now peoples-and lets make it clear,
That the Pacman ass woopin is almost here,
It aint no secret and I hope you know,
The Hitman Hatton by KO!

Hatton, on the other hand, was on the serious side. Though he did not predict a knockout over Pacquiao, he did predict a win.

“I think you have all made your mind up already,” said Hatton. “I have been reading what you have been saying and what everyone has been saying. That doesn't scare me. I have been here before. I have been the underdog before.

"I hear what you say. 'He is an over-hyped, over-protected, fat beer drinking Englishman.

“But guess what? That ‘he’ is going to shock the world again.”

Hatton compared the fight to his one six years ago with Kostya Tszyu.

“I was the underdog then and look what happened . . . It doesn't scare me being in this position.”

Pacquiao’s words were few. Stating his readiness, he promised that he would do his best to honor his country.

“I respect Ricky Hatton,” said Pacquiao. “He is a good person. He is a nice guy and I would like to remind everyone that there is nothing personal for this fight and we are just doing our job to give a good fight to the people and make them happy.”

Following suit, Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, was just as pithy in his choice of words, saying only that he had the best fighter who was in the greatest shape of his life.

And: "I've been telling Manny all along that I will be disappointed if the fight goes longer than three rounds."

In a cheerful mood, Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy, cracked a couple of jokes – and took Mayweather’s jibe of being “over the hill” when he fought Pacquiao, with a good-natured laugh.

De La Hoya also promised the media that the fight would exceed all expectations Saturday night.

“People want to watch this fight not because of the fighters' abilities, not because they can fight and have come to give fans an exciting fight, but because of respect. People respect what Pacquiao and Hatton can do in the ring.

"That's why people are going to watch this fight, because they respect both of these fighters and they know they are going to see a great great match.”

Source: fightnews.com

Pacquiao vs Hatton - Final Press Conference

2009-04-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

Rumour mill in high gear as Hatton-Pacquiao showdown draws near

2009-04-29T08:29:00.000-07:00

It has taken longer than usual before a big fight in Vegas, but the rumours have started leaking ahead of Ricky Hatton's meeting with Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night.

Rumour 1) Hatton finished his sparring on Wednesday of last week, two days earlier than usual, not because he and his trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr, were happy they could not make him any sharper but because he had to have a cortisone injection in his left elbow.

Hatton shot that one down. He said he's never been fitter before a fight. While he nearly always says that, I could find no confirmation of the story, and he did not appear at all uncomfortable when he met the British press on Monday night. He was alert, relaxed, confident and slim.

"I gave the sparring partners a right hiding," he says. "That's the way you want it to be in your last session. Normally we'd do our last session on the Friday but we didn't need to. There's only one way you can go when you've got it just right, and that's backwards."

Rumour 2) This one is harder to pin down or stand up: Mayweather Sr is seriously put out by the way some members of the entourage are treating him. They ignore him in the gym and, generally, leave him out of the loop.

The story goes that when they went to Los Angeles for a press conference last week, they did not tell him they were staying overnight and he consequently did not bring with him the medication he needs for his debilitating chest condition. Instead, he turned up in his suit, with no change of clothes, and someone had to rush to a drugstore to get his medicine.

If Mayweather, a fiercely proud but vulnerable man, is put out, this might explain a story in the Daily Mirror this week, which quoted him as saying, "I taught Ricky to box. Ricky didn't know anything when I started with him. He had brute strength, that was it. When I first went down to England to see him, you know, it was horrendous. But you look at him today, he's totally different." This, of course, contradicted his earlier view that, "Ricky could win this fight without me. But he has a much better chance with me."

It also does not quite fit with Hatton's take on his development. "I always had a good jab," he says. "I always had good boxing ability, I always had great footwork but I think that certainly in the past five or six years, I haven't used them properly."

Rumour 3) Billy Graham, whom Hatton sacked as his trainer before the Paul Malignaggi fight, is going through with his threat to sue the fighter for 10% of his earnings in the 10 years he was with him. That cut might be as high as £3m. Graham will remember that Kevin Rooney successfully sued Mike Tyson for a similar amount. Whatever, it's sad to hear Graham tell the Sun: "It's been a fairytale and the fairytale has now been ruined. For me it has, anyway. I loved him."

The truth of that story will be tested in the most public forum, the courts.

It might explain, also, Hatton's continued references to the good times with Graham. He peppers nearly every discussion about his switch to Mayweather Sr with phrases such as "Don't get me wrong, what Billy and me had was special." He refers time and again to Graham's failing health and inability to stand up to the rigours of training. What then, of Mayweather, who looks and talks like a man half his age but inside is struggling with lungs that cause him serious pain?

Rumour 4) Hatton was rocked a few times by sparring partners in the early part of his preparation in Las Vegas. Well, what can you say? To buy into this you have to believe that boxing is a no-risk business where the main man gets to throw all the punches, with none coming back. Fighters invariably take a shot or two getting ready for a fight. What the rumour didn't add was that Hatton held the shots.

Source:

Ricky Hatton 'delighted' to be odds-on to be knocked out against Manny Pacquiao

2009-04-29T07:51:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton says he is "delighted" to have been installed as odds-on to be knocked out in his sold-out 140 lb 'super fight' against Filipino Manny Pacquiao here at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night.

"I love it. Love it," Hatton said. "The way people are talking about Manny, you'd think he should be fighting Godzilla. As good a fighter as Manny is, I think he is being judged on his performance against Oscar De La Hoya [who quit on his stool after eight rounds last December], but if I had fought Oscar, I would have knocked him out quicker. Oscar was a shell of himself, and has said he felt 'lifeless' and wanted Manny to knock him out to end it all. Manny didn't have the power to knock him out."
Hatton also intimated that cuts – and both fighters have suffered from cuts in their careers – "could play a part in the outcome of the fight", and that he has seen Pacquiao "flap" when cut.

Hatton is adamant that he has all the tools to beat, at the second attempt, the No 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. His only career defeat was to Floyd Mayweather Jnr, then pound-for-pound No 1, in Dec 2008.

"Under my new trainer Floyd [Mayweather Snr] we scraped the surface in the Paulie Malignaggi fight last November," Hatton said.

"The defeat to Mayweather humbled me. I thought I could go in there and just bulldoze opponents. I can't steamroll people at this level. I needed to get knocked on my backside to see that my style needed to change.

"I'm not suddenly a defensive master, but I'm more polished. If I fight Manny the way I fought Floyd Mayweather, he'll beat me. I made it easy for Floyd. It won't be easy for Manny. I feel it in my bones that this one is mine."

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton: A matchup with global appeal

2009-04-29T07:49:00.001-07:00

PHILADELPHIA — There likely won’t be anyone chanting "U-S-A! U-S-A!" in America’s living rooms or in the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas during Saturday night’s pay-per-view matchup of junior welterweights Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton.

Welcome to professional boxing’s new global reality, in which these United States are becoming a nice place for the sport’s bigger names to visit, but less frequently is their country of origin.

Nonetheless, the arena will be filled to capacity and, if projections are met, this 12-round pairing of Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs), a Filipino, and Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), an Englishman, will hit the one million-buy mark in the United States. That surely would qualify as a grand slam in a post-Oscar De La Hoya landscape in which the international economy is something less than robust.

De La Hoya’s recent retirement as an active boxer was not unexpected, given the diminishing returns of his career in recent years. But even in decline he was truly the "Golden Boy," with his every PPV appearance a veritable license to print money. De La Hoya’s May 5, 2007, bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr., which Mayweather won by split decision, is No. 1 all-time with 2.4 million buys.

"He was the ATM of boxing," boxing historian Bert Randolph Sugar said of De La Hoya, noting that the East Los Angeles native’s likely final bout, an eight-round beatdown by Pacquiao on Dec. 6, did a very healthy 1.25 million buys even though the now-36-year-old Oscar had lost three of his previous six fights.

Hatton probably is best known on these shores for his only defeat, by 10th-round technical knockout to Mayweather on Dec. 8, 2007, but he is, like Pacquiao, an action fighter who delivers lots of bang for the buck, or the pound sterling. Few British fighters ever have been as popular in the UK as is Hatton, and his willingness to cross the pond signals his eagerness to expand his base.

"I was supposed to be this overhyped, overprotected guy who only wanted to stay in Manchester (England)," Hatton said. "It would have been very easy to stay in the safety zone of my hometown. Everyone should come to you when you’re No. 1 in your division, but I wanted to prove to critics I didn’t need to stay in my comfort zone."

Whoever wins this war of willing 140-pounders — "Manny goes for the knockout; I go for the knockout," Hatton pronounced — will emerge as an even more appealing global attraction, which is good and even necessary given the dearth of American fighters who can make even a semi-valid case for superstardom.

It isn’t just the heavyweight division, the upper tier of which is dominated by Eastern Europeans. Take De La Hoya out of the mix and boxing’s immediate future largely is in the clenched fists of foreign guys like Pacquiao, Hatton and the Ukraine’s Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali, who need to have their passports stamped to ply their trade in a nation whose pugilistic affections for the most part are usually reserved for native sons.

With a live gate of $9 million already assured, and a relatively reasonable PPV price of $49.95 (down from a $54.95 sticker price for De La Hoya-Pacquiao), it wouldn’t be a shock for Pacquiao-Hatton to crack the increasingly exclusive seven-figure buy club. My guess is that it surpasses the 915,000 buys for Mayweather-Hatton and falls short of Oscar-Manny.

But if the licks are traded hard and fast, as I expect they will be, American fans without Old Glory to wave will come back for more because an adopted hero is better than none at all.

Source: bostonherald.com

Can Pacquiao-Hatton Reach the Magic Mark?

2009-04-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

With the retirement of Oscar De La Hoya, the business of boxing has a huge void; not necessarily from a fighting standpoint - long before he was bludgeoned into retirement by Manny Pacquiao in December, De La Hoya had been a declining, part-time fighter for several years - but the industry lost its pay-per-view clean-up hitter. His last two pay-per-view outings, both losing efforts, garnered 2.5 million and 1.25 million purchases.

He retired as the game’s all-time pay-per-view king, generating over 14.1 million buys and nearly $700 million in revenue throughout the course of his career on HBO Pay-Per-View.

This Saturday night from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the biggest event of 2009 takes place when Pacquiao faces Ricky Hatton for the jr. welterweight championship of the world. Pacquiao has become an international figure and Hatton comes with his own sizable fanbase from England. So the question is, can either of these men fill the vacuum left by 'the Golden Boy', and can this event tally over a million buys, a magical mark that has only been reached a few times when either De La Hoya or heavyweights like Tyson and Holyfield were involved.

"Oh, yeah, we're going to well exceed that," said an effusive Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, last Tuesday. "I'm telling you, De La Hoya-Pacquiao never sold out and never came close to selling out. This fight, you cannot buy a ticket, everything is sold."

On this day, Arum was in San Francisco on his way to the home of the Giants, AT&T Park, where Pacquiao was met by an overwhelming reception by a huge throng of his fans on Filipino Heritage Night on April 21st. A sell-out crowd would arrive, and commemorative bobbleheads of 'the Pac Man' quickly ran out.

"So it begins to tell you something," said Arum. "There's a much bigger buzz than there was on De La Hoya-Pacquiao. "This seems counter-intuitive since De La Hoya was involved. How could this be? Because everyone was convinced that it was another De La Hoya opportunity to make money and he was fighting a guy that had no chance," opined Arum.

The veteran promoter believes that because of his dominance over De La Hoya, Pacquiao now transcends the Philippines. And with Hatton being the biggest draw in Europe, that worldwide, this promotion carries more weight.

"Globally, it's way bigger. Pacquiao is not the same Pacquiao. Pacquiao has become an international star, an internationally known person," said Arum, citing the fact that Pacquiao was nominated by Time Magazine as one of the most 100 influential people in the world. "I mean, where else do you have CNN doing an hour show on a fighter? Well, he's not just a fighter."

Arum's counterpart at Golden Boy Promotions, Richard Schaefer is a bit more cautious.

“The magical one million number has only been reached by a handful of fighters with Oscar being the one in the last few years. Short of Oscar, you didn't really have any other fighter, period, who, on his own, reached a million homes. So Oscar worked hard on building up to be able to break that million mark, and I think a million for any card which doesn't have a De La Hoya on it, it's just a very, very tall order," said the Swiss banker, who believes that the current economy will have no real bearing on the performance of Pacquiao-Hatton.

Schaefer believes that expectations shouldn't be out of kilter with reality, adding, "In today's boxing world, breaking a half-million homes, in my opinion, is a mega-event, and breaking 750,000 homes, you're pretty much breaking into the top 20 or 30 or so, all-time. Breaking a million homes, the air gets even thinner. But I just want to say, if you have 500,000 homes, that's $25 million, gross revenue, just from the pay-per-view alone and you add the gate and the foreign and the sponsors and all these other revenues, you're having a $45 million night or more. That, in my opinion, is a success for ANY sporting event. So we need to be careful - and when I say we, I mean the media, the promoters, the fighters - not to set our goals, our expectations, at unrealistic levels.

"But having said all of that, I have to admit, I look at the signs and I compare the gate, how early people are buying closed-circuit seats in Las Vegas, which usually only happens in big events. So when you start seeing 2,000 closed-circuit seats sold, now when you see the gate sold out, when you see the kind of promotion, billboards everywhere, you see the kind of buzz with 24/7. You look at all these indicators, I sure hope we are going to break a million homes."

The total live gate for this week’s fight is approximately $9 million (to put that into comparison, De La Hoya-Mayweather, which was the most lucrative pay-per-view ever, had a record-setting gate of around $18 million). Judging by the reception that both fighters received on Tuesday afternoon for their grand arrivals to the MGM Grand, there is certainly a buzz that hasn't been felt for quite awhile in Las Vegas, which has learned the hard way that it is anything but 'recession-proof'.

They have dubbed this promotion, 'The Battle of East and West'. But that may be the problem, as neither Pacquiao nor Hatton hails from the United States. And while they bring a strong constituency with them to the dance, they don't have the crossover appeal of De La Hoya, who seemed to magnetically pull females and casual fans to his events en masse.

Most industry insiders believe that Pacquiao-De La Hoya will do in the neighborhood of 600-700,000 buys domestically.

Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View told Maxboxing, via email, "There are a lot of excellent PPV fights which generate 300,000-400,000 buys. But very few fights generate 500,000 or more buys and become true megafights. Pacquiao-Hatton has a lot of great things going for it which makes it a true PPV megafight. It's the first megafight in the post-De La Hoya era, so there is a lot attention focused on the event. Both Pacquiao and Hatton have participated in a PPV megafight already, with 2008's DLH-Pacquiao generating 1.25 million buys and 2007's Mayweather-Hatton fight generating 915,000 buys. Each of these fighters enjoys a strong connection to their fans and both are appearing in their second 24/7 series. There hasn't been a PPV megafight since December's DLH-Pacquiao, so there is a real pent-up demand with consumers."

Taffet's last point is important, as unlike the past several years, there has not been an over-abundance of 'major' pay-per-view events; in fact, this is HBO Pay-Per-View's first foray of 2009. Also, Pacquiao-Hatton has a very good chance of becoming a slugfest. On the downside, there is backlash from many fans against purchasing any pay-per-view events (which can range from merely not buying the event and/or watching an illegal internet feed). Not helping the cause is that the undercard, well, let's just say it doesn't have any bouts on the level of Simon Brown-Maurice Blocker or Azumah Nelson-Jeff Fenech. (But the belief is that while the hard-core fans care about the lead-up bouts, pay-per-view sales are driven by the main event. Remember, Butterbean and Mia St. John were featured on many De La Hoya undercards in the late 90's by Arum with seemingly no negative effect.)

"I know Arum is telling people it's going to break the all-time record and I think it's good, you try to shoot for the stars," said Schaefer. "But at the same time, I always want to be realistic."

Well, c'mon, Arum would never engage in hyperbole. That's just not his style.

Source: maxboxing.com

Hatton 'enjoys best form of life'

2009-04-29T05:26:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton says he is in the best form of his life ahead of the light-welterweight super-fight against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas this weekend.

The 30-year-old believes trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr has turned him into a more technically proficient fighter.

Hatton is still undefeated in the 10-stone division, his only loss coming at 10.5 stones against Floyd Mayweather Jr in December 2007.

"This is the best Ricky Hatton's ever been," said the Manchester boxer.
"I haven't lost too many rounds at junior welterweight, never mind fights, because I've been too strong."

Bookmakers have made Hatton the underdog at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with Pacquiao, 30, considered to be the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, predicted to win.
But Hatton believes his superior strength and new-found technical skills will prove too much for his Filipino opponent in the early hours of Sunday morning, UK time.

"It's not just about 'the strongest man wins' in a boxing match," he stated. "Other elements come into it, technical things, the game plan, things like that.
"Technically I was back to my best in my last fight [an 11th-round knockout against Paulie Malignaggi in November 2008] and that was after only seven weeks with my new team.

"I think the difference between my last training camp and this one is night and day, technically."

Hatton revealed his defeat by Mayweather, the only loss in his 43-fight career, made him reconsider his approach to boxing.

"In years gone by I'd always shown in glimpses I had a good jab and boxing ability but in too many fights I hadn't been showing it," he conceded.

"In all my fights I thought I was just going to roll over every one.

"Obviously when I fought Floyd Jr he humbled me and showed me that I'd better go back to basics, even though that fight was at 147 pounds. It showed me that you can't steamroll everyone."

Mayweather's father took charge of Hatton's win over Malignaggi, introducing more technical elements to his style.

Although Hatton said his new trainer has helped turn him into a more rounded boxer, he insisted he still has the instincts that earned him 32 knockout victories.

He said: "I am a pressure fighter. You couldn't say for the Malignaggi fight that I resorted back to the old Ricky Hatton.

"Everybody thinks because of my new trainer that I've turned into this twinkled-toed jab-and-move boxer. I haven't.

"I'm still aggressive, I'm still a body puncher, still as ferocious as ever; technically, I've just peaked it here and there, jabbing more, moving more, setting my attacks up.

"Everybody is saying I'll resort back but resort back to what? I don't think I've changed a great deal, I'm just more polished in certain areas."

Source: bbc.co.uk

Ex-Hatton prey sees a triumph for Pacquiao

2009-04-29T05:25:00.001-07:00

MANILA, Philippines – Former world champion Paulie Malignaggi, one of the 45 victims of junior welterweight king Ricky Hatton, expressed belief his tormentor will no longer be the boss at 140-lbs after his showdown with pound for pound superstar Manny Pacquiao.

Malignaggi, who lost to Hatton via an 11th round TKO last year, told Examiner.com that he sees a Pacquiao victory considering the Mancunian’s come-forward nature, which he said would leave him vulnerable to the Filipino icon’s thunderous right hooks.

He also laughed off Hatton’s claim that he’s tremendously improved in all aspects, including defense, under the tutelage of trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr., and that he would be the more complete fighter come fight night.

“Sure, Ricky is looking great in the gym, hitting the pads with Mayweather. Hitting the pads is one thing and hitting the very improved Pacquiao is another. I don’t think there will be a big difference in the ring with Hatton despite Mayweather’s gym work," he said.

“Hatton still likes to jump and in out and when he does he will get hit by those awesome right hooks that Pacquiao throws. Not many southpaws can throw those type of powerful and speedy right hooks but Pacquiao does. If anyone is the improving and improved fighter of the two, it’s Manny and not Ricky," he added.

Malignaggi stressed he’s not being bitter to a former tormentor, whose whole family treated him well when they fought in Britain last year, but was only stating his objective views.

And in his prognosis, Pacquiao’s right hooks will bring about Hatton’s doom.

“Definitely that’s a big danger for Ricky in there. Manny throws so many of them and they come up the middle and then they come from around the side," he said.

Mayweather’s teachings and all, Malignaggi expects Hatton to revert back to his usual slugger’s style during the fight.

“They keep harping on the same old things about Ricky but Hatton will be Hatton once Manny clips him good and then the punches will come in bunches," he said.

Like the rest of the world, Malignaggi will be an interested viewer when Pacquiao and Hatton duke it out in their “Battle of East and West" title showdown this Saturday in Las Vegas (Sunday in Manila).

Source: gmanews.tv

Pacquiao like Ali — Arum

2009-04-29T05:24:00.001-07:00

LAS VEGAS — Pardon Bob Arum for playing the role of carnival barker to the hilt.

While anything he says will not make any more difference in hyping up this Saturday’s big fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, the seventy-something Harvard-educated lawyer could not help but express his amazement over the media and public turnout during the Filipino’s arrival Tuesday afternoon at Mandalay Bay.

“These people just want a piece of him. They want to touch him and I’ve seen this before with (Muhammad) Ali years and years ago. This is the same type of reaction,” Arum told a group of Manila-based scribes.

“Manny has taken the place of the most popular fighter in the world. He has crossed over and he is now the face of boxing.”

Although Pacquiao had landed in Sin City the night before from Los Angeles, Arum wanted to play it even more so the papers and all the media get to cover him from all angles.

And that’s just what happened as soon as Pacquiao emerged from the customized bus that brought some members of his team, friends and followers here from Hollywood Monday night.

The media crush was so overwhelming that earlier plans to accommodate a few interviews at the entrance were aborted due to the mob scene.

Source: mb.com.ph

Biggest crowd ever greets Pacman

2009-04-29T05:22:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS -- Even Manny Pacquiao was surprised by the warm reception he got during his grand arrival Tuesday noon at the Mandalay Bay here.

As soon as he emerged from the 56-seater luxury bus painted with his image, a swarm of television crew and print photographers plus around 300 fans greeted the Filipino ring icon at the hotel lobby, prompting him to continue walking to the revolving door.

As security personnel tried to ward off people, Pacquiao continued walking, arm-in-arm with Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum.

Pacquiao and his entourage, including her mother Dionesia, chief trainer Freddie Roach, assistant trainer Moorer, Chavit Singson and Wakee Salud, headed near the casino, then proceeded to the elevators en route to his suite.

Pacquiao said he was “surprised so many people turned out.”

“It’s bigger than the (Oscar) De La Hoya one,” referring to his grand arrival for their blockbuster welterweight showdown last December.

Pacquiao, clad in khaki slacks, a dark coat and Kangol cap, said he was ready to do battle with Hatton.

Having reached ideal form, Pacquiao only did early morning running at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas track oval and then sweated it out at the IBA Gym late afternoon.

Under the supervision of conditioning coach Alex Ariza, Pacquiao concentrated on fast twitch muscles drills, designed to enhance his speed without losing power.

Later, Roach guided Pacquiao through his routine—shadow sparring, punching mitts, hitting speed balls, skipping —as they mopped up the plans and strategies to be employed against Ricky Hatton when they clash on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) for the Briton's International Boxing Organization light welterweight crown.

Source: sports.inquirer.net

Hatton-Pacquiao predictions

2009-04-29T01:57:00.000-07:00

Source: ringtv.com

‘Pac-Mom’ makes first U.S. visit to see her son fight

2009-04-28T22:00:00.001-07:00

The situation has played out so many times before in his native Philippines that Manny Pacquiao was nearly unfazed when it occurred Tuesday afternoon in the United States.

But nothing could have prepped Pacquiao’s guest of honor for the mob scene that spilled out at Mandalay Bay.

While all the attention and excitement was strictly reserved for the pound-for-pound king, Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia Pacquiao, couldn’t avoid the swaying sea of humanity that engulfed her son.

“I was started to fill sick,” Dionisia said of the crush of fans and media members who caved in on the “Pac-Man’s” entourage as it exited the touring bus for his grand entrance for Saturday’s megafight against Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand.

“I’m so happy to be here and so proud of my son,” said Dionisia, who only hours earlier touched down in America for the first time ever. “Everything here is so big and the lights are so very bright.”

Her sentiment grew as about 200 fans filled the cramped lobby area of Mandalay Bay, the hotel Pacquiao stayed in for his first Las Vegas fight and has superstitiously requested ever since.

Many in the congregation, like the large media contingent, shot photos and video. A few boxing fans were hoping Pacquiao might autograph a glove or program (no chance, he could barely breathe), but the majority wanted to get as close as possible, possibly even touch the man himself — creating the real cog in the rolling traffic jam.

But Pacquiao kept on walking.

He quickly moved past a small group of fans from Las Vegas who were holding an oversized sign that read “Pac-Man” emblazoned with a photo of the classic video game icon.

“I just love what he represents,” said Christian Bermudez, who was born in the Philipines but grew up in Los Angeles.

“I’ve met him a couple of times and he’s just such a humble guy. He really brings hope and inspiration to so many Filipinos because they see characteristics of themselves within him.”

As the game plan for talking to media members instantly imploded because of the mass of people, Pacquiao took a quick detour.

He strolled past a couple of small children in strollers, who luckily were not injured as the scene shifted inside the casino.

Pacquiao made another slow turn behind the gallery of cameramen now resembling paparazzi, which every few feet had to turn and run to get back in front of the fighter.

But Pacquiao marched on, arm-in-arm with Top Rank Chief Bob Arum, who looked a lot less pleased with the suffocating situation than his prized pugilist.

“We’re gonna have to quit doing these arrivals if there’s not better security,” Arum said later. “Something could have gone terribly wrong.”

It didn’t.

Pacquiao made another maneuver past a few more gawking tourists who quit playing their slots to see what all the fuss was about, and an unsuspecting cocktail waitress, who nearly got bowled over by media members in the madness, to a bank of elevators and the safety of his room high above.

“You’re not just a boxer, you’ve reached official rock star status,” Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz joked with Pacquiao as a handful of reporters looked on inside his suite.

Pacquiao smiled back and said he was “surprised so many people turned out.”

“It’s bigger than the De La Hoya one,” he said of his arrival for his December “Dream Match,” where he dominated Oscar De La Hoya in his final fight.

Five feet away from her son, Pacquiao’s mother took in the brief respite from the crowd and chatted with Pacquiao’s aunt Lilia Lao, who lives in Virginia.

“I’m the one who always meets him at the airport with a big bouquet of flowers,” Lao said. “We’re all so excited for this one.”

So too was Pacquiao, who was decked out in khaki slacks, a dark coat and Kangol cap, who when asked if he was ready to put all the talking behind and settle the matter in the ring, simply replied: “Yes, I’m ready.”

The madness was a little less maddening down the Strip at the MGM when Hatton, decked out a bucket hat, shorts and a Hatton-brand T-shirt, hopped out of a gold limo to a large ovation for his grand arrival.

A couple of velvet rope dividers got knocked over, creating a loud bang, but the real noise came when Hatton entered the makeshift ring with the casino’s gold lion symbol in the center.

“Saturday night there’s gonna be a new pound-for-pound king,” said Hatton, as a small group of Brits began the “There’s only one Ricky Hatton” song to the delight of the few hundred in attendance.

“We love him to bits,” said Peter Johns, a resident of Wolverhampton, England, who traveled with his wife and family as well as a few pint-drinking friends by the names of Nick, Gary and “Sausage.”

“Us Englishmen are very proud and I would have paid 10,000 (British) pounds to watch Ricky. If I had to pay 50,000 pounds, I wouldn’t miss this one,” continued Johns, who insisted that despite being in Las Vegas for Hatton’s only career loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr., that is wasn’t a sign of bad luck.

“There’s no doubt in my mind about this one mate, Ricky’s gonna win by knockout in the eighth.”

The IBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight made his way downstairs to conduct interviews with reporters as well as pose for a few photos in the ring.

“I’m so relaxed, some fights in Vegas, mainly the Mayweather one, was a different occasion,” said Hatton, a 2-to-1 underdog.

“Technically I’m boxing a lot better than I was. Three or four fights ago I think Manny would have beaten me, but I don’t think so now.”

But much like Pacquiao, Hatton said he’s rearing to go on Saturday night and all talked out.

“We haven’t come here to tickle each other,” Hatton joked.

Source: lasvegassun.com

Hatton's impatience will be his downfall - Roach

2009-04-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS — Ricky Hatton’s style of fighting back hard when hit will be his downfall come Saturday night against Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino fighter’s trainer Freddie Roach said on Monday.

“He (Hatton) is not a patient fighter,” said Roach after presiding over Pacquiao’s final workout in Los Angeles. “(Hatton trainer Floyd) Mayweather will try to tell him to box but as soon as Hatton gets hit, he will come forward just like what he’s trained to do and lives to do all his life.”

And that’s when Pacquiao’s brilliance will come to play.

“He will walk into combinations until he gets knocked out,” said Roach, who actually has a vision of what will happen in the opening round.”

“In the first round, I see Manny boxing this guy and frustrate him and I’m sure he (Hatton) won’t find us, and he will take chances and swing from far away. No problem.”

Still, Roach believes Hatton will answer the bell armed to the teeth but it won’t be enough to turn the tables around.

“I’m sure he (Hatton) is also 100 percent in condition and he’s very, very confident. He has the cockiest trainer in the world. He (Mayweather) thinks it’s all about him but it’s all about Manny Pacquiao and the reason why we will win it is because I have the better fighter. There’s nothing to do with the trainers.”

Source: mb.com.ph

Pacquiao trains in Vegas!

2009-04-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

After the media frenzy of his grand arrival earlier today at the Mandalay Bay, Manny Pacquiao closed the doors at Tony Rila’s IBA Gym for a quiet, first workout in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for a photo gallery later tonight with more photos of today’s arrival and Pacquiao’s workout.

Source: fightnews.com

Pacquiao & Hatton in Vegas

2009-04-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels called it “The greatest ring entrance in the history of Las Vegas.” Manny Pacquiao arrived in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay today at 12:30 before a mob of fans, for his Saturday showdown against Ricky Hatton, to be held at the MGM Grand. Plans to sign autographs and greet the crowd were quickly changed due to the size of the pushing, pulling mob, and Pacquiao had to be escorted through the casino to his hotel room.

The mob of fans at the MGM Grand that greeted Ricky Hatton might not have been as large as the one at Mandalay Bay, that came to see Manny Pacquiao, but it was made up of fans who were just as rowdy. Manchester’s “Hitman” arrived on the scene at 1:30 today, for his PPV-televised showdown with Pacquiao Saturday night.

Source: fightnews.com

Ricky Hatton & Manny Pacquiao arrives at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

2009-04-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

Source: brandhatton.com

Pacquiao's Greatest Hits - Part I

2009-04-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

For better or worse, a fighter is defined by his history. Not only is a boxer's reputation shaped by who he fought but also how he fought against them. For example, Sugar Ray Robinson is regarded by most as history's greatest pound-for-pound fighter not because of the numbers that make up his record – for others like Willie Pep sport a superior winning percentage – but because of the way he went about his business.

The films said all that needed to be said for the original Sugar Ray. His stiletto sharp jabs set up dazzlingly fluid combinations that often ended with a crunching left hook, a weapon that in turn rendered his opponents a semi-conscious mess. Moreover, his peerless skill was amplified by the regal aura highlighted by his perfectly slicked hair, the megawatt smile, the lean but powerful musculature and the pink Cadillac he drove around the streets of New York. In his time, Robinson was far more than a boxer but a vibrant sporting character that befitted his status as king of boxing's second most glamorous and historically significant weight class.

In recent months Manny Pacquiao's awe-inspiring scale-hopping deeds have inspired comparisons to another consensus pound-for-pound great – "Hammerin'" Henry Armstrong. The perpetual punching machine pounded his way to simultaneous championships at featherweight, lightweight and welterweight while the Filipino typhoon has already won belts spanning from flyweight to lightweight. On Saturday in Las Vegas, Pacquiao will attempt to win Ricky Hatton's Ring Magazine 140-pound belt and hold off old rival Juan Manuel Marquez for pound-for-pound supremacy.
How did Pacquiao get to this point in his career and which fights best represent his body of work? This two-part series will relive – in chronological order – 10 contests that either relive his most breathtaking knockouts, his most significant victories or, in many cases, both.

December 4, 1998, Tonsuk College Ground, Phuttamonthon, Thailand – KO 8 Chatchai Sasakul: It is difficult to believe that the man who most recently scored a dominant stoppage of onetime WBO middleweight champion Oscar de la Hoya actually held the WBC flyweight title a decade earlier. But win it he did against Sasakul, who ended the five-year reign of Yuri Arbachakov 13 months earlier and notched defenses against Young-Jin Kim (W 12) and Yong-Soon Chang (KO 5).

Aside from his most recent outing seven months earlier against Shin Terao in Tokyo (KO 1), Pacquiao (23-1, 14 KO) had fought exclusively in the Philippines and had not beaten anyone of great consequence. But he had something that was in short supply in the flyweight class – pure one-punch power. All but four of his knockouts came in the first three rounds and at 5-6 he towered over most 112-pounders, including the 5-3 Sasakul (33-1, 22 KO).

Once the opening bell sounded Sasakul proved the boxing truism that timing trumps tall. His savvy side-to-side movement and spearing blows befuddled Pacquiao, who flung wild hooks and crosses that the champion easily sidestepped. A stinging right hook hit Pacquiao flush with 1:50 to go in the second but it lacked the power to discourage the Filipino’s charges. Nevertheless, the 28-year-old Sasakul’s skill made Pacquiao, who was two weeks short of his 20th birthday, look amateurish.

A stiff left knocked Sasakul off balance in the closing moments of the third and a harder left staggered the champ in the fourth but his bursts were too sporadic to change the flow of the fight because the Thai filled the power gaps with textbook boxing.

With the sun sinking toward the horizon of the outdoor stadium, so seemed to be Pacquiao’s hopes for championship glory. Sasakul intelligently granted proper deference to the youngster’s power and while his own blows failed to hurt Pacquiao he inflicted mighty mathematical damage by piling up round after round on the scorecards. Try as Pacquiao might, he couldn’t solve the Riddle of Sasakul and a lopsided decision defeat appeared likely.

Midway through the seventh Pacquiao showed signs of breaking through as he began cutting off the ring and landing more of his venomous lefts. In the eighth, the results of Pacquiao’s relentless pressure and Sasakul’s constant movement began to show. Instead of springing away from the ropes on lively legs, Sasakul opted to slap on a clinch and he seemed more accepting of trying toe-to-toe exchanges. The fact he found success only deepened the temptation to trade.

As future opponents would learn, standing still in front of Pacquiao is a disastrous move. With 30 seconds remaining in the eighth Pacquiao landed a searing left that forced Sasakul to retreat toward the ropes. With the champion finally pinned Pacquiao struck with the final blow, a follow-up left that slammed squarely on Sasakul’s jaw line and neck. The punch caused Sasakul to fall on his face, where he would lie motionless for six seconds. At seven he tried to push himself up, his head poking up like a groundhog looking for his shadow. But he could do no more, for at nine he somersaulted forward onto his back, where referee Malcolm Bulner counted him out.

One of the hallmarks of a future great is his ability to produce under the most trying of circumstances and Pacquiao’s one-punch knockout in the face of prohibitive numerical odds qualifies as the first sign that a potentially special career was in the making.

June 23, 2001, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nev. – KO 6 Lehlohonolo Ledwaba: Pacquiao’s first fight on American soil took place on the undercard of Oscar de la Hoya-Javier Castillejo – and the Filipino wasn’t even the original opponent. Former WBA junior featherweight champion Enrique Sanchez was to have fought IBF 122-pound king Ledwaba but when he fell out Pacquiao was summoned on 10 days’ notice.

The 24-year-old Pacquiao (32-2, 23 KO) was clearly the "B" side of the equation this night. The 29-year-old Ledwaba’s stylish unanimous decision over Carlos Contreras on the undercard of Hasim Rahman-Lennox Lewis I in South Africa wowed HBO’s brass and the clear hope for this, the sixth defense of his two-year reign, was to broaden his appeal in America. Meanwhile, most people who were watching the fight in the arena and on HBO struggled to properly pronounce the Filipino’s surname as they said "Pac-kee-oh" or "Pac-kai-ow" instead of "Pac-kyow."

Pacquiao, who had scored five knockouts in six wins since his prodigious three weight-class jump to 122, would soon give everyone ample reason to learn his name.

The 121-pound challenger pushed the pace from the start as he shot hard lefts to the head and body – shots that Ledwaba (33-1-1, 22 KO) often ducked into. Ledwaba, 122, had trouble exploiting his three-inch reach advantage because he was forced to focus solely on keeping Pacquiao away. In round one Ledwaba threw 28 punches while Pacquiao landed 32.

Following trainer Freddie Roach’s advice, Pacquiao sliced left uppercuts through Ledwaba’s guard in the second while bouncing nimbly on his toes. Just 41 seconds into the round an incredibly fast and short left to the face caused Ledwaba to stumble forward to the canvas. As Pacquiao drove the champion back with a fusillade of heavy blows, HBO analyst Larry Merchant said what many already knew: "Ledwaba came in as the potential star; right now it looks like Pacquiao may go out as the star."

The crowd oohed and aahed at Pacquiao’s fireworks while Ledwaba, with blood trickling from his nose, tried to rally in the round’s final minute. That surge was stopped with yet another scintillating left to the face, a punch that Ledwaba couldn’t seem to stop even if he wanted to.

Pacquiao vibrated with energy as he picked away with jabs and power bursts throughout the third. Blood now poured from Ledwaba’s nose and the crimson stained the champ’s trunks and Pacquiao’s torso. Following a similarly dominant fourth and fifth, Pacquiao scored his second knockdown 31 seconds into the sixth with a trademark cross. As Ledwaba arose at seven his face wore a look of resignation. A final left that scraped the injured nose sent Ledwaba down in agony, prompting referee Joe Cortez to wave off the fight – and signal the start of the greatest run an Asian fighter ever had on North American shores.

June 28, 2002, The Pyramid, Memphis, Tenn. – KO 2 Jorge Eliecer Julio: Seven months after a foul-filled and troubling technical draw against Agapito Sanchez, Pacquiao (32-3-1, 24 KO) defended his IBF junior featherweight belt on the undercard of Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson against Julio.

The 33-year-old Colombian (44-3, 32 KO) was a respected boxer-puncher who had previously held the WBA bantamweight title, but who was making only his second start at 122. Meanwhile, Pacquiao was hoping to revive his budding star in the U.S. after his struggle with Sanchez and because Julio’s manager was Ricardo Maldonado – the same as Sanchez’s – it was thought that he would have Julio employ similarly dirty tactics.

Julio, 122, began the fight trying to impose long-range boxing while staying in the pocket but the 120 ½-pound Pacquiao – introduced as "The Destroyer" – instantly got his respect by landing heavy lefts from the start. Unlike Ledwaba, Julio was not rattled by the Filipino’s power and as a result he connected on several quality counters and held more than his own after a troubling opening minute. An elbow and a low blow by Julio raised the ire of Pacquiao fans but their hero reassured them by landing another succession of power lefts in the final half minute.

More straight lefts by Pacquiao curled around Julio’s defense to start the second and he worked the jab-cross-uppercut combo with great success. Just 15 seconds into the stanza a straight left sent Julio toppling to the floor. After the challenger arose at seven Pacquiao pressed for the kill by backing Julio to the ropes and whaling away with impunity. A barrage of blows registered the second knockdown but Julio, with blood coming out of his right nostril, arose at four and opted to continue.

With victory in sight Pacquiao bludgeoned Julio with a succession of blazing combinations that prompted referee Bill Clancy to intervene at the 1:09 mark. The relief that washed over Pacquiao’s face confirmed that he knew he had to produce to regain his place as a rising star. Because he had reaffirmed his credentials as a fan-friendly whirlwind the talk of future encounters with featherweight stars Naseem Hamed, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera became real again.

July 26, 2003, Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, Calif. – KO 3 Emmanuel Lucero: Before Pacquiao could think of fights with the pound-for-pound stars, he had to take care of one last piece of business at 122 on the undercard of Fernando Vargas-Fitz Vanderpool.

The 24-year-old Lucero entered the bout with a glossy 21-0-1 (12 KO) record but that ledger featured few well-known names. His best wins came against a faded Juan Polo Perez (W 10), Rogers Mtagwa (W 10), John Lowey (W 12) and Frankie Archuleta (W 12) and had fought just twice in the past 12 months. Still, the Mexico City battler was a rugged infighter who wasn’t afraid to mix it up with the powerful Pacquiao.

Pacquiao (36-2-1, 27 KO) entered the bout off a first round KO of Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym at 122 and a fifth round TKO of Serikzhan Yeshmagambetov at featherweight, a bout that saw the Filipino suffer a fourth round knockdown before rebounding with two of his own in the fifth.

Lucero, 121¼, started the bout operating from an extremely low crouch and a peek-a-boo defense while firing both hands to the body. The 120-pound Pacquiao, for his part, laid back and boxed from a distance and had some initial trouble penetrating Lucero’s turtle-like shell, though he experienced more success in the final minute. In the second Lucero winged several inaccurate overhand rights that allowed Pacquiao to find the range with his vaunted left cross. A body shot-left cross combo jarred Lucero, who tried to retaliate with more wild swings. Pacquiao remained calm and calculating as he uncorked studied three-punch flurries and meaningful power blows.

Forty-five seconds into the third Pacquiao applied the finisher. He drilled Lucero with a beautifully timed chopping left that wrenched his neck and clicked off his motor skills. Upon impact Lucero’s knees dipped toward the canvas but after straightening himself he tottered drunkenly toward his corner. The moment he turned his body away from Pacquiao referee Jose Cobian waved off the bout. At that, Lucero dropped to his knees.

For once Pacquiao encountered a fighter that was even more chaotic than himself and because he handled the situation with a champion’s aplomb it marked an important chapter in his development as a fighter. While he appeared to be a calmer and more studious athlete he maintained his flair for the dramatic and Lucero’s curtain-dropping stumble was testament to just how powerful boxing’s smallest athletes can be. That power would manifest itself even more emphatically the next time he stepped between the ropes.

November 15, 2003, Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas – KO 11 Marco Antonio Barrera: With a sparking record of 57-3 (40 KO) and titles at 122 and 126, Barrera was a confirmed pound-for-pound star. After losing the first of what would be a titanic trilogy with Erik Morales, Barrera had won his last eight fights over the likes of Jesus Salud, Naseem Hamed, Morales, Johnny Tapia and Kevin Kelley. He entered the bout as a favorite of both the betting public and the fans that jammed the Alamodome. Even the San Antonio Spurs jersey Pacquiao wore into the ring could not curry the crowd’s favor, but he accepted the hostility by blowing kisses and wearing a Cheshire-like grin.

The fight didn’t start well for Pacquiao (37-2-1, 28 KO), for 26 seconds after the opening bell an apparent trip was counted as a knockdown by referee Laurence Cole. Pacquiao banged his gloves together as he took the count but Barrera successfully fought fire with fire and kept the Filipino on the back foot.

Pacquiao settled down and began to find a rhythm in the second by following Roach’s advice to throw double jab-left cross combos. As he gained confidence he strafed Barrera’s body and caused a small swelling to erupt under Barrera’s left eye. Twenty-nine seconds into the third Pacquiao exacted revenge for the first-round "knockdown" with a wicked left to the point of the chin that dumped Barrera for a seven count. Pacquiao’s lightning-like speed confounded the Mexican veteran, whose head was made to snap with a frequency previously unseen and whose left eye now sported a gash.

Pacquiao soon seized physical and psychological control as he brimmed with energy and forced Barrera to fall back on the boxing skills that were so effective against Hamed. Barrera tried to slow the pace in the fifth but Pacquiao wouldn’t fall for the ruse as he continued to whip punches from both sides. Barrera had a better round in the sixth as two heavy rights prompted Pacquiao to defiantly raise his arms overhead but the bout swung again in the seventh when Pacquiao dramatically worsened Barrera’s eye cut. Barrera, frustrated at his inability to crack the Filipino, wanted Cole to disqualify Pacquiao for an intentional foul but he wouldn’t be given such an easy out. With Barrera clearly rattled, Pacquiao steamed in with an avalanche of blows, an assault that led an exasperated Barrera to intentionally butt Pacquiao in the round’s final moments. Even his fouling was off target as his cranium hit Pacquiao’s chest instead of the face.

Behind on all scorecards Barrera had little choice but to trade with Pacquiao in search of an unlikely knockout but Pacquiao’s multi-punch flurries were too quick to evade or to counter. Barrera continued to complain to Cole for various perceived fouls and when Cole didn’t accommodate him he lashed out with a vicious right to the face during a break, an infraction that forced Cole to subtract a point from Barrera’s score.

By the 10th, with a tidal wave of adverse circumstances overwhelming him, a resigned Barrera shifted his goal away from victory and toward lasting the distance. But Pacquiao, flush with the excitement of scoring the biggest victory of his career to date, would accept nothing less than a knockout. A flurry highlighted by a ferocious right-left floored Barrera for a seven-count in the 11th and the bout ended at the 2:56 mark with Barrera’s cornermen jumping into the ring as their man floundered under yet another withering assault.

On this night, Pacquiao was the personification of the flames that adorned his bright red-and-black trunks and that fire finally vaulted him toward pound-for-pound superstardom. The second installment of this retrospective will relive five more fights that have helped shaped his sure-fire Hall of Fame legacy.

Source: maxboxing.com

The final countdown

2009-04-28T05:39:00.000-07:00

Ricky Hatton is back out in Las Vegas preparing for another crack at the pound-for-pound title.

In the build-up to May 2 you can follow the Hitman's every move with his exclusive fight diary on skysports.com.

Scroll down for Ricky's latest entry as we take you right behind the scenes...

Saturday, April 25

After a hard week the weekend is here, and a good lie-in is welcome. I went for a stroll to Caesars and had some lunch with the lads, then into the casino to play some roulette. Nothing serious.

I have a masseur who calls on weekends, and both me and our Matthew had a good massage.

At weekends we eat out, so we went up to the Palms casino where I bumped into my mate Michael Greco, who is now in charge of entertainment.

We had a great meal in the NOVE restaurant. It's at the top of the Palms overlooking Vegas. The Palms is a great hotel, and it's where I went to watch Oasis after the De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight.

After the meal, it's back to the apartment to watch some DVDs and get an early night.

Sunday, April 26

This is really the start of fight week as the Brits start to come into town. The British press are starting to come over now, too.

Jennifer, my dad and my solicitor and partner in Hatton promotions - Gareth Williams - arrived on the Manchester flight. BMI are stopping the direct route from Manchester to Vegas - I can't understand why.

My television company hattonboxing.tv arrived and I did an interview around the pool at my apartment.

I went into the MGM and noticed they have put some fight merchandise in the shops. You can tell the fight is only a week away as the hotels are busier than normal. It will be crazy on fight night.

I met up with Jennifer and my dad at their hotel, it's great to see the family again after being away for what seems like ages. Mum arrives in the week with the rest of the family.

I went with Jennifer and my dad for a meal at the studio cafe at the MGM. After dinner it was back to my apartment for DVDs and another early night.

Monday, April 27

The first day of the last week in training camp. I am training earlier in the day this week as Manny is sharing the same gym in the afternoon. I worked on the pads with Lee on technique and went through some moves with Floyd.

Gene Kilroy called by the gym. Gene used to work for Muhammad Ali back in the day, and he is a mate of Tom Jones as well. Gene told me that Tom might be singing the British national anthem on fight night. I hope he does - he's brilliant. Whenever I'm in Vegas I like to try and catch his show.

After training I went for a brew at Starbucks and then for a haircut and a pedicure. It feels good getting the blisters and hard skin removed after running up those mountains in my boots.

We called over to the MGM for a Starbucks. They have put a ring in the entrance to promote the fight, and even more Brits are arriving.

I went for a nice jog around Sunset Park and then down to the MGM to meet all the British journalists for a press conference.

Source: skysports.com

I’m prepared, ready to go – Pacquiao

2009-04-28T05:38:00.000-07:00

LAS VEGAS — Holding court in his swanky suite at the 60th floor of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay moments after arriving here Monday night, Manny Pacquiao spoke the language of supreme confidence as he revs up for the biggest bout of his life – a crossroads clash with British banger Ricky Hatton – this weekend at the nearby MGM Grand.

“I have done my part in training and I will just make sure that I maintain this condition until the fight,” Pacquiao told Manila-based scribes. “I am prepared for whatever Hatton brings to the ring.”

It is common knowledge that Pacquiao loves opponents who rush inside but in the event Hatton decides to box from a distance – or even engage him in close quarters combat complete with roughhousing – the pound-for-pound king insists he is ready.

“The people know that my style is in-and-out fighting, waiting for the right time to deliver the power shots but I am also prepared to engage him at close range as I trained heavily for that kind of situation,” said Pacquiao.

It’s been anticipated that Hatton will not waste time in attempting to get his licks in as soon as possible but Pacquiao is optimistic that his quickness and overall skills will frustrate the Manchester native.

Still, Pacquiao politely declines to say at what stage of the fight he will pull the plug on Hatton’s bid.

“It’s hard to say and it’s not for me to say what will happen. Let’s just let our fists do all the talking,” said Pacquiao, who rode in his Lincoln Navigator with wife Jinkee in the 300-mile journey to Sin City from Hollywood.

Pacquiao completed his sparring session earlier in the day in Los Angeles, going four rounds with Uzbek Alisher Rahimov and David Rodela, to rack up 149 sparring rounds since he started banging bodies in the third week of March.

Pacquiao is a -270 favorite, while Hatton is +230, meaning a $270 bet on Pacquiao will win just $100, and a $100 wager on Hatton will win $230.

Meanwhile, formal arrival rites take place Tuesday at noon for Pacquiao at the Mandalay Bay, while Hatton will have his at the neighboring MGM Grand at 1:30 p.m.

The press conference will follow on Wednesday and Friday will be the official weighin.

Source: mb.com.ph

EXCLUSIVE: Hatton on the weakness of Pacquiao

2009-04-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

The Telegraph asked Ricky Hatton, without revealing his game plan, what he has seen he could exploit when he meets Manny Pacquiao in the ring in five days' time ?

"I don't think Manny has the best defence in the world. I know I don't either, but I've been watching a lot of tapes of his fights, studying him very closely with Lee Beard, and he gets hit a fair few times himself, and he has been shaken up in fights, and he has been stopped with body shots in the past by smaller men and men who are not naturally as aggressive as Ricky Hatton."

"Or for that matter, as big, strong and aggressive as Ricky Hatton. There will be chances there, and is he going to be able to take it ?

Of course, I understand he has very very fast hands, that south paw stance, a tricky 'in and out' style and I know I will have to take a shot, but all things considered, the way I am better defensively now, faster hands, setting up my attacks, my angles are better, with my all round skills I think I have an answer in every single department."

When Manny attacks, he runs in off balance, loads up with the left and sometimes misses. I think he is there to hit then, and if I hit him..."

Floyd Mayweather, Hatton's trainer, has also said quite openly that there is a plan "to go downstairs" in the fight. And that means bodyshots. The danger is it may leave Hatton open on the counter, or to upper cuts, which Pacquiao may employ effectively - with the left hand - in this fight.

In four hours I am meeting Ricky Hatton with other members of the British press for our regular Monday evening meeting on fight week...All is quiet at the moment in the MGM Grand, but tomorrow, it will begin to heat up. Look out for a small report on this evening's proceedings with Hatton...

Source: telegraph.co.uk