Pacquiao Wins By Second Round Knock out

What first seemed a long battle ahead in the first round quickly turned into a one sided battle for team Pacquiao. The first few minutes had a few punches exchanged but late in the first round Pacquiao landed a right hook which shocked the British sluggers stance. A follow up combination from Pacquiao drove hatton to the corner and he eventually felt the power of pacmans punches.

The second round was a beautiful display of Pacquiaos skills. His punches went straight to Hattons face and an left uppercut sent the british boxer out cold in the ground. Pacquiao proved once and for all that he is the greatest boxer to date and he deserves the title of pound for pound king.

Congratulations Manny Pacquiao, you have achieved a lot and what most boxers could only dream of. You have made boxing history and the Filipino people is proud of you and all of the boxing fans are proud of you.

Pacquiao and Hatton ready for Vegas boxing spotlight

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — Manny Pacquiao avoided Manila's distracting delights to train in Hollywood so he could better focus upon what he needs to do to win Saturday's showdown fight with England's Ricky Hatton.

After working out for weeks next door to a Thai restaurant where he would eat dinner, the Filipino boxing star has found his focus and is confident he can become a champion in a record-matching sixth different weight division.

"If that happens, people will look at me as my name is on the list with the greatest legends in boxing history and that will be my legacy," Pacquiao said.

"It's very important to me to win six. It's a big honor for my country."

Pacquiao, 48-3 with two drawn and 36 knockouts, and Hatton, 45-1 with 32 knockouts, are set to make their arrivals in Las Vegas on Tuesday to begin the final countdown for a highly anticipated junior welterweight title bout.

"Right now I'm ready to fight. My mind is very complete. I'm into the fight," Pacquiao said. "I can focus more in Hollywood than the Philippines. If I train in the Philippines there are lots of activities, invitations, events."

Hatton has a size advantage while Pacquiao will count upon his superior speed to conquer the Hitman from Manchester, the linear division champion who has never lost at junior welterweight and fights for his own claim on history.

"As long as I'm remembered as one of the best we've ever had. I would be quite content," Hatton said. "People see me as excited in the ring and a good guy to boot. That?s how I'd like to be remembered."

Hatton suffered his only loss in Las Vegas when now-retired Floyd Mayweather stopped him in 2007 in a welterweight fight for the "pound-for-pound" crown now seen as belonging to Pacquiao after his victory over retired Oscar de la Hoya.

"This is the second time I've challenged the front pound-for-pound number one fighter," Hatton said. "We haven't had too many British fighters that could say they were the number one pound-for-pound fighter.

"To be mentioned in some of the same breath as some of Britain?s boxing heroes, that would be spectacular."

Thousands of noisy supporters flocked to Vegas for the Mayweather fight, creating a raucous atmosphere more like a Premiership match than a typical US title bout, singing and chanting for hours at the weigh-in as well.

"I would like to think I've brought some of the best atmosphere fights that Vegas has seen in recent years," Hatton said. "I don't think anybody has drawn an atmosphere and a fan base like that over to the United States."

Hatton knows it's vital he fight better than he fared against Mayweather in his biggest prior fight.

"Well, it?s very important because if I perform like I did last time, I'll get beat again," Hatton said.

Pacquiao has pressure of a different type, stressing that he fights for the honor of his nation. For a man whose bouts silence the weapons of Filipino soldiers, the tension is huge.

"The pressure is there but I don't want to put in my mind anything about that," Pacquiao said. "I want to focus on the work and try to make people happy with my performance."

Pacman Prepares for the Battle

At Manny Pacquiao’s present peak - idolised by Filipinos throughout the world and considered to be boxing’s best pound-for-pound exponent before next weekend’s £50m superfight against the Hitman from Manchester, Ricky Hatton - it would be easy to disregard how his long journey began. Before he made his American debut in 2001 on the undercard of a bout involving Oscar de la Hoya, the Golden Boy whom he beat into retirement four months ago in Las Vegas, “PacMan” was another obscure fighter from Asia, an alphabet world title-holder and talented, but easily overlooked by the big players in his sport’s traditional, more lucrative strongholds.

Not that Pacquiao was deterred by indifference. On the streets of Manila, homeless and penniless, he had encountered much worse. Speaking inside his new workplace, the Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood, he says: “Before I got to Manila I worked as a baker back in Bukidnon. I was a child but it was the only way I could put bread on the table for my family. In Manila I was on my own and had to work to survive. I worked in construction, painted houses and sewed clothes in a factory and all the time I trained to be a fighter. Other people may forget this but I will never forget. This is what drives me to be the champion I am for my people.”

This explains why his apartment near the gym has been occupied by more than 20 people at a time over the past couple of months (a conservative count) with sleeping bags spread out across the floor each night right up to his bedroom door.

Pacquiao, brought up a Catholic and still deeply religious, takes his faith and his position as a standard-bearer for his people seriously. Even strangers who turn up at his home in General Santos City in the south of the Philippines, which they do incessantly, looking for money and food parcels, are never turned away from his door. “God has given me a gift and it is my duty to share the fruits of this gift with my people,” he says.

Freddie Roach, his trainer, often shakes his head in despair that Pacquiao could end up penniless through simple acts of generosity. Members of Team Pacquiao, the entourage who surround the boxer, can pocket $3,000 from their little cash cow this afternoon just by weighing in at 10% less than they did when training camp began.

Pacquiao is preparing to go to war for the 53rd time in a career in which he has secured 47 wins, 35 by stoppage, losing three fights and drawing two. He has boxed only once at lightweight - 9st 9lb - against the durable David Diaz and once more at welterweight - 10st 7lb - when he beat the carcass of De la Hoya, so his assault on the light-welterweight (10st) division which Hatton still rules will yield no automatic conquest, given that he began his career in 1995 as a 7st 8lb light-flyweight. “Speed will be very important in this fight,” Pacquiao declared, echoing the sentiments of Roach, who has predicted that Hatton will not last beyond the third round. “I expect Ricky Hatton to be 100% committed and fast and strong, and I know he has a very strong left hand, which I have to be careful about. But I am the better boxer and boxing is psychological - the quickness of your mind can make all the difference. I have been defeated before, so I know what it is like, but a lot of people in the Philippines are willing me to win and praying for me. The guns are silent in the street every time I fight. There is no fighting, no crime. I would fight every day just for my people, if the guns will stay silent. These are the thoughts I carry to the r i n g a n d t h e y a r e p o w e r f u l thoughts. I am not trying to win this fight alone.”

Hatton, beaten only once in 46 fights and never at light-welterweight, does not walk alone himself, though some prefight assessments of Pacquiao’s prowess have persuaded the Mancunian to suggest that he ought to be making way for Godzilla, so apathetic is the fight crowd when considering his chances. “People are looking at the Oscar performance and suggesting that Pacquiao will finish my career, too, but he won’t,” Hatton says. “Oscar was like a walking corpse that night but I have plenty left in the tank. Manny is in for one hell of a shock when he realises just how much boxing ability and hand speed I have. I can fight going backwards, too, and I know he can’t. He does all of his punching on the front foot. He shuffles in and out constantly but when he punches he’s always coming forward. He doesn’t get leverage on the back foot and, in order to punch on his front foot, he will have to come into my territory.

“Everyone expected Paulie Malignaggi to out-jab and outspeed me last November but I was the one beating him to the punch and dominating. Pacquiao has improved his technique over the years but he’s as easy to hit now as he’s always been and he’s been shaken up several times and stopped twice by body shots. If a couple of flyweights have been able to stop him, what do you think I’ll be able to do, the biggest man he will ever have faced outside of Oscar?”

Alas, little big men come no bigger than Pacquiao, whose swarming attack is “like a typhoon from across the Pacific”. American TV analyst Larry Merchant coined the phrase. Hatton will get to know the feeling.

TALE OF THE TAPE
Ricky Hatton, inset Record46 wins, 1 defeat, 32 KOs Age30Height5ft 7½inReach65in StrengthsCan dominate most opponents physically at 63.5kg (10st); unbeaten as a light-welterweight; body punches WeaknessesVulnerable to speed and susceptible under pressure; waning punch resistance; struggles against southpaws; cuts Manny Pacquiao Record48 wins, 3 defeats, 2 draws, 36 KOs Age30Height5ft 6½inReach67in StrengthsFootwork; hand speed; southpaw stance; straight left hand to chin WeaknessesVulnerable to body punches; questionable chin; tendency to overreach

Amir Khan accepts he may have to face Ricky Hatton at some stage

The prospect of a clash between Ricky Hatton and Amir Khan has always seemed remote, but Khan admitted for the first time yesterday that a bout between Britain’s two best-known active boxers could happen one day.

Khan challenges Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA light-welterweight title, a belt once held by Hatton, at the O2 arena, southeast London, on June 27. But stepping up to Hatton’s division and winning a world title could put the 22-year-old on a collision course with the man he regards as a friend and hero.

“Ricky is a good friend, but it’s sport so sometimes friends have to fight each other to find out who’s the best in the division,” Khan said. “But I’d rather have him in my corner supporting me in my big fights than be against me. It will be interesting to see what happens after this.”

The bout would become more likely if Khan beats Kotelnik and Hatton loses to Manny Pacquiao, whom he faces in Las Vegas on May 2. Like Pacquiao, Khan is trained in Los Angeles by Freddie Roach. Khan flies to the United States tomorrow and revealed that he will be in Las Vegas next week training alongside Pacquiao.

“Freddie wanted me to go to Las Vegas so he can finish Manny’s camp and then start mine,” Khan said.

“Manny and Ricky are both friends, but I’m just going to stay neutral and enjoy the fight.”

ITV will screen Carl Froch’s WBC super-middleweight title defence against Jermain Taylor on Sunday night. It will be shown on ITV4 at 8.30pm and again on ITV1 at 11.15pm. There has been outrage in boxing circles after no British broadcaster bid for the rights to screen the bout live, which takes place in the early hours of Sunday at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

- To watch the bout live in the UK, it will be available on the internet for £9.95 on www.frochvtaylor.com and there will be live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Hatton-Pacquiao tickets sold out

The Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao world junior welterweight championship match on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas has officially sold out, the card's promoters announced Tuesday.

The Garden Arena has a seating capacity of 17,157 but holds just over 16,000 when it is configured for boxing.

Tickets for the Hatton-Pacquiao event ranged from $1,000 (for ringside seats) to $150. There was a two-ticket limit per person for tickets priced $150, and a limit of 10 for the other prices ($1,000, $750, $500 and $300).

Closed circuit tickets are still available at Mandalay Bay, Mirage, TI, Monte Carlo, Circus Circus, Luxor and New York-New York.

The championship bout will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

After Hatton, Pacquiao groomed to fight Cotto

Bob Arum swears he is not looking past Ricky Hatton, but the Hall of Fame promoter already has a big-named opponent lined up for Filipino star Manny Pacquiao, who is set to rumble with the brash Briton on May 2 in Las Vegas.

“Miguel Cotto,” Arum told the Bulletin over lunch at Manila Hotel Friday hours after arriving from the US.

Arum said Cotto, a native of Puerto Rico, is fighting Joshua Clottey of Ghana on June 13 at Madison Square Garden in New York, and Pacquiao himself has told him that meeting Cotto is tops in his mind.

“We can do it at Madison Square Garden,” said Arum, noting that Pacquiao will be at ringside when Cotto squares off with Clottey in the Big Apple.

However, Arum reveals that should a fight with Cotto happen, it will not take place until late-November.

“Manny told me that after this one (with Hatton), he would be available to fight next in late-November,” said Arum, who is in town to preside over Sunday morning’s double world championship fight at the Araneta Coliseum featuring flyweight champion Nonito Donaire and light-fly title challenger Brian Viloria.

Arum cited that Hatton could pose problems for Pacquiao and while “anything can happen in boxing, (but) “speed kills and nine out of ten, speed wins as in any other sport.”

Besides, Arum rationalizes, “Hatton can’t fight southpaws.”

Arum said Pacquiao’s left-handed stance and his lightning-fast hands would mess up Hatton that the fight will end in the same manner Pacquiao won over David Diaz.

“Pacquiao figures to win and Pacquiao figures to win big,” said Arum, a seventy-something Harvard-educated lawyer from New York.

“Manny and Freddie have all this figured out.”

Told that the now-retired Floyd Mayweather Sr. appears to be the right choice for a post-Hatton fight, Arum said this early that “Mayweather wants “60 percent” of the revenue and “I feel right now that Manny deserves the bigger percentage because he is the star.”

Another option is for Pacquiao to battle Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. “in a catchweight of 150 lbs,” said Arum.

'New Hatton' boasts of quickness, power

MANILA, Philippines - If you think Manny Pacquiao is fast, wait till you see Ricky Hatton.

The new Ricky Hatton.

In the first episode of HBO’s Pacquiao vs. Hatton 24/7, a four-part, four-week series that gave the cable giant all the access it needed to cover the training of the two boxers, Hatton has displayed quickness never seen from him before.

Under the guidance of his new trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., Hatton believes that the only way to beat Pacquiao is to match his speed. According to British superstar, no one, not even Pacquiao, can match his power at 140 lbs.

“It was a case of, after seven weeks in training camp, ‘bang, look at me, a new fighter,’” Hatton said in a Times Online article that came out yesterday.

“It has been miles better this time with Floyd,” added Hatton, in the last three weeks of training at the IBA Gym in Las Vegas, the same gym Pacquiao uses when he’s there.

“The more time you spend with him, you get used to him. I’m faster now than how I was at the end of the last training camp,” said Hatton, in his second fight under Mayweather.

The Times Online article added that Hatton, under Mayweather, has given a little on strengthening (which he’d always done under Billy Graham), and has focused on “speed and sharpness.”

The HBO series, which came off the racks the other day, showed Hatton in training, trying to develop and hone his speed.

But Pacquiao doesn’t believe that 10, 12 or 13 weeks of training under Mayweather can change or make Hatton a new fighter.

“Sa tingin ko ‘yun pa din ‘yung Hatton na makakalaban ko (I think it’s the same Hatton I’d be up against),” said Pacquiao in recent interviews.

And that’s the Hatton he knows, always there in front of you, moving in, trying to wrestle his opponent. The British superstar is notorious for holding and hitting, and may work like an octopus.

“Hindi naman nila mababago ang style nila ganoon kabilis (They can’t change their style overnight),” said Pacquiao, still confident that come May 2, at the MGM Grand, Hatton will always be one step behind.

- By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Unbeaten knockout artist wants Pacquiao, Hatton, Marquez

By Dino Maragay

MANILA, Philippines – Fresh from a two-round annihilation of Antonio Pitalua to clinch the WBC lightweight title, undefeated puncher Edwin Valero of Venezuela has expressed desire to face the big names in the 135- and 140-pound divisions.

"If Manny Pacquiao or Hatton give me an opportunity, I would consider moving up and fighting them," Valero (25-0, 25 KOs) said in a report by BBC.

In destroying contender Pitalua last Sunday, the heavy-handed Valero kicked off his journey to superstardom.

"This is the beginning of big things. No man can take my punch," said Valero, who has stopped all his 25 opponents, including 19 in the first round.

But in campaigning as a lightweight, Valero has also set his crosshairs on the division’s lineal champion, Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico.

"Marquez is a little better than any of the others," said Valero, a former superfeatherweight champion. "If it was up to me, I would want that fight (Marquez), but it is up to (promoters) Bob Arum and Golden Boy to make it happen."

Marquez is with Golden Boy Promotions, while Valero fights under Top Rank, the same promotional firm handling Pacquiao.

Amir Khan Speaks On Hatton-Pacquiao Fight, Barrera Rematch

In separate interviews - one with Sky Sports, the other with The Sun newspaper - Amir Khan has been talking about the upcoming super-fight between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao, and the demands some have made for him to face Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch. The 22-year-old wannabe world champion/mega-star is in two minds as to who will win in Las Vegas on May 2nd, but he is 100-percent sure about the Barrera situation - there will be no rematch.

Khan spoke first to Sky Sports News about the mouth-watering light-welterweight clash that takes place in less than a months time.

"I think it's going to be fun because Manny Pacquiao has got the speed and the explosiveness and so has Ricky Hatton - he is very explosive as well" Khan said. "I don't think Manny Pacquiao has been hit in the body by a good body puncher like Ricky Hatton. I think once Ricky puts the pressure on with those body shots and bombs on the body..... you don't know.

"And the pressure, can Manny Pacquiao handle the pressure or can Ricky Hatton handle the speed of Manny Pacquiao?"

Khan, like many of us, is hugely excited about the big fight. Also like a number of us, he cannot pick a winner.

"It's a 50-50 fight because both fighters are at the top of their game," Khan went on. "They have had good wins, good wins in their previous fights. It is a 50-50 fight and I am just going to go there and enjoy the night."

Way to sit on the fence, Amir!

In speaking to The sun about his win over Marco Antonio Barrera, Khan was far more sure about things. Though Don King has filed an official protest and has demanded a return due to the way his fighter was seriously hindered due to the cut he suffered in the 1st round, Khan says the return match will not happen. Perhaps the March fight should've been ruled a No-Contest, as King maintains, but Khan says there is no way he will box the Mexican for a second time.

"There is no point in fighting Barrera again, Khan said. "Before I boxed him there were experts lining up to tell me I shouldn't fight him because he was a dangerous big puncher. After I beat him those experts said Barrera was over-the-hill. So if I beat an over-the-hill fighter again what would it mean - nothing."

Though many fans will argue with Khan, it seems the lightweight contender has made up his mind. According to The Sun, Khan's next fight is scheduled to take place on June 27th, with former world champ David Diaz the "preferred" opponent.

What Don King will make of this we will have to wait and see.

Source: by James Slater http://www.eastsideboxing.com/

Bridesmaid Marquez may get Hatton leftovers as Pacquiao fights Mayweather

By Michael Marley

To some fight fans, the May 2 Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao fight result is like the title of an old R.E.M. album, “Automatic for the People.”

The People, in this case, are the worldwide legion of Pacfanatics, including those millions of Overseas Foreign Workers who spend 11 months year away from their beloved homeland earning a living as best they can. I woke up to the reality of the OFW’s two years ago when I got a friendly phone call on Christmas morning from a Pacmaniac living in United Arab Emirates (UAE, not to be confused with the WBO, WBC, WBA or the IBF).

Whether they admit or not, the majority of Pacquiao supporters think their Idol will slap the plucky Brit from pillar to post. Comments by another idol, Coach Freddie Roach, likening the bout to Hearns vs. Hagler just feed into this line of thought.

I must plead guilty here as well since, to use Mickey Duff's favorite expression, "I must be honest with you."

On paper, I can't see how the limited Hatton can outbox or outbrawl Megamannymonster. But, hey, they're figting on canvas and not on paper.

We can wish that MP-Hatton could be as awesome as Marveloso and the Hitman were that night at Caesars Palace. I was privileged to have a ringside perch at this classic and I just can’t see the comparison to Ricky and Manny.

Hearns nearly knocked lefty Hagler in a vicious first round but, and this was never offered as an excuse, Thomas badly hurt his right hand, his power paw, as they wqent hammer and tong.

Hagler bounced back to stop Hearns in the third round as he fight ferociously upon realizing he had suffered a cut.

That’s one of the all-time classic fights so it’s unrealistic to hold Pacman and Hatton to such a lofty standard.

With what I would estimate north of 90 percent of Pacfans expecting their man to thrash Hatton, attention naturally turns to what comes next.

Enter, stage left, the mercuriual Money May, Floyd Mayweather the ring emperor who will return to push this inauthentic king, Pacman, off his Pound For Pound throne.

That’s a C.R.E.A.M fight meaning Cash Rules Everything Around Me.

It will happen because it is the mother lode of makeable super fights.

But I take the future fight less traveled road. I was wondering the other day what Pac nemesis (or is it vice versa?) and Mexican ringmaster Juan Manuel Marquez will do next. He just can’t sit and wait on a third fight with Manny forever.

I was chatting about same with Joan Guzman manager Jose Nunez and his reasoning led me to this ultimate conclusion.

Juan Ma isn’t going to fight KO King Edwin Valero (25-0, batting average 1,000) anytime soon.

Valero promoter Bob Arum knows that and he knows why. As he’s said, for all his fistic fury, Valero remains a figure known only to the thimble full of hardcore fight nuts.

So what does JMM do? He’ll do what’s best financially for himself and what’s best for promoter Golden Boy.

Marquez will travel to Manchester, maybe at year’s end or maybe early in 2010, to fight hometown hero Hatton.

Hatton will make some kind of showing against Manny, maybe even lasting 12 rounds, but he will lose.

Not a single Hattonite will desert Ricky. Neither will British TV.

There’s gold there amongst the Mancunians. Where Marco Antonio Barrera just went, Marquez will travel.

Due to his well-documented lifestyle, Hatton’s shelf life cannot be extended long.

The Goldens will look to milk him after the Pacquiao bout. After three or four months on holiday, Hatton will be ready to go to the post once again.

Marquez beats Hatton maybe more easily than Manny does.

But take heart, Pacmaniacs.

Win or lose against Mayweather, the Pacman-Marquez Chapter 3 will be written in 2010 also.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/

Pacquiao Greatest Fight: Pacquiao VS Morales II

Pacquiao defeated Morales via a 10th-round KO in a much-anticipated rematch on January 21, 2006 in Las Vegas at Thomas and Mack Center. This fight proved to be a back and forth thriller. Where Mexican's pride and future hall of famer, Morales, sought to clinch a second victory over Pacquiao, but his years of war became apparent when his legs were getting shaky towards the latter rounds after controlling the first seven rounds (similar to the first fight). It was here where everyone witnessed Pacquiao become a legend. He had improved his technical skill set, including defense and a pretty good right hook. Also, his overwhelming and relentless attack fueled by his seemingly unfading conditioning was apparent in the latter rounds. This would prove to be the case versus future opponents.

Hatton Greatest Fights: Hatton VS Tszyu

On 5 June 2005 Hatton beat Kostya Tszyu, then widely regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world by a technical knockout after the Australian failed to answer the bell for the 12th round. Hatton was a heavy underdog for this fight, and the victory announced his entry to the upper echelons of the world boxing scene. Prior to the fight the majority of boxing critics had given Hatton little or no chance and this victory was regarded as one of the best victories by an English boxer in the last 20 years. On 26 November 2005 Hatton won the WBA title when he defeated Carlos Maussa in the ninth round of a unification bout. In December, Hatton was named the 2005 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year.^[9]

Hatton relinquished his IBF belt on 29 March, 2006 after refusing to fulfil a mandatory defence against number one contender Naoufel Ben Rabah, because he intended to move up to the welterweight class. Hatton signed a three fight contract with Dennis Hobson's fight academy after splitting from long time promoter Frank Warren. The three fights would take place in the United States.

Fight will be short and sweet

Those hoping for a long, bitter struggle between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton on May 2 won’t get it.

“It’s going to be short and sweet,” said Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, during Monday’s red-carpet meeting between the two great boxers and their trash-talking handlers in Hollywood.

Roach said it could or should be over in three rounds.

“I think it’s going to be the best three rounds you’ve ever seen. Ricky is going to force the action and Manny is going to respond to it. But Manny is going to get him early and I believe he will knock him out in the early rounds.”

Even Mark Wahlberg, the rapper, actor, endorser and producer rolled into one said during the press conference he doesn’t expect the fight to last the distance.

The 38-year-old celebrity, who ran a series of underwear ads for Calvin Klein before he became a movie star, is Roach’s friend, and is obviously rooting for Pacquiao.

“Freddie is the best,” said Wahlberg who visited Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym as the latter trained for his Oscar dela Hoya fight last December.

“We know what he did to Dela Hoya and he’s going to do the same to Hatton. Obviously, the winner will fight Floyd Mayweather (Jr.),” he said in a video clip posted on the net by Lance Pugmire of the LA Times.

The world is waiting for that Pacquiao-Mayweather fight although Bob Arum, the promoter of the Pinoy icon, and Roach are not too keen on fighting the ex-pound-for-pound champion.

But Pacquiao could be open to anything.

“For me – if I’m Floyd – I would fight a tune-up fight and then fight me,” Pacquiao told FanHouse.com. “That’s for me, but I don’t know what his plan is. He might want to fight me right away.”

“I think he’s going to fight again. He’s not really retired,” added Pacquiao of the American who retired last year undefeated in 39 fights.

During the same press conference, Roach traded jabs with Hatton’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr.

“Pacquaio’s going to go from first class to coach, because of the Roach,” said Mayweather Sr., so flamboyant he can move around in a pink suit.

Then, according to reports, chants of “Man-ny! Man-ny!” filled the room, and Pacquiao, as if on cue, took the microphone by saying “I fight for freedom. I fight for Scotland” the way it was delivered by actor Mel Gibson in his epic film “Braveheart.”

“They’ve got Roach in the Hall of Fame (when) he should be in the Hall of Shame,” added Mayweather Sr.

Roach didn’t take it sitting down.

“Floyd can read some good poems that’s all he’s good at that I know of. What has Floyd Senior achieved? His son’s a natural-born fighter. His brother, Roger, trained him anyway. Floyd never trained his son for a world title fight. He tells me he’s the greatest but what has he done? He trained Oscar De La Hoya after Oscar has already won four world titles. Floyd is a legend in his own mind,” said Roach on the TimesOnline.

- By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Hatton: Pacquiao's De La Hoya win a fluke

By SOLANGE REYNER,Associated Press Writer AP

LOS ANGELES - Ricky Hatton thinks Manny Pacquiao's big win over Oscar De La Hoya in December was a fluke. Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) is counting on beating the Filipino star on May 2 in Las Vegas.

"Any win against Oscar is a magnificent one. Is that the Oscar De La Hoya we have come to love? I don't think so," Hatton said. "And only Oscar can say what happened on the scales. He looked a shell of the Oscar we know. I don't think it was hard to beat Oscar that night."

Pacquiao (48-3-2) and Hatton were at a red carpet event at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to promote the junior welterweight title fight for the first and only time in the U.S.

Actor Mickey Rourke walked the red carpet, as did UCLA men's basketball coach Ben Howland and former NFL linebacker Willie McGinest.

Pacquiao wants the IBO title, which belongs to Hatton.

But Hatton thinks he will have a leg up against one of the sport's best pound-for-pound fighters.

"A lot of people are seeing it as size versus speed and a lot of people thought Paulie Malignaggi would outspeed me and that wasn't the case and that was only after seven weeks with my new training team," Hatton said.

"We're even quicker again. If you could see how fast I'm performing, there's not that big a gap there. Ultimately I think size will play a big factor. He has dangers in other areas, like his speed and footwork but I'm boxing a lot cuter than I was a few years ago."

Pacquiao is known for his speed. But he could be fighting his biggest opponent in Hatton. Pacquiao was fighting in the super featherweight division last March and weighed 129 pounds. He moved up to welterweight to fight De La Hoya, who lost weight for the matchup.

De La Hoya didn't come out of his corner after the eighth round. Hatton suggested that De La Hoya tried to make weight too early.

"That's what people believe. Maybe they were rooting for Oscar and maybe they were fans of Oscar," Pacquiao said. "It's hard to make reasons or alibis after the fight. It's not good."

Pacquiao told reporters he weighs 148 pounds. He is training with Freddie Roach in Hollywood and said camp was going well.

Hatton, who is training in Las Vegas, said he was feeling good at 150.

"We started training camp earlier, started sparring earlier, started running earlier. It's just because of the size of the fight. It's a fight I massively believe I can win. A boxer can't get any higher if he's the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, so I need to just go about me business more so than ever."

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/

Hatton to 'shock' Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – British slugger Ricky Hatton bared that current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will be in for a “shock” when they share the ring on May 2.

“I really think I'm the boss over my opponents with my size and strength and with my extra boxing ability now which, from what I've heard from the Pacquiao camp I don't think they've prepared for, they're going to be in for a shock,” Hatton told Gareth Davis of The Daily Telegraph.

Tapering of his UK training yesterday, Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) left for Las Vegas to resume his preparation for the megabuck fight with Pacquiao, adding that he is in “the best shape of his life.”

Additionally, the Manchester-based Hatton boasted that he is ahead of schedule.

"I've still got five weeks to go and at a push I could be ready in a couple of weeks, so I have to be careful not to overdo it now. But I've got a fair few fights under my belt now and I've got a bit of experience so I can't see that happening, and I'm in perfect shape for training camp," he said.

Hatton, labeled by some boxing pundits as a one-dimensional, come-forward slugger, declared that he has undergone significant changes that would make him a better all-around fighter.

"The difference is I'm back using my head. I'm back using my jab, throwing combination punches. I've got a little bit more finesse and I'm thinking about what I'm doing instead of steaming in there and making it easy for my opponents so I'm better in every department now,” he said.

Hatton added that he is not about to lose in the 140-pound division, having stayed undefeated at the weight class for 44 fights. His lone defeat was at welterweight, one division north, against former pound-for-pound boss Floyd Mayweather.

Though he recognizes his opponent’s qualities, Hatton expressed sheer confidence and issued a stern warning to Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs).

"It's a tough fight, he's a southpaw, he's very, very quick, he's a decent puncher, but this is my division," Hatton said.

The Pacquiao-Hatton fight is dubbed "The Battle of East and West."

- By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Hatton Greatest Fights: Hatton vs. Lazcano

On 24 May 2008, Hatton beat Mexican Juan Lazcano by unanimous decision with scores of 120-110, 120-108 and 118-110, in front of his home crowd of 55,000 (a post-World War II record for a boxing match in Britain), at City of Manchester Stadium to retain The Ring Magazine and IBO light welterweight titles. Hatton did well when he boxed and controlled the range, utilizing his jab and dominating a lot of the early exchanges. In round eight, Hatton absorbed a left hook to the chin that wobbled him, and in round ten, Hatton was hurt again by a left hook. Despite that, Hatton outworked Lazcano to win at least ten of the rounds.

Pacquiao Greatest Fights: Pacquiao vs Marquez 2

On March 15, 2008, in a rematch against Juan Manuel Márquez called "Unfinished Business", Pacquiao won via a disputed split decision in a close, hard fought battle in which Pacquiao knocked Marquez down in round 3. Pacquiao won the WBC and The Ring super featherweight belts, making him the first Filipino to win three world titles in three different weight divisions (Pacquiao was a former WBC flyweight champion and former IBF super bantamweight champion).

During the postfight interview, Marquez’s camp called for an immediate rematch. Richard Schaefer, GBP CEO, offered a $6-million guarantee to Pacquiao for a rematch. Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, still stinging from the less-than-stellar revenue from Kelly Pavlik’s immediate rematch with Jermain Taylor, said the fight will probably happen but only after there is time to “put a little air under it.” Pacquiao, for his part, said "I don't think so, this business is over" because he planned to move to lightweight (135 lbs) to challenge David Díaz, the reigning WBC lightweight champion at that time. Diaz won the majority decision over Ramon Montano that night as an undercard of the "Unfinished Business" fight.

Hatton Greatest Fights: Hatton v Collazo

Ricky Hatton won against Luis Collazo by unanimous decision on the 13th of May 2006. Venue of the fight is on Boston, Massachusetts. Hatton won the WBA Welterweight title, which was vacated on 31 August 2006.

Hatton's tribute to Floyd

RICKY Hatton has paid tribute to trainer Floyd Mayweather sr for getting him in top shape and rejuvenating his career.

There were some who felt he should have hung up his gloves after a sloppy win over Juan Lazcano last May.

However, after joining forces with Mayweather - father of the Floyd jr, the only man to beat Hatton in 46 contests - the Mancunian has been revitalised.

He beat Paulie Malignaggi in November and now is just six weeks away from a fight with Manny Pacquiao, currently the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, in Las Vegas on May 2.

The 30-year-old's problems with his fluctuating weight are well-documented but after completing the British leg of his preparations Hatton feels fitter than ever.

"My weight is right down, I'm in great shape. Ricky 'Fatton' has disappeared," said the IBO light-welterweight champion.

"I've never been as down on my weight. I'm pretty much at the weight - 154lbs - which I will be on the night.

"As the fight gets nearer I will get faster, sharper and more explosive.

"It is great being ahead of schedule in that it gives you a luxury. I'd rather be ahead now than chasing it later on.

"I have to be careful I don't over-cook it but I - and Floyd - are too long in the tooth, boxing-wise, to let that happen."

Hatton and Mayweather freely admit they are polar opposites in terms of the type of people they are but they appear to have discovered a winning formula.

"I needed a new lease of life after the Lazcano fight. Floyd has brought my boxing ability back, got me using my jab," Hatton added.

"We are very different but it works. We are really comfortable together.

"The last training camp (pre-Malignaggi) we were under pressure. Everyone thought I was past it and going off the boil.

"When you think of the improvements in the Paulie Malignaggi fight - we were only together seven weeks and for the first two or three we had to get used to each other.

"From the first day Floyd came back here (to prepare for Pacquiao) we have started from a higher platform.

"I am really excited by the performance I can produce. It should be a damn sight better with another training camp under our belts."

With Mayweather jr reportedly ready to make a comeback Hatton has not given up hope of a rematch with the man who ended his unbeaten record.

However, he knows it is too dangerous to look beyond the Pacquiao fight.

"I would like to finish the year off fighting Juan Manuel Marquez - he's number two in the pound-for-pound ratings - and in doing that and establishing myself as number one I'd like to think I'd get a rematch with Mayweather," he added.

"Those three fights will see me to the end of my career. But I can't look at Marquez or Mayweather yet as I'm fighting Pacquiao."

Source: http://www.rickyhitmanhatton.com/

17 experts pick Manny Pacquiao to defeat Ricky Hatton

The current issue of The Ring magazine has 21 pages dedicated to coverage of the upcoming fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. One of the features has 20 experts predicting the winner of the fight and 17 have picked Pacquiao. The three experts who have selected Hatton are Steve Bunch (television commentator) by late-round stoppage; Mark Collings (Esquire UK) mid- to late-round stoppage and Stuart Brennan (Manchester Evening News), possibly late-round stoppage.

Interestingly, two men who have fought Hatton -- Paulie Malignaggi and Luis Collazo -- both pick Pacquiao to win. And David Diaz, who fought Pac Man, also picks Manny by TKO.

by Bobby Cassidy

Source: http://weblogs.newsday.com

It's all work for Pacquiao at Wildcard Gym in LA

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao resumed his training at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), putting behind the controversy that could have stirred up a hornet's nest.

GMA News' 24 Oras reported that Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao's assistant trainer, jacked up Pacman's sparring sessions to six rounds to keep the Filipino boxing icon in top form.

“Slowly we will increase the number of rounds of his sessions until he reaches his peak. Before it was only five rounds now we are doing six and we would add more as the fight nears," Fernandez said in Filipino.

To make Pacman more focussed on his training, Team Pacquiao prohibited media coverage at the Wildcard Gym and scheduled autograph signing and photo sessions with the boxer only every Saturday.

It was apparent that Pacquiao was already working out at ease after he was able to settle his dispute with Solar Entertainment Corporation over the latter's right to air Pacquiao's match with British champ Ricky Hatton.

Last week, Pacquiao decided to rescind his contract with Solar Sports and personally gave the rights of airing his scheduled May 2 fight against Ricky Hatton to ABS-CBN.

The Filipino boxing icon, however, changed his mind and honored his existing contract with Solar, which has the rights of airing all of his future fights until 2011. Pacquiao met with Solar officials led by president and chief executive officer Wilson Tieng and chief operating officer Peter Chanliong last Friday to discuss the terms of his contract.

According to Pacquiao, ABS-CBN failed to keep its promise to not air his video statement until he has proven that Solar did not violate any provisions in their contract.

But according to ABS-CBN, Pacquiao gave them his consent to air his recorded statement. However, they still respect Pacquiao’s decision of sticking with Solar Sports.

GMA Network president and chief executive officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, meanwhile, welcomed Pacquiao’s decision of honoring his contract with Solar.

“Pacquiao made a bold statement during the press conference organized by GMA and Solar Sports when he said that ABS reneged on their commitment not to air the video of his transfer until after he has proven the breach of contract on Solar’s part," said Gozon in a statement.

Gozon even admired Pacquiao for his courage in admitting his faults. “It’s now time to move forward and forget everything that happened. GMA wishes for Pacquiao’s victory against Hatton." – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv

Hatton Greates Fights: Hatton vs Malignaggi

Ricky Hatton fought Paulie Malignaggi of the United States at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas on 22 November for Hatton's IBO Light Welterweight title and Ring Magazine Light welterweight title.[28] He was trained for the fight by Floyd Mayweather, Sr..[29] Hatton dominated for all of the fight and defeated Malignaggi by 11th-round TKO when Malignaggi's trainer, Buddy McGirt, threw in the towel 48 seconds into the round.
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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/

Pacquiao Greatest Matches: Pacquiao Vs Diaz

On June 28, 2008, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Pacquiao defeated David Díaz via ninth-round knockout to become the WBC lightweight champion. With the victory, Pacquiao became the only Filipino and Asian boxer to win four major titles in four weight classes and also became the first Filipino fighter to ever win a world title at lightweight. The fight ended at 2:23 of the ninth round and was viewed by 8,362 spectators. Bob Arum announced that Pacquiao is most likely to fight November 15 versus 130-lb Venezuelan champion Edwin Valero or Humberto Soto in Planet Hollywood, and he also mentioned the name of WBA, WBO, and IBF lightweight champ Nate Campbell. "I can fight in November," Pacquiao stated, "Who I fight is the job of my promoter (Bob Arum)." Diaz had his best payday, $850,000, and Pacquiao earned at least $3 million.

Roach: Hatton out in three

MANILA, Philippines – Ricky Hatton, be warned.

Multi-awarded trainer Freddie Roach has confidently predicted that the Hitman’s fight with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao won’t last three rounds.

“We’re going to knock him out in three rounds,” Roach said in an interview with maxboxing.com. “I told Manny that if it goes past three rounds, I’d be mad at him.”

Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) may have a lot of worrying to do — Roach has a history of accurately predicting the exact round Pacquiao finishes the opposition. In fact, the bespectacled trainer hit it right on the nail when he said Pacquiao will knock out lightweight champion David Diaz in nine rounds in June 2008.

Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) is currently in the thick of training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. The General Santos-based southpaw is reported to have just completed a tough sparring session with undefeated lightweight Urbano Antillon.

And even before the action-packed session began, Roach has already expressed satisfaction with the way things are going for his prized ward.

“Manny is doing well. He’s sharp. He’s boxing really well. We’ve got the game plan all worked out and I’m really happy with where he is at,” he said.

It was announced earlier today that Roach will be the recipient of the 2008 Trainer of the Year Award from the Boxing Writers Association of America.

The Pacquiao-Hatton fight, dubbed “The Battle of East and West,” will be held on May 2 (May 3 in Manila) in Las Vegas. It will be contested in the junior welterweight division (140 pounds), where Hatton is the lineal champion.

- By Dino Maragay (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Pacquiao Greatest Fights: Pacquiao vs Barrera

I'm bigger and stronger than Pacquiao, claims boxer Hatton

I'm bigger and stronger than Pacquiao, claims boxer Hatton



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

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

"My size and strength will be a key factor," Hatton told BBC Sport.

"Light-welterweight is my weight division. I've never lost at 10st and I'm brimming with confidence."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, who also trains British lightweight star Amir Khan, said Hatton was the ideal opponent for his boxer.

"Ricky will make us look great," said Roach, who has also worked with Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins, De la Hoya, among others.

"He'll run into too many problems and we'll dominate. We're just too quick and I have the game-plan mapped out already. He'll make it difficult for us for a little while, but we will get to him."

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g-C3xfvdt_VlqYUFWBxioQzR4pQw

Hatton clearly the underdog against Pacquiao

By: Ricardo Lois

He might have a skull lined with concrete, thousands of fans chanting, "There's only onnnnnnnnnnnne Ricky Hatton," and a huggy bear style that can frustrate the most average of
boxers. But come May 2nd, Ricky Hatton will be a clear underdog against Manny Pacquiao.

One Internet sports book has the Filipino boxing idol a two-to-one favorite over the U.K. bruiser.

It does not take an expert to realize Hatton loves his booze and fish 'n chips. As long-time, robust fight figure Michael Marley recently noted, during a U.K. presser this week it seemed as if Hatton was aroused early from a night of partying to attend the media meet and greet. Afterall, we are talking about a fighter who has even embraced the moniker of Ricky "Fatton."

Yet for all his lack of self-care during between-fight downtime, Hatton has never failed to come less than prepared for a major fight. And usually his foes break under Ricky's iron will and goonery.

Do not expect the 30-year-old to hit the wall against Pacquiao, especially under the watchful eye of world renowned trainer and taskmaster Floyd Mayweather Senior.

So what will be Hatton's undoing?

Manny Pacquiao.

“I’ve been in a lot of big, big fights and beaten a lot of great fighters. My last fight against De La Hoya was important, but Ricky Hatton will be much harder," Pacquiao recently told a Filipino news outlet.

Manny is giving Hatton too much credit, drumming up a fairly predictable clash and trying to sell more pay-per-views in my estimation.

Hatton is a world class brawler who relies on being able to get off his punches and then hug and mug his foe. That sort of rudimentary strategy can work wonders against run-of-the-mill opposition.

His comeback from a December 2007 knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather Junior has been built on victories against a very average Juan Lazcano and the stoppage knockout of athletic but feather and damaged fisted Paulie Malignaggi.

Q: Why did Hatton loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr?

A: Floyd was the most athletic boxer Ricky had ever faced in his career and the former pound-for-pound great was able to strike and flutter away from Hatton's attempted clinches.

Prior to Mayweather, Hatton's resume reads like a who's who of serviceable brawlers: Juan Urango, a blown-up and past prime Jose Luis Castillo, Carlos Maussa. Hatton did ice the previously unstoppable Kostya Tsyu, but the Russian was 35 and well past his prime.

Hatton's only other scare, aside from Mayweather, was a tough unanimous decision "victory" over crafty lefty Luis Collazo.

Want to give Hatton problems?

Be a lefty, box, have athletic ability, and the capability to move around on your feet.

Unfortunately for the Manchester faithful Manny Pacquiao has loads and loads of Ricky's poisons and power to boot.

Once an off-balance, offense first, second and last lefty, Pacquiao has been transformed by Freddie Roach into a calibrated boxing machine. The fiery native of General Santos still throws punches in bunches from a southpaw stance. But as proved in his definitive victory over Oscar De La Hoya, Manny can now weave in and out of exchanges while still punishing his opponent.

If you throw level of opposition into the mix, Pacquiao has been hardened by a string of future Hall of Fame fighters.

Erik Morales, De La Hoya, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manuel Marquez all rear their legendary mugs in Manny's record. The only fighter who can equal the abilities of those former Pacquiao foes on Hatton's list of foes is Floyd Mayweather Junior and we already went over how that bout went for Hatton.

Don't believe the pre-fight hype. Don't listen to Manny up-sell Ricky. Don't listen to Floyd Senior taunt Manny and Freddie. Don't listen to Hatton say he will knock out the Filipino. And don't believe this is a fight of the year candidate worthy of forty-some-odd dollars.

Look at the lines and believe the odds-makers who have Pacquiao as a clear favorite.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/

Hatton's lethal combination

Ricky Hatton insists he not only has the power to beat Manny Pacquiao, but also the boxing ability.

'The Hitman', 45-1 with 32 knockouts, will return to the site of his only defeat to date when he takes on Filipino southpaw Pacquaio on May 2.

Floyd Mayweather Jnr proved the Mancunian's undoing at welterweight on that occasion in December 2007, but he remains the king in his more natural 140 pound division.

And having already talked up the advantage he will have at the weight, Hatton now says his improved speed and skill will prove even more key at the MGM Grand.

Speed

"I strongly believe I will be as fast as Manny. If I'm not as fast as Manny, I'll only be the narrowest of margins behind," Hatton said. "He's going to get a shock. The technical side and the speed will shock him more than anything.

"To say I'm confident would be an understatement. Training is going well. I'm feeling really sharp. Me and Floyd have been doing good work and obviously the speed factor is going to be a big factor.

"I've always said at 140 pounds I believe I'm too strong and too big. With the hand speed and punching, the things I'm learning with Floyd and my boxing ability, Manny has got something else to worry about besides the sheer size. He has got some technical ability to worry about come the night.

"If you can make him miss, he's very open and off balance. If he misses, he's going to have some big shots waiting for him."

Backing

Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr is backing up the words of his man as he bids to defeat the world's best pound-for-pound fighter (48 (36KOs)-2-3).

"We're going to bust his ass up," Mayweather Snr said. "Ricky is one of the easiest guys in the world to train. He makes it easy for me and hard for Pac-Man. Ricky surprises me at times. I'm sure he'll surprise Pac. He's an A-1 student.

"Ricky has a very good chance of knocking him out. Pacquiao is fighting a man who has real strength, can keep real pressure on him, bang him to the body and the head and smother him at the same time. That's hard to deal with."

Source: http://www.skysports.com/

For Pacquaio 50:50 won't do

Manny Pacquiao is just waiting for a substantial movement in the purse split, and he will waste no time putting his name on the dotted line for a May 2 showdown with Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.

“Mag-adjust lang sila dahil hindi puwede ang fifty-fifty (They should make the adjustments because fifty-fifty won’t do),” Pacquiao told The STAR as the stalemate in the negotiations continued.

As of yesterday, there was no substantial movement.

“Wala pa din. Ayaw pa din ni Manny. Walang magandang offer (There’s none yet and Manny won’t budge. No good offer),” said Pacquiao’s legal adviser Franklin Gacal from General Santos City.

While he admitted there was a new offer, it wasn’t anything that could or should make Pacquiao, the biggest star in boxing today, change his mind.

“May movement pero parang nanglo-loko lang (There was movement but it’s like they’re just trying to fool us). It was not substantial enough,” said the lawyer.

“Parang nilipat lang yung pera (It’s like moving the money) from the right pocket to the left pocket,” he added without elaborating.

Hatton’s father, Ray, has joined the fray, insisting that his son is ready to pull the plug on Pacquiao, and fight someone else.

“We have the offer of another massive fight in the summer, in the British Isles, which would bring a crowd of 80,000 or more,” he said. “We are extremely serious in our threat that we will pull the plug on Pacquiao and go for that alternative if that contract is not signed. We will not be messed around.”

Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, has already struck a deal with Hatton’s camp, including his Golden Boy promoters, for a 50-50 share, and has told the Filipino there’s no way he will get the 60-40.

It seems that the line between Pacquiao and Arum isn’t open. It was reported yesterday over the Internet that Arum was on his way to the Philippines to personally talk to Pacquiao, but this was denied by Gacal.

Not for now, at least.

A 55-45 split, insiders believe, may be enough to make Pacquiao change his mind, and get the ball rolling for what could be one of the biggest fights of the year.

In a press conference in Bacolod, Pacquiao said British brawler Ricky Hatton offered a 52-48 sharing Friday night.

“They told us last night (Friday) they now want 52-48, we’re still looking at it if there’s going to be readjustment,” said Pacquiao in yesterday’s press conference for the 2009 Smart National Amateur Boxing Championship here.

“But they also say they could go up to 55-45, I might agree to that,” he added.

Pacquiao, who was accompanied by business manager Eric Pineda and Gacal, however, stressed everything will be up to his camp.

“All of the possibilities will be discussed in the next few days, maybe next week we’ll have a decision,” said Pacquiao.

Hatton’s group has been insisting on a 50-50 split on all revenues generated by the proposed fight in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2 while Pacquiao’s camp wants 60-40 in his favor.

Pacquiao’s camp was so adamant that it threatened to abandon the Hatton bout in favor of a fight either against Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero or the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“It was supposed to be 60-40 but all of a sudden they’re changing their mind. We’ll see what happens next week,” said Pineda.

With the recent development, the much-awaited fight might just happen after all.

Pacquiao wants a 60-40 sharing with Hatton with the Filipino superstar, who agreed to 32 percent against Oscar dela Hoya last December, getting the bigger share this time. But Hatton wants 50 percent of everything.

Pacquiao has given Hatton until the first week of February to decide whether he wants a crack at the pound-for-pound champion. Otherwise, the fight is off and the Pinoy icon will shop for a different opponent.

Already in the radar are Floyd Mayweather Jr, the undefeated but retired American boxer, Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero or even Mexican counter-puncher Juan Manuel Marquez.

Pacquiao believes that he can make as much money fighting anyone among these boxers.

Source:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=432715&publicationSubCategoryId=69

Freddie Roach is Certain that Pacman will Knock Out The Hitman

Freddie Roach is under no illusions that Manny Pacquiao will be the first fighter to stop Ricky Hatton at light-welterweight when they meet in Las Vegas in May.

Roach, responding to claims from Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr earlier this week that Hatton has the armoury to take Pacquiao apart, said: "I can see Ricky being competitive for half of the fight, and posing some problems for Manny, but Manny will stop him in the later rounds. Ricky is tough and durable, but I can see him being stopped around round 9."

Pacquiao won world titles at super-featherweight and lightweight in 2008, and then stepped up to welterweight to deliver a shock defeat over Oscar De La Hoya in December.

Although Hatton suffered his only career loss at welterweight (147 lbs) in December 2007 to Floyd Mayweather Jnr, the Mancunian has always insisted that there is no-one in the world who can live with him at light-welterweight (140lbs). Hatton is 45-1.

Roach will come to the United Kingdom with Khan for his next fight, expected to be in March. Khan has returned to Los Angeles to resume training with Roach. Frank Warren, Khan's promoter, revealed that the Bolton fighter could meet former World Boxing Organisation super-featherweight champion Alex Arthur in 2009.

European heavyweight champion Matt Skelton will defend his Commonwealth title against Belfast’s Martin Rogan in Birmingham on Feb 28. On the same night Olympic middleweight gold medallist James DeGale will make his professional debut, though his opponent has not yet been announced.

The Bedford brawler will go up against unbeaten Prizefighter contest winner Rogan – the man who beat Audley Harrison in London in December – at the National Indoor Arena. On the same card, Commonwealth super-flyweight champion Don Broadhurst, trained by Richie Woodhall, will make the first defence of his belt on home soil against former British title-holder Andy Bell.

Skelton (22-2), who unsuccessfully challenged Ruslan Chagaev for the WBA title last year, believes he can come good again at world title level this year.

"Rogan is a dangerous fighter and I was impressed by the way in which he dug deep against Harrison," said the 41-year-old, who only turned professional in 2002, after a career in kickboxing which took him to fighting in championships in front of 60,000 spectators in Japan.

"Anyone with an undefeated record is a threat because they don't know how to lose. But I believe I will win this fight.

"When I lost to Chagaev people asked me whether I would quit, but I feel better than ever and I think that I'm still improving.

"That fight in Germany against Chagaev showed me that I can compete at the highest level and I'm not out of place on the world scene."

Skelton claimed the European title with victory over Paolo Vidoz in December. "Winning the European title in Italy against an Italian surprised a few people, but it didn't surprise me because I'm always very confident in my own ability."

Source: Telegraph

Hatton and Pacquiao this May 2009!

Manny Pacquiao, his promoter Bob Arum hinted, is open to three fights this year.

The Filipino superstar is locked on to face Britain’s Ricky Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas, and is hoping to land an even bigger fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. later on.

But Arum said if Mayweather, who retired last June as the undefeated pound-for-pound champion, doesn’t come out in the open, Pacquiao might consider two more fights.

Pacquiao said he wants to retire this year, and Arum, the legendary Top Rank chief, wants to make sure that boxing’s biggest draw today makes the most of his chances.

“If Floyd Mayweather is not available after we fight Hatton, then we can fight Edwin Valero,” said Arum, close to finalizing the deal with the Hatton people for the May 2 bout.

“There are a number of people out there although the fight may not be as big as Mayweather,” he added after dropping the name of the Venezuelan knockout artist.

Among the other worthy contenders are Joan Guzman or Zab Judah and, of course, Juan Manuel Marquez, the only fighter who really came close to beating Pacquiao in nearly three years.

Again, none of these fights can match the attention a fight with Mayweather would draw, considering that it will be a fight between two pound-for-pound champions of the same era.

“If Mayweather is not there, we can fight two more fights to make up for it. Manny can fight three times this year,” said Arum over the telephone.

But Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach wants Pacquiao going up against Hatton, and then Mayweather.

“In a perfect world, I would like to see him fight Ricky Hatton and then Floyd Mayweather Jr. and then I would like to see Manny retire, and become President of the Philippines,” he told fighthype.com.

Going back to things on hand, the matchmaking genius said Pacquiao stands to earn a lot, even more than what he earned against Oscar dela Hoya, for facing Hatton.

“There’s a good chance that Manny will earn more in this fight,” said Arum of Pacquiao, who got no less than $10 million despite the smaller 32 percent take against Dela Hoya’s 68 percent.

Arum said there’d be no such disparity in the Pacquiao-Hatton pie.

“Manny may get more but not much, much more because Ricky Hatton brings more to the table than anybody else Manny could fight at the moment,” he said.

“But we are not getting the smaller share if you know what I mean. A tremendous percentage of the money will come from England,” he added in recognizing Hatton’s pay-per-view draw back home. - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)