MANILA, Philippines – Oscar "The Golden Boy" De La Hoya was a great opponent, but for Manny Pacquiao, facing Ricky Hatton may be even tougher.
Pacquiao was man enough to admit it before some 6,000 cheering fans at the Trafford Center in Manchester about how he expects Hatton to give him a lot of problems in their May 2 light-welterweight showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“I’ve been in a lot of big, big fights and beaten a lot of great fighters. My last fight against De La Hoya was important, but Ricky Hatton will be much harder," he said.
Though not as decorated and celebrated as De La Hoya, Hatton is at the peak of a career that has seen him win titles in the light-welterweight and welterweight classes.
He also lost just once in 46 fights – to retired unbeaten champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. – 32 of which "The Hitman" won by way of knockout.
De La Hoya lost a one-sided eight round technical knockout to Pacquiao at welterweight in their 2008 December showdown in Las Vegas.
“This fight will be a great challenge because Ricky is a great fighter. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime fight," said the 30-year-old world’s top pound-for-pound fighter.
To the wild cheers of his fight fans, Hatton said Pacquiao doesn’t scare him despite being the great champion that he is.
“This is a fight between two nice men, but there is nothing nice about either me or Manny when we get inside the ring. We’re both aggressive, but where some other fighters have been worried about him, he certainly won’t worry me," said the Manchester native.
The two noted punchers are making a tour of Manchester to promote their 12-round fight many expected to be one of the biggest for the year 2009.
A formal press conference would be held on at the Imperial War Museum in Southwark London before Team Pacquiao leaves for Los Angeles.
A similar promotional tour is expected to hit the cities of New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco before Pacquiao kicks off a rigorous two-month training at Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card gym.
Visiting London for the first time, Pacquiao toured the city Sunday during his rest day.
He went on a sightseeing tour of Big Ben, Westminter and the House of Commons, the Trafalgar Square, the London Eye and other well-known tourist spots.
Hatton is expected to remain in Manchester for another four weeks, and then flies to Las Vegas to hook up with trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. –GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/151038/Pacquiao-Hatton-fight-harder-than-Oscar-bout
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Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Pacquiao, Hatton corners trade verbal jabs
MANILA, Philippines – The fighters have shown only respect for each other. So the usual bitter words that accompany a fight were left to the respective trainers of Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton.
During Saturday’s press conference in Manchester for the “East vs. West" megafight, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach and Hatton’s trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. did not waste time in throwing verbal jabs at the other.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the “opening bell" rang when promoter Bob Arum introduced Roach as “the greatest trainer in the world."
Mayweather immediately grabbed the mike to say: “If anybody thinks Freddie ‘the Joke’ Roach can out-train me, they have to be sick."
To which Roach, a three-time trainer of the year awardee, retorted: “It’s a shame Floyd senior isn’t in the Hall of Fame."
Mayweather snapped back: “He should be in the Hall of Shame!"
Through all these, Pacquaio and Hatton could only look on and laugh.
The two celebrated trainers/ strategists have had a history of bad blood, which started when Roach replaced Mayweather to whip Oscar de la Hoya into winning shape for his super-fight with the latter’s son, Floyd Jr. in 2007. The Golden Boy eventually lost via split decision.
In the same presser, Mayweather belittled Pacquiao’s dominant performance against The Golden Boy last December, saying: “When he beat the world legend Oscar de la Hoya, he was over the hill, now it’s time for you to swallow the same old pill."
Mayweather even waxed poetic in predicting the downfall of Pacquiao to his ward Hatton.
“When it comes, Manny, then you had better be ready, because I don’t want you to blame it on Freddie," he told the Filipino phenom.
Pacquiao, the reigning world pound-for-pound king, and Hatton, the defending International Boxing Organization lightwelterweight champion, will duke it out on May 2 in Las Vegas. -GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150879/Pacquiao-Hatton-corners-trade-verbal-jabs
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During Saturday’s press conference in Manchester for the “East vs. West" megafight, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach and Hatton’s trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. did not waste time in throwing verbal jabs at the other.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the “opening bell" rang when promoter Bob Arum introduced Roach as “the greatest trainer in the world."
Mayweather immediately grabbed the mike to say: “If anybody thinks Freddie ‘the Joke’ Roach can out-train me, they have to be sick."
To which Roach, a three-time trainer of the year awardee, retorted: “It’s a shame Floyd senior isn’t in the Hall of Fame."
Mayweather snapped back: “He should be in the Hall of Shame!"
Through all these, Pacquaio and Hatton could only look on and laugh.
The two celebrated trainers/ strategists have had a history of bad blood, which started when Roach replaced Mayweather to whip Oscar de la Hoya into winning shape for his super-fight with the latter’s son, Floyd Jr. in 2007. The Golden Boy eventually lost via split decision.
In the same presser, Mayweather belittled Pacquiao’s dominant performance against The Golden Boy last December, saying: “When he beat the world legend Oscar de la Hoya, he was over the hill, now it’s time for you to swallow the same old pill."
Mayweather even waxed poetic in predicting the downfall of Pacquiao to his ward Hatton.
“When it comes, Manny, then you had better be ready, because I don’t want you to blame it on Freddie," he told the Filipino phenom.
Pacquiao, the reigning world pound-for-pound king, and Hatton, the defending International Boxing Organization lightwelterweight champion, will duke it out on May 2 in Las Vegas. -GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150879/Pacquiao-Hatton-corners-trade-verbal-jabs
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
De La Hoya: I am leaning toward retirement
HOUSTON — Oscar De La Hoya says he's "leaning toward retirement" from boxing, but is getting pressure from people close to him to fight again.
De La Hoya, who turned 36 this month, was soundly beaten by Manny Pacquiao in December, his fourth loss in his last seven fights. America's biggest and most bankable boxing star was in Houston on Thursday to promote Saturday's lightweight championship fight between Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez.
De La Hoya (39-6) appeared sluggish after dropping weight to fight Pacquiao at 147 pounds (67 kilograms), and said his poor performance is the most compelling reason he'd return to the ring.
"I'm actually, at this point, a little bit confused on what I'm going to do," he said. "Here I am, ready to make my decision, saying, 'OK, you know what? I'm going to hang up the gloves. I think I'm ready.' But then I have people — a lot of people — telling me, 'Wait, that wasn't you against Manny.'
"Everybody wants to try to bring up excuses on what happened, and then it starts changing your mind. It starts pulling you back in. I just want to make sure I make the correct decision before I make the final one."
De La Hoya said his wife, Millie, has tried to convince him to retire, mostly for the sake of their two children.
"When you have your wife telling you — not every day — but reminding you, 'Look, you have kids who look up to you, who want to spend a lot of time with you, who don't want to see their father in bad shape,'" he said, "it makes you think."
De La Hoya has generated more money than any boxer in history, but he's not sure if he's mentally ready to undertake another round of rigorous training just for the sake of one more big payday. - AP
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150600/De-La-Hoya-I-am-leaning-toward-retirement
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De La Hoya, who turned 36 this month, was soundly beaten by Manny Pacquiao in December, his fourth loss in his last seven fights. America's biggest and most bankable boxing star was in Houston on Thursday to promote Saturday's lightweight championship fight between Juan Diaz and Juan Manuel Marquez.
De La Hoya (39-6) appeared sluggish after dropping weight to fight Pacquiao at 147 pounds (67 kilograms), and said his poor performance is the most compelling reason he'd return to the ring.
"I'm actually, at this point, a little bit confused on what I'm going to do," he said. "Here I am, ready to make my decision, saying, 'OK, you know what? I'm going to hang up the gloves. I think I'm ready.' But then I have people — a lot of people — telling me, 'Wait, that wasn't you against Manny.'
"Everybody wants to try to bring up excuses on what happened, and then it starts changing your mind. It starts pulling you back in. I just want to make sure I make the correct decision before I make the final one."
De La Hoya said his wife, Millie, has tried to convince him to retire, mostly for the sake of their two children.
"When you have your wife telling you — not every day — but reminding you, 'Look, you have kids who look up to you, who want to spend a lot of time with you, who don't want to see their father in bad shape,'" he said, "it makes you think."
De La Hoya has generated more money than any boxer in history, but he's not sure if he's mentally ready to undertake another round of rigorous training just for the sake of one more big payday. - AP
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150600/De-La-Hoya-I-am-leaning-toward-retirement
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Marquez to fight Diaz with Pacquiao in mind
MANILA, Philippines – Juan Manuel Marquez has yet to throw a punch against Juan Diaz but he is already thinking of challenging Manny Pacquiao for a second rematch.
Marquez will face Mexican-American Juan Diaz for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight titles on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Marquez and Pacquiao’s first match on May 8, 2004 ended in a draw. Pacquiao then won via split decision in their March 15, 2008 rematch with his third round knockdown of Marquez weighing heavily on the judges.
Marquez believes he won that fight and wants another shot at Pacquiao to assure his fans that he deserves the status of being the only third boxer that brought down the Pacman.
But a Pacquiao-Marquez Part III proved to be elusive for the Mexican after his rival jumped to lightweight where the cat-and-mouse chase began.
Pacquiao challenged and defeated David Diaz for the World Boxing Council world lightweight title. He beat Diaz via a ninth round knockout.
Marquez jumped into Pacquiao’s weight division where he fought Joel Casamayor, whom he knocked out in the 11th round on September 13, 2009.
He once again called on Pacquiao but the reigning pound-for-pound king moved to welterweight to fight Oscar De La Hoya, who later became another casualty of the Filipino boxing icon.
Pacquiao’s demolition job against De La Hoya cemented his status as boxing’s pound-for-pound king with fighters lining up to get a chance to face him inside the ring. Ricky Hatton is the one lucky enough to seal a deal with Pacquiao in a May 2 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Marquez, however, is still waiting at ringside adding that Pacquiao does not scare him and he hopes to face him again after his fight against Diaz. – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150574/Marquez-to-fight-Diaz-with-Pacquiao-in-mind
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Marquez will face Mexican-American Juan Diaz for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight titles on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Marquez and Pacquiao’s first match on May 8, 2004 ended in a draw. Pacquiao then won via split decision in their March 15, 2008 rematch with his third round knockdown of Marquez weighing heavily on the judges.
Marquez believes he won that fight and wants another shot at Pacquiao to assure his fans that he deserves the status of being the only third boxer that brought down the Pacman.
But a Pacquiao-Marquez Part III proved to be elusive for the Mexican after his rival jumped to lightweight where the cat-and-mouse chase began.
Pacquiao challenged and defeated David Diaz for the World Boxing Council world lightweight title. He beat Diaz via a ninth round knockout.
Marquez jumped into Pacquiao’s weight division where he fought Joel Casamayor, whom he knocked out in the 11th round on September 13, 2009.
He once again called on Pacquiao but the reigning pound-for-pound king moved to welterweight to fight Oscar De La Hoya, who later became another casualty of the Filipino boxing icon.
Pacquiao’s demolition job against De La Hoya cemented his status as boxing’s pound-for-pound king with fighters lining up to get a chance to face him inside the ring. Ricky Hatton is the one lucky enough to seal a deal with Pacquiao in a May 2 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Marquez, however, is still waiting at ringside adding that Pacquiao does not scare him and he hopes to face him again after his fight against Diaz. – GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150574/Marquez-to-fight-Diaz-with-Pacquiao-in-mind
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Mepranum sets sight on Pacquiao-Hatton undercard
MANILA, Philippines - Upcoming boxer Richie Mepranum may get to showcase his fighting skills in another Las Vegas bout headlined by pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, who’s set to square off with British star Ricky Hatton on May 2.
But for this to happen, the reigning World Boxing Organization Oriental flyweight king must first get past a still-to-be-named Mexican opponent on March 22 in the undercard of Nonito Donaire’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) title defense against Raul Martinez.
According to Mepranum’s handlers, his promoter Top Rank has promised the 21-year-old prospect a second Vegas outing should he win his March 22 assignment.
Mepranum, who’s been inked to a three-year contract with Top Rank, has successfully debuted in the US last December in the undercard of Pacquiao’s megabuck fight with Oscar dela Hoya. In that gig, beat Texan Cesar Lopez over six rounds despite arriving in Las Vegas just three days before the fight.
Mepranum is currently training in Maasim, Sarangani, doing heavy roadwork and busying himself at the gym. GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150562/Mepranum-sets-sight-on-Pacquiao-Hatton-undercard
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But for this to happen, the reigning World Boxing Organization Oriental flyweight king must first get past a still-to-be-named Mexican opponent on March 22 in the undercard of Nonito Donaire’s International Boxing Federation (IBF) title defense against Raul Martinez.
According to Mepranum’s handlers, his promoter Top Rank has promised the 21-year-old prospect a second Vegas outing should he win his March 22 assignment.
Mepranum, who’s been inked to a three-year contract with Top Rank, has successfully debuted in the US last December in the undercard of Pacquiao’s megabuck fight with Oscar dela Hoya. In that gig, beat Texan Cesar Lopez over six rounds despite arriving in Las Vegas just three days before the fight.
Mepranum is currently training in Maasim, Sarangani, doing heavy roadwork and busying himself at the gym. GMANews.TV
Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/150562/Mepranum-sets-sight-on-Pacquiao-Hatton-undercard
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