Hatton has mixed emotions over bout with Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - British boxing champion Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton had expressed mixed emotions over negotiations of his fight with Manny "the Pacman" Pacquiao, according to www.telegraph.co.uk.

In a press conference held at Manchester, England, Ricky said that he was delighted at the prospect of fighting Manny.

"...Previously we had spoken to Bob Arum [Pacquiao's promoter] and we'd agreed on the deal. I was delighted. I was jumping through hoops," related Ricky.

However, after Ricky's camp discussed the terms with Bob Arum, the deal went from on to off, and then on again. He only wanted a clear fight deal, yet, at the rate negotiations were going, it seemed to be elusive. Ricky's mood changed—from delighted to devastated.

"I said to my dad [Ray Hatton, his manager] and my lawyer Gareth Williams that if it was not on by [last] weekend, we would have to call it off."

He added, with tinge of frustration, "I really needed to know in my mind who I was fighting, because the whole family are just about to go on our annual cruise—we're off to the Caribbean—until mid-February before I start a 12-week training camp with Floyd [Mayweather Sr] and Lee Beard."

Last week, things took the turn for the better as the fight deal was discussed again and, finally, it was for real (click here for the story ). For Ricky, the thought of finally fighting Manny was a driving issue for him. It gave him focus and it challenged him.

"I've got my eye on the prize," said Ricky, "I've always said it, but I don't think, at first, anyone in the world can beat me. I'm convinced I will beat Manny." - Philippine Entertainment Portal

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146732/Hatton-has-mixed-emotions-over-bout-with-Pacquiao

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Hatton to use Pacquiao’s status as motivation

MANILA, Philippines – Ricky Hatton will use Manny Pacquiao’s status as the world’s No.1 pound-for-pound fighter as his motivation when he starts training for their May 2 mega-bout next month.

In an interview with British newspaper The Telegraph, Hatton said he would want to challenge Pacquiao’s status as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter and hoped that he would be at the winning end of their junior welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

“I’ve challenged once for it, I’m focused, I’ve got my eye on the prize," said Hatton, who once fought and lost to then pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Hatton, who will start training in the middle of February, thinks Pacquiao is beatable.

"I’ve always said it, but I don’t think anyone in the world can beat me," Hatton said. "Nor can I see this fight going 12 rounds. I’m convinced I will beat Manny."

Hatton said to become one of the best boxers in the world is to fight world class champions.

“He [Pacquiao] is a great champion, and the only way to become a great fighter is to box great champions," he said. "It is an honor and a privilege to be sharing a ring with him."

He also believes that Oscar de la Hoya was not in tip-top condition when he fought Pacquiao in December last year.

"I do think he boxed a shell of Oscar de la Hoya," he said. "But I don’t want to take anything away from Manny."

Hatton said that negotiations in his fight against Pacquiao, which dragged on for weeks, affected him emotionally.

"They were a very difficult few weeks," he said. "Previously we had spoken to Bob Arum [Pacquiao’s promoter] and we’d agreed on the deal. I was delighted. I was jumping through hoops. With the on-off, on-off nature last week, I was devastated. I said to my dad [Ray Hatton, his manager] and my lawyer Gareth Williams that if it was not on by [last] weekend, we would have to call it off."

The fight, which has been set at the super-lightweight (140 lbs) level, almost did not push through after both camps failed to reach an agreement on the revenue split. Both camps, however, finally came to their senses and agreed to save the superfight that could bring in huge profits for both boxers.

Although Pacquiao (48-3-2, win-loss-draw) is tagged as boxing’s most bankable star today, the catch weight has been Hatton’s territory for some time now.

Hatton’s only loss in his career was at the welterweight class (147 lbs) when he lost to Mayweather Jr. in 2007. Otherwise, the super-lightweight campaigner has been spotless in 46 professional career fights. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146725/Hatton-to-use-Pacquiaos-status-as-motivation

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Pacquiao-Hatton fight tickets on sale Friday

MANILA, Philippines – With the world experiencing financial crisis, the marketability of the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton superfight will be put to the test when tickets for the boxing event of 2009 go on sale on Friday.

According to Philboxing.com, tickets for the May 2 International Boxing Organization (IBO) junior welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will only be available online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.mgmgrand.com.

The Pacquiao-Hatton fight gained much attention after negotiations on the megabucks deal dragged on with both camps reaching a standoff because of disagreements on the revenue split.

Hatton got interested in fighting Pacquiao, a multidivision champion who had three fights last year, after the Filipino boxing icon defeated future Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 6.

Pacquiao, the world’s current pound-for-pound king, will be challenging Hatton’s Ring Magazine and IBO junior welterweight title belts in a 12-round match.

The fight was promoted in partnership by Top Rank Inc. and De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions in cooperation with Pacquiao’s MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions of the British boxing superstar.

Tickets are still expected to sold out despite the current US recession. Ticket prices are at $1,000, $750, $500, $300, and $150 – excluding other applicable service charges.

The total gate revenue for the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight reached almost $17 million (€12 million) making it the second-largest sales as the 16,000-seat MGM Grand Garden was filled to capacity. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146664/Pacquiao-Hatton-fight-tickets-on-sale-Friday

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UK presscon opens Pacquiao-Hatton bout; Pacman to start training in March

MANILA, Philippines - The first media conference that will kick off the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton bout will be in the third week of February in the United Kingdom, Pacquiao said in his online column.

Pacquiao added that the UK gig will take three days, according to his advisers.

After that, the two boxers are expected to return to the US and make stops in New York and Los Angeles to promote the match scheduled on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"I think the plans are to include other cities in the US," Pacquiao wrote on Thursday on his column that appears on Philboxing.com. "Overall I'm excited."

Meanwhile, Southwestern University in Cebu will bestow Pacquiao an Honorary Doctorate Degree on February 18. SWU is the only university in the country that bestows the title of Doctor of Human Kinetics, Honoris Causa to qualified individuals.

"Not even in my wildest dream did I think of achieving this," Pacquiao said. "I'm very thankful for this honor."

Pacquiao will begin training with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in the first week of March. - GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146534/UK-presscon-opens-Pacquiao-Hatton-bout-Pacman-to-start-training-in-March

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Boxing experts favor Pacquiao over Hatton

MANILA, Philippines – Two boxing analysts believe Manny Pacquiao has enough in his arsenal to bring down Ricky Hatton in their May 2 superfight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s Top Rank coordinator, and Matchroom Sports Ltd. Managing director Eddie Hearn said in a 24 Oras report that they chose Pacquiao based on the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion’s skills.

Koncz said Pacquiao’s speed would again be a factor in the match.

"Manny’s hand speed is faster than Hatton, but more importantly, Manny’s ring presence is better. Hatton is a one-dimensional fighter, and he is going to come straight forward. And Manny is maturing as a boxer," Koncz said.

Hearn, meanwhile, believes Pacquiao will try to tire International Boxing Organization (IBO) welterweight title holder Hatton.

"Hatton will come forward, come forward, and Manny will pick him off and soak him up. (By) eight, nine, 10 rounds when Ricky is tired that is when Manny’s strength really comes through," Hearn said. "That is when he’ll push him on the back ropes and I’m not sure Ricky will going to take more."

Hearn expects an exciting match between the two fighters.

"Both fighters have huge hearts, huge courage, and huge talent," he said. "They will both come forward and be aggressive. Both fighters will never give in."

With the fight still three months away, Pacquiao is savoring his time with his family and friends before plunging into another eight weeks of hard training to prepare for his megabout against Hatton.

Pacquiao is expected to begin training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Las Vegas in March. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/146360/Boxing-experts-favor-Pacquiao-over-Hatton

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Pacquiao, Hatton finalize May 2 fight

Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton formally agreed Wednesday to fight for Hatton's 140-pound title on May 2, ending several weeks of negotiating and posturing.

Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs), generally considered the world's top pound-for-pound fighter, will go after Hatton's IBO junior welterweight belt at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao nearly scuttled the bout several times in recent weeks while demanding a bigger share of the lucrative purse, even forcing Golden Boy Promotions to cancel a media tour planned for this week. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum finally persuaded Pacquiao to sign the necessary contracts after reaching a reworked deal with Hatton's representatives earlier this week.

The Philippines' most famous man is at the top of his talents after brutalizing Oscar De La Hoya in their fight on Dec. 6, forcing the Golden Boy to quit after eight rounds. Pacquiao moved all the way up to welterweight for that bout after fighting just once above 130 pounds in his career before then, and the former five-division champion will move back down to yet another weight class for his next high-profile pay-per-view fight.

"I always like new challenges, which is the reason I am anxious to fight Ricky Hatton," Pacquiao said in a statement released by Top Rank. "My trainer, Freddie Roach, will put together a new game plan which will be much different than the one we used against Oscar. There are concerns because Hatton is a very strong puncher, so I must deal with that in the ring."

Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) is one of Britain's most popular athletes, but the Manchester-born brawler lost his only previous fight against a boxer of Pacquiao's stature when Floyd Mayweather Jr. stopped him in December 2007. Hatton beat Paulie Malignaggi last fall in his most recent bout.

Hatton has a promotional deal with De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

"We are very excited that this fight has been made, as it is the fight fans wanted and the one I look forward to seeing myself," De La Hoya said. "This fight has all the makings of a Fight of the Year candidate and I think Hatton will dethrone Pacquiao and become boxing's pound-for-pound king."

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hRuai47Chb96R1Vk4L7YT-QXMXjgD960ETRG0

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Pacquiao-Hatton ticket sales start Friday

Brisk ticket sales are guaranteed Friday when seats become available for the junior-lightweight fight between Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and England's Ricky Hatton on May 2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Promoters just announced that tickets priced at $150, $300, $500, $750 and $1,000 will go on sale at 10 a.m. Pacific time through Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations at (702) 474-4000, at www.mgmgrand.com and www.ticketmaster.com. Select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino locations in Las Vegas also will offer tickets.

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/01/pacquiao-hatt-1.html

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