HBO announces start of Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7

By Robert Cassidy

The Emmy Award-winning reality series “24/7” returns for the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton junior welterweight title fight, HBO announced today.

There will be four episodes, with the first one airing Saturday April 11 at 9:30 p.m. The series will follow Pacquiao and Hatton as they prepare for their May 2 fight in Las Vegas. Expect trainers Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr. to make this one of the more memorable series in the 24/7 franchise. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, Floyd Mayweather, Freddie Roach, HBO, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Pacman vs. Hitman, Pacquiao vs. Hatton, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton

PACMAN IS READY TO CHOMP PAL RICKY

By Niall Hickman

MANNY Pacquiao wants to remain Ricky Hatton’s friend for life but first he wants to get down to business – and that means ending the Hitman’s career in the ring.
Friendship only goes so far and, for Pacquiao, their mutual admiration will end when they step on to the Las Vegas canvas in 58 days’ time. read more

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

Bloody Hell! Coma No More! – Pacquiao vs Hatton Trainers give Transfusion to Boring Tour

By John Benz

My heart pumps for smack talk. Makes my blood flow and my Brain’s electrons go into overdrive. Smack talk can give any fight the transfusion it needs. The sport needs smack talk, as it helps transplant any fight into a more exciting one. Any fight can use the life support that good old smack talk can offer. read more

Filed under: Floyd Mayweather, Freddie Roach, HBO, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, MGM Grand, Pacman vs. Hitman, Pacquiao vs. Hatton, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton

Ricky Hatton: Manny Pacquiao Gambles With Every Punch, I’ll Make Him Pay

by MICHAEL DAVID SMITH

As Ricky Hatton prepares to defend his world junior welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao on May 2, most boxing experts think Hatton won’t be able to withstand Pacquiao’s punching power for 12 rounds.

But Hatton has other ideas. He says Pacquiao takes too many risks with his aggressive, hard-punching style, and that as soon as Hatton makes him miss with a hard shot, Pacquiao will be off-balance and ripe for the taking. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, Floyd Mayweather, Freddie Roach, HBO, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Pacman vs. Hitman, Pacquiao vs. Hatton, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton

Pacquiao open to Marquez trilogy

by SC

If anyone was waiting for Manny Pacquiao to say something regarding Juan Manuel Marquez’s constant badgering about a trilogy between the rivals, he has.

Pacquiao may have a May 2 megafight with Ricky Hatton coming up, and he says he didn’t watch Marquez’s epic win over Juan Diaz last Saturday, but Manny says he’s heard Marquez’s comments and that they should meet again to give people a victor between the two fighters. read more

Filed under: HBO, Juan Manuel Marquez, Las Vegas, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Pacman vs. Hitman, Pacquiao vs. Hatton

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

KO warning for Pacquiao: Mayweather Snr insists Hatton will reign supreme in Las Vegas

skysports.com

Manny Pacquiao has been warned that Ricky Hatton will “bust him up” when the pair clash on May 2 at the MGM Grand.

The light-welterweight showdown in Las Vegas will see both fighters vying for the title of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, Floyd Mayweather, Freddie Roach, HBO, Las Vegas, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, MGM Grand, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton

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: Pacman will pay for aggression

by Ciaran Baynes

Ricky Hatton told setanta.com that his superior size and newly-improved tactical nous will help him beat Manny Pacquiao.

The two boxing mega-stars meet in Las Vegas on May 2 and were speaking at London’s Imperial War Museum to promote their bout.

Although fully respectful of Pacquiao, Hatton believes he can take advantage of his opponent’s ultra-aggressive style. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, Floyd Mayweather, Freddie Roach, HBO, Las Vegas, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Philippines, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton, Wild Card Gym

Pinoys make Pacquiao at home in faraway Manchester

GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao hardly felt like a visitor from a faraway land when he came face-to-face with his next foe, Ricky Hatton during their promotional tour in the latter’s hometown.

This as around 5,000 Filipinos living all around the UK flocked to the Trafford Square on the outskirts of Manchester to rally behind the Pac Man, GMA’s 24 Oras reported. read more

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