Pacquiao begins training camp for Hatton

By Doug Fischer

After a well-deserved vacation, the Fighter of the Year for 2008 returned to work on Wednesday.

Manny Pacquiao, coming off a banner year, reported to the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif., for the first day of training camp for his first fight of 2009 – a May 2 challenge to RING junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton.

Pacquiao and head trainer Freddie Roach, owner of the famous boxing gym, both arrived on Tuesday after spending the weekend in the UK to take part in the mega-fight’s kick-off media events that took place in Hatton’s hometown of Manchester, England.

Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 knockouts) and Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) have arguably the largest international followings in the sport, but one would assume that the 140-pound champ would be the overwhelming crowd favorite in Manchester. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, Floyd Mayweather, Freddie Roach, Golden Boy, HBO, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, MGM Grand, Pacman vs. Hitman, Pacquiao vs. Hatton, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton, top rank promotions

RICKY HATTON AND MANNY PACQUIAO QUOTES FROM THE U.K.

fighthype.com

During a blistering two-day U.K. media tour, superstars Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Ricky “Hitman” Hatton set the tone for their world junior welterweight “The Battle of East and West” championship set for Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.  The fighters started in Hatton's hometown of Manchester and finished yesterday in London.  They were joined by their respective trainers Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather, Sr, as well as US-based promoters Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer.  Below is a sampling of quotes from the tour. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, Floyd Mayweather, Freddie Roach, Golden Boy, HBO, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton, top rank promotions

Hatton warns Pacman: “I’m too big for you!”

By FightFan

The British press tour to promote Manny Pacquiao’s May 2 fight against Ricky Hatton continued today with ‘The Hitman’ issuing a stern warning to ‘The Pacman’.
At their Monday press conference, Ricky Hatton warned Manny Pacquiao “…..Manny, I want that pound-for-pound title from you. I have never been beaten at 10 stones (140 pounds) which is my best weight when I go into the ring. You know I’m just too big for you.”

Pacquiao told reporters afterwards “…I’m not fighting ‘big.’ I’m in a fight against a fighter who believes in himself. Now it is a matter of who trains harder and who has more speed. I plan to train harder than I did for the De La Hoya fight and I believe I have more speed.” read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, Floyd Mayweather, Freddie Roach, Golden Boy, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton, top rank promotions

Marquez proves he’s the man, Win over Diaz solidifies Marquez’s position as one of the world’s top fighters

By Dan Rafael

HOUSTON — Juan Manuel Marquez has suffered many disappointments in his career.

Naseem Hamed outright ducked him for years when the Prince was at the top of the featherweight division.

Marquez also never got to fight a prime Erik Morales or Marco Antonio Barrera, the two great Mexican countrymen of his era, although he did eventually beat a faded Barrera.

He suffered a controversial draw against Manny Pacquiao in their first fight and then lost a split decision in the rematch a few years later. Legions believe — and believe strongly — that Marquez won both fights.

For one fight, Marquez went to Chris John’s home country of Indonesia for a featherweight title bout and lost what many believe was a hometown decision. read more

Filed under: Golden Boy, HBO, joel casamayor, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, pacmonster

Dinamita! Marquez KOs Diaz in Nine after Unforgettable War

By Thomas Gerbasi

Call it another one for the ‘old’ guys, as 35-year old Juan Manuel Marquez joined his Golden Boy Promotions stablemates Shane Mosley and Bernard Hopkins by turning back the clock and the challenge of 25-year old Juan Diaz, capping off a fierce battle with a stirring ninth round knockout at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Marquez adds the vacant WBA and WBO lightweight belts, as well as Diaz’ IBO 135-pound crown to his Ring magazine title.

There was no feeling out process in this one, with Diaz pressuring Marquez, and “Dinamita” trying to counter in an effort to keep the 25-year old Texan off him. This led to some heated close range exchanges, with Diaz holding the early edge. By the end of the round though, Marquez seemed to have found his rhythm, only to get tagged by a hard hook seconds before the bell sounded. read more

Filed under: Golden Boy, HBO, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

Marquez vs. Diaz Result: Marquez KOs Diaz!

By Byron Spurlock & Jose Reyes

Lightweight Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) scored a spectacular ninth round KO over Juan Diaz (34-2, 17 KOs) to claim the vacant WBA super and WBO lightweight titles, as well as Diaz’ IBO belt on Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston. It was a fierce all out war in which Marquez absorbed Diaz’ heavy pressure early, then broke down the “Baby Bull,” dropping him twice in the ninth. Time was 2:40. A definite fight of the year candidate. read more

Filed under: Golden Boy, HBO, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez

Marquez vs. Diaz Result: Marquez rocks Diaz to win vacant lightweight titles

Houston, TX (Sports Network) – Juan Manuel Marquez captured the vacant WBO and WBA lightweight titles with a ninth-round knockout of Houston’s Juan Diaz at the Toyota Center Saturday night.

The lightweight titles were left vacant on February 13 when Nate Campbell lost his IBF, WBA and WBO belts when he failed to make weight for a fight against Ali Funeka. Campbell then beat Funeka, putting two of the championships at stake on Saturday.
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Filed under: Golden Boy, HBO, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

Marquez KOs Diaz!: Juan Manuel Marquez stops Juan Diaz to claim lightweight crown

foxsports.com.au

Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez won the vacant World Boxing Association lightweight title with a ninth-round stoppage of US hometown hero Juan Diaz.

Marquez landed two stinging hard rights to Diaz’s face in a three-punch combination that sent the American falling face forward to the canvas with 35 seconds remaining in the ninth round.

Diaz rose but seconds later, Marquez followed with a right uppercut to the chin that left Diaz flat on his back as referee Rafael Ramos waved an end to the fight after two minutes and 40 seconds of the ninth round. read more

Filed under: Golden Boy, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

Juan Manuel Magnificent: Marquez KOs Diaz

By Michael Woods

For round after round, it looked like the professor was finally being surpassed by an eager student, as Juan Manuel Marquez looked his age and Juan Diaz outworked the Hall of Famer-bound hitter in the main event at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday night. Diaz, age 25, soaked in the cheers in his hometown and channeled their adulation as he forced the 35-year-old Marquez to work as hard as he’s ever had to work, and battered him time and again on the ropes. But the professor showed the student why he’s regarded as one of the top two or three fighters, pound for pound, in the game today, as he turned the tide in the ninth round, scored a knockdown, and then came in for the kill. Marquez finished off Diaz with a right uppercut at 2:40 of the ninth in a fight that will be in contention for Fight of the Year come December.
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Filed under: Golden Boy, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

Marquez KOs Diaz!: Marquez knocks out Diaz to unify lightweight belts

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Filed under: Golden Boy, juan diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez