Hatton ready for Pacquiao, banks on being stronger fighter

By J. Michael Falgoust

Ricky Hatton recently threw darts with Manny Pacquiao — and won.
On May 2, the two will be throwing punches. Hatton is convinced he’ll win at that, too.

Though there won’t be any major belts on the line in the first major pay-per-view bout of the year, these junior welterweights will tangle for the championship in what’s expected to be nothing short of a war in Las Vegas. Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), a native of Manchester, England, whose only loss came at 147 pounds, is undefeated at 140 and still holds the lineal designation after dethroning Kostya Tszyu in 2005. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, Kostya Tszyu, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Pacman vs. Hitman, Pacquiao vs. Hatton, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton

Pride of Pomona Shane Mosley Gunning for Cotto, Hatton, or Pacquiao Next

By Ricardo Lois

Shane Mosley (the best welterweight in the World) and Ricardo Lois (the biggest mouth in the boxing radio World) meet up for a serving of humble pie.

You might remember that the always out-spoken Lois recommended fight fans to bet heavy on Antonio Margarito to destroy the Fighting Pride of Pomona.

After Lois bows down to Mosley, Sugar lets it be known that he is hunting down Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, and Manny Pacquiao. read more

Filed under: Antonio Margarito, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Oscar de la Hoya, Pacman vs. Hitman, Pacquiao vs. Hatton, Ricky Hatton, Sugar Shane Mosley

Floyd Mayweather Plans Announcement, to Fight Pacquiao-Hatton Winner?

by Michael David Smith

When Floyd Mayweather Jr. walked away from boxing last year, retiring undefeated at the age of 31, everyone assumed it would just be a matter of time before he announced he was returning.

So far, that announcement hasn’t come. But a new report is giving boxing fans some hope that Mayweather, who at the time of his retirement was widely viewed as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, is finally getting ready to come out of retirement and get back into the ring, possibly to face the winner of the upcoming superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. read more

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

Q&A: Ricky Hatton!

By Nick Giongco

Fightnews: Pacquiao is trying to invade your territory and how does it feel like a once puny fighter is hurling a challenge to the boss of the 140-pounders?

Ricky Hatton: I think it is a fact that some fighters move up and down the scales a lot more than others and why that is I just don’t know. I have always been a light-welter and I will always be a light-welter, don’t ask me why. Most fighters get bigger with age but I don’t. Manny obviously has because he started off as a flyweight and fought Oscar at 147 which is incredible really. But one of the greatest fighters of all time Sugar Ray Leonard started off as something like a welterweight and ended up winning the light heavy world title. Roy Jones Jnr was a middle wasn’t he and won the world heavyweight title, so there you go. It is horses for course. Some fighters put on the pounds because they get naturally bigger and others don’t. It just so happens I don’t and Manny does. But that doesn’t mean I am in for an easy night does it? He is a great fighter end of story and he showed what he could do at welter against Oscar. Anyone who can do that to one of the pound for pound greatest fighters of all time deserves respect and Manny has got my respect no doubt about it. read more

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

Pacquiao in six, says coach

By Nick Giongco

IF boxing fans were mesmerized by Manny Pacquiao’s brutal win over Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight, they will be in for a super treat once the Filipino ring icon gets his hands on Ricky Hatton at junior-welterweight.

That’s the belief of Pacquiao’s conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who told the Bulletin yesterday from Los Angeles that at 140 lbs (also known as super-lightweight and light-welterweight), “Manny will be absolutely lethal.”

“This is the fight that will wow everybody,” said Ariza, who has been tapped again by chief trainer Freddie Roach to help in the conditioning aspect of Pacquiao’s preparation for the May 2 showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. read more

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

Is Manny Pacquiao a Lock?

By Geno McGahee

HBO is ready to start the hype machine for the upcoming superfight between Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao and British superstar Ricky “Hitman” Hatton. Both fighters are very popular in their homelands and this fight will be a bout that the entire world will be watching.

After a victory over “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya, Pacquiao has risen to another level and is seen as the heavy favorite to beat Hatton, and that might just be the best thing for “The Hitman.” He was seen as a mediocrity before he beat the great fighter, Kostya Tszyu, and his only defeat came when he moved away from the 140 pound division to take on a bigger man in Floyd Mayweather, JR. The close shave with Luis Collazo should have been a message to Team Hatton that he did not belong above his comfortable weight. read more

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

Strict crowd control at Pacquiao’s training camp

GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines – No hangers-on, please.

The usual circus that trail Manny Pacquiao wherever he goes is non-existent at the pound for pound king’s ongoing training camp at Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

Boxing site Philboxing.com reported on Thursday that Pacquiao’s trainers have implemented a strict crowd control at the gym, letting only a handful of people in to view the training.

Philboxing’s Dr. Ed dela Vega, who usually enjoys easy access to the gym, wrote that even he had to ask permission from Freddie Roach’s new assistant, former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, to observe the sessions inside and take photos for his weekly progress reports. read more

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

PACQUIAO REALLY BEAT MARQUEZ TWICE

By Dennis Guillermo

Now before all of you Juan Manuel Marquez fans jump me and call me a coconut hugger or whatever, let me just get one thing out of the way…Juan Manuel Marquez is definitely the best “boxer” on the planet right now. Now, when I say “boxer,” I mean a tactical and fundamental practitioner of the sweet science. Watching him fight is like watching Chris Paul maneuver his way through defenders and methodically break down the opposing team on offense. For those who don't follow the NBA, think about one of the greatest painters who ever lived, like Picasso or Van Gogh, working on a masterpiece right before your eyes. It's like watching jiu-jitsu and MMA legend Royce Gracie pull an armbar from his ass while in the most dire and improbable position.  Inside the boxing ring, Juan Manuel Marquez really is a sight to behold for anyone who truly understands and appreciates boxing. read more

Filed under: Battle of East and West, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao, Pacman vs. Hitman, Pacquiao vs. Hatton, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, Ricky Hatton

UK boxing analyst says Hatton will lose to Pacquiao

abs-cbnNEWS.com

British veteran boxing writer Colin Hart has predicted that Manny Pacquiao will beat Ricky Hatton in 10 rounds when they face off on May 2 in Las Vegas.

Hart, known as the “Voice of Boxing,” told British daily “The Sun” that despite Hatton’s improvement under new trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., there’s still a stronger possibility of him losing to Pacquiao.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Pacquiao does stop Ricky in the later rounds, maybe nine or 10,” Hart said in The Sun story published March 9.

Hart noted that the Pacquiao-Hatton match up will be fascinating and a very close one, but predicted that Pacquiao, with better speed, will emerge victorious. read more

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

Manny Is Too Good For Hatton

thesun.co.uk

COLIN HART says Filipino sensation Manny Pacquiao will beat Ricky Hatton when the pair collide on May 2.

Despite acknowledging the Hitman’s improvement under new trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr, the Voice of Boxing reckons Pacman will emerge victorious from their Las Vegas showpiece. read more

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