Ricky Hatton "on board" with Pacquiao fight being in Vegas

The final stumbling block to a Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight on May 2 vanished today when Britain's Hatton agreed that the best site to stage the bout would be Las Vegas, not his home country.

Hatton's promoter, Richard Schaefer, told The Times that he and Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, have scheduled meetings Tuesday in Las Vegas with Planet Hollywood executive Robert Earl and MGM/Mirage entertainment/sports chief Richard Sturm to determine whether the 140-pound fight will be hosted at UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center (sponsored by Planet Hollywood) or MGM Grand Garden Arena, where Pacquiao defeated Oscar De La Hoya last month.

"Ricky's preference was the U.K., but he's realized that was not the best place for this fight, just like the Philippines [Pacquiao's home country] wasn't," Schaefer said. "This is right in the middle."

Although fighter contracts have yet to be signed, Schaefer said Hatton has verbally agreed to all key terms and should ink the deal "within the next week. You can't rush attorneys." Pacquiao, too, is "on board" with the terms, Schaefer said.

Hatton, after being knocked out in December 2007 by the man considered boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter then, welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr., now gets a second shot at the holder of that mythical title in a more ideal junior-welterweight match. He pounded Paulie Malignaggi in a 140-pound bout in November.

"Being at 147 was clearly not Hatton's best weight; Ricky's unbeaten at 140," Schaefer said.

Pacquiao, voted fighter of 2008 by many boxing publications, will fight in a fourth different weight category in his fourth consecutive bout. He won super-featherweight and lightweight titles last year, then punished De La Hoya at 147 pounds.

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/01/hatton-on-board.html

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Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton moving closer to the ring

Ricky Hatton's promoter, Richard Schaefer, said today that "it looks like we'll have something wrapped up by the end of the year" to stage a Hatton-Manny Pacquiao fight May 2, likely in Las Vegas (possibly at the MGM Grand or a Planet Hollywood-sponsored card at Thomas and Mack Center).

Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum discussed fight plans with the Filipino sensation while attending Pacquiao's 30th birthday celebration this week in the Philippines. Schaefer, meanwhile, has maintained contact with Hatton and his family.

"We're getting real close, and the more time people know this fight is coming, the better," Schaefer said. "It'll be Pac-Man versus Hit Man, who do you like?"

Hatton was impressive in November, battering Paulie Malignaggi in a 140-pound fight, but lightweight champion Pacquiao last month pounded Oscar De La Hoya into likely retirement.

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2008/12/progress-on-pac.html

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Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao agree to fight in Vegas

According to Lance Pugmire of the LA Times, Ricky Hatton’s Promoter Richard Schaefer told the LA Times that the Location of the fight will be in Las Vegas, Nevada not England or the Philippines . The Venue is still being considered but both sides for Hatton and Pacquiao agree to allow the fight to take place on neutral ground. Fighter contracts have not been signed yet but the choice of Location has been agreed upon.

Quotes by Richard Schaefer from the LA Times Article

“Ricky’s preference was the U.K., but he’s realized that was not the best place for this fight, just like the Philippines [Pacquiao's home country] wasn’t,” Schaefer said. “This is right in the middle.”

“Being at 147 was clearly not Hatton’s best weight; Ricky’s unbeaten at 140,” Schaefer said.

Source: http://www.nowboxing.com/2009/01/ricky-hatton-and-manny-pacquiao-agree-to-fight-in-vegas/

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Pacquiao fight with Hatton under negotiation | Tagalog Dialect

Live over the phone ay nakausap ni Joey de Leon sa Startalk nitong Sabado si Manny Pacquiao na kasalukuyang nasa Los Angeles , U.S.A. kunsaan, isinilang ni Jinkee Pacquiao ang kanilang pang-apat na anak na si Queen Elizabeth noong Miyerkules, December 31, Manila time.

Unang tanong nga ni Joey ay kung ano ang pakiramdam ni Manny na daddy na naman siyang muli?

"Masaya! Mukhang feeling ko, tumatanda na ‘ko," natatawang sabi ni Manny kunsaan, maririnig sa background ang boses naman ng dalawa niyang anak na lalaki na sina Jemuel at Michael.

Sumunod ay kinumusta naman ni Joey si Jinkee.

"OK naman siya at nagpapahinga na."

Biro ni Joey, bigla raw binansagang "cut man" si Manny dahil hindi niya iniwan si Jinkee habang nagle-labor at si Manny pa mismo ang gumupit sa pusod ng anak. Cut man refers to a member of a boxer's entourage who is in-charge of treating the boxer's cuts and wounds during a match.

May balita rin na dapat ay makakasama nila ang inang si Aling Dionisia, ano't hindi raw ito natuloy sa Amerika?

"Hindi pa naaasikaso ang passport niya! Hindi niya alam ang birth certificate niya kung saan kukunin, e," natatawang sabi ni Manny.

Dahil sa U.S ipinanganak, masasabing U.S. citizen na nga ang bunsong anak ni Manny. Pero nang tanungin kung saan balak ni Pacman pabinyagan ang anak, "Hindi pa alam, pero, baka diyan sa Pilipinas," sagot agad niya.

Tinanong na rin ni Joey ang tungkol sa napapabalitang susunod daw na laban ni Manny ay kay English champion Ricky Hatton. Nasulat na raw ito noong Thursday, pero, mas maganda nga naman kung si Manny mismo ang magko-confirm at kung totoo ngang sa May of this year na ito magaganap.

"Ang negosasyon is still going on, pero, hindi pa talaga final. Kung sakali man matuloy, e. May 2. Pero wala pang kumpirmado. Hindi pa nakumpirma. May kailangan pang pag-usapan na mga bagay-bagay."

Hatton is the current Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight champion.

Doon daw ba sa England magaganap ang laban?

"E, ako naman kahit saan," confident na sagot ng kampeon.

Ibinalita rin ni Joey sa Startalk na si Manny ang napiling "Fighter of the Year" ng Yahoo Sports, WBC, Ring Magazine, ESPN at iba pang sports website. Ano raw ang masasabi ni Manny sa lahat ng ito?

"Una sa lahat, gusto kong magpasalamat sa Mahal na Panginoon dahil sa Kanya nanggagaling ang lahat ng ito. At karangalan nating lahat, hindi lang para sa akin kundi para sa ating mga Filipino. Saan mang sulok ng mundo, meron tayong maipagmamalaking karangalan."

Joey asked the champ, kung meron daw bang New Year's wish si Manny.

"Alam n'yo, wish ko kay Lord, sana magmahalan ang lahat at mabawasan ang mga pamilyang naghihirap sa ating bansa. At wala nang masyadong pamilyang magugutom."

Posible raw na bago ang January 12 ay makauwi na sila sa bansa in time para naman sa pagre-resume ng klase ng kanyang mga anak.- Philippine Entertainment Portal

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/142502/Pacquiao-fight-with-Hatton-under-negotiation

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Report: Pacquiao-Hatton bout in Las Vegas, not UK

MANILA, Philippines – So much for British fans eagerly awaiting the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight at Wembley Arena as promoters chose Las Vegas as the possible venue for the 2009 mega-bout between two of boxing’s power punchers.

According to London’s The Telegraph, Top Rank Inc. of promoter Bob Arum has already decided that the fight will take place on May 2 in a still undisclosed venue in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and Hatton would reportedly share the proceeds expected to generate £40 million ($58,198,749).

Ray Hatton, Ricky’s father and manager, is still negotiating to take the mega-bout to British shores where they are set to host Pacquiao at Wembley Arena, which can seat 100,000 paying fans.

“From our viewpoint, the fight is all but done and will go ahead. We’re just still negotiating the terms of the location. We want to have the fight over here for the British fans and we’ve been trying to put together a package to show that we can financially equal, or better, what they can do over there," said the elder Hatton in an interview with The Telegraph.

However, US cable giant Home Box Office (HBO) has ruled out a UK venue and insisted the fight to take place in Nevada.

Arum said one of the things left to be settled was whether they would use the MGM Grand Garden Arena, which has a 15,000 seating capacity or the Thomas & Mack Center, which can hold 19,000 paying fans.

Hatton’s father is also planning a 12-week training for his son to prepare the British champion against Pacquiao.

The training, to be conducted by Floyd Mayweather Sr., could start early February in Britain and will move to Florida before setting in Las Vegas a few weeks before the scheduled May 2 match. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/142444/Report-Pacquiao-Hatton-bout-in-Las-Vegas-not-UK

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Pacquiao, Hatton camps to iron out revenue split

MANILA, Philippines – The only thing left to be settled in this year’s Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton mega-bout is the revenue split for both fighters.

PhilBoxing.com has reported that both camps has agreed on a May 2 fight in Las Vegas, the question that remains is which fighter gets the larger slice of the pay per view shares and the bigger guaranteed purse.

Both fighters enjoyed their biggest purse so far when they fought against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 and 2008.

Hatton reportedly got $10 million despite being knocked out by Mayweather in the 10th round while Pacquiao’s side has yet to reveal the exact amount he received after forcing De La Hoya to call it quits after eight rounds.

Reports have it that Pacquiao could earn as much as $15 million which includes his guaranteed purse, PPV share, Philippine TV rights, live gate receipts and other financial bonuses.

Though both fighters are world title holders, Pacquiao is the more popular among the two and is a consistent attraction among the PPV audience while Hatton has yet to become a familiar figure in the US despite fighting five times across the Atlantic.

One solution, PhilBoxing.com sees, is that both camps should meet halfway and split 50-50 the PPV proceeds in the UK while Pacquiao should get 65 per cent over the rest. They can also split the ticket sales since Hatton’s English fans are willing to cross the Atlantic just to watch the British champion fight boxing’s current superstar.

It was earlier reported, that the Pacquiao-Hatton fight will be held at the Wembley Arena that could seat 100,000 fans of both fighters. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/142431/Pacquiao-Hatton-camps-to-iron-out-revenue-split

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Pacquiao's trainer shares boxing spotlight

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao was a unanimous choice for numerous boxer or fighter of the year awards.

But Pacquiao would have not done it without the help of Freddie Roach as his trainer, coach and corner man. And for whipping up Pacquiao into the fighter that he was today, Roach was the unanimous choice as Ring Magazine and Yahoo Sports’ 2008 trainer of the year.

Roach is the man behind Manny Pacquiao’s legendary rise in 2008. The one who molded him to be the fighter that he is today that is being admired by millions in the Philippines and respected by the boxing world.

Just imagine Pacquiao without Roach training and mapping out his battle plan. Will Pacquiao be the same if he did not chose Roach to start training him in 2001?

Pacquiao is a truly gifted fighter, a diamond in the rough that Roach honed and polished in order to reveal his true power and great ability.

In the seven years under Roach’s guidance, Pacquiao recorded 17 wins in 21 fights with 15 by way of knockout. He was held twice into a draw and suffered his lone loss, a unanimous decision, in his first meeting with Erik Morales.

Roach then guided Pacquiao to a 3-0 record in 2008 fighting in three weight divisions.

First was a split decision win against Juan Manuel Marquez, in a match that could have gone into the Mexican’s favor but the judges saw it otherwise thanks to Marquez' being knocked down by Pacquiao in the third round.

He then helped Pacquiao show David Diaz his punching power when he beat the then World Boxing Council lightweight champion to a pulp in a ninth round technical knockout win.

Roach’s biggest challenge was preparing Pacquiao against boxing’s poster boy and six-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya.

Roach, however, was confident that Pacquiao would beat De La Hoya even saying that the former Barcelona Olympics gold medalist could no “longer pull the trigger".

Roach’s comment received numerous reactions from the sports’ elite but his fighter proved his prediction when a speedy and elusive Pacquiao demolished De La Hoya forcing his opponent to call it quits after eight rounds.

Next for the master and his prized student is a possible May 2 bout with reigning International Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton.

There are also rumors of a possible match against the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. while Marquez is challenging Pacquiao for a rematch. Another possible 2009 fight for Pacquiao is against Venezuelan Edwin Valero, who is also under De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

But expect Roach to further refine Pacquiao’s fighting skills whoever his ward faces inside the ring. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/142295/Pacquiaos-trainer-shares-boxing-spotlight

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