From Las Vegas -- An old wives' tale claims they once held a boxing news conference and there was actual news.
They trotted out Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, opponents for Saturday night's next big deal in the sport. Both acted responsibly, spoke sensibly, brought no new insight to their match, and sat down.
Unless Mike Tyson, Bernard Hopkins or Floyd Mayweather Jr. are fighting, the lead-up show is never about the boxers and always about the window dressing.
That's the eternal charm. Boxing is the world's only honestly dishonest sport. It is the University of Con Artists, the Academy of the Slick. It is the worm of organized athletics. Cut off a piece of it here, another there, and it still keeps wiggling.
If you are a member of the media, the people who run boxing know that you know. And you know that they know that you know.
College sports, for example, yammers on about building character, when it is mostly building pros. Boxing just builds characters. It looks you right in the eye, tells you it will try to con you, and then proceeds.
Wednesday's extravaganza, in a huge ballroom at the MGM Grand, where the media messengers of this madness flocked in large numbers, included a fashion show, strange bedfellows, comments on international relations, insults and poetry, tugs at the heart strings, and the ever-present slick-selling.
This is geared to getting ink-stained wretches, Internet typists and TV talking heads in tight black dresses to gobble up the inanities of the day and dispense them to the public so the public will buy pay-per-view packages at $49.95. That's the message. The only one.
Delivering it was a long row of men on a dais, their fashion statements running from three-piece suits to sport coat and T-shirts to wind breakers and sweat suits. Pacquiao wore white shoes, pants and sport coat with a black tam. Hatton, who referred to himself as a fat, beer-drinking Englishman, wore a T-shirt and a black floppy hat.
The master-of-ceremonies duty was jointly handled by Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya. Arum once promoted De La Hoya. Then De La Hoya went out on his own. Along the way, they have called each other every name in the book -- to be fair, Arum more than De La Hoya -- and have kept several law firms in business. Now, it's all smiles and pats on the back.
Arum, who never met a fight he couldn't spin into a tale of monumental significance, said that this fight would be a success even though, with Pacquiao from the Philippines and Hatton from England, there is no U.S. angle.
"Americans are not xenophobic," Arum proclaimed.
One wonders how that quote will play in France.
Eventually, because it apparently wasn't preventable, Hatton's trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., was called to the microphone. He, like Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, is a former boxer. Each has accepted more than his share of blows to the head over the years, but only Roach admits that.
From the start of this promotion, months ago, they have been verbally battling. Mayweather Sr. likes to call Roach "the joke coach," and Roach likes to remind Mayweather Sr. that he got a head start on Mayweather in training careers because Mayweather was in prison for selling drugs.
What is beyond the borders of good taste elsewhere is standard fare in boxing.
This time, Mayweather Sr. tried some poetry.
"Pac-man, it's over. So stop wishing on that four-leaf clover."
"Ain't no secret. I hope you know. It's Hit Man Hatton by KO."
Roach took the microphone and wished the Hatton camp luck.
Mark Taffet, making the mandatory HBO speech (remember, pay per view, $49.95. Sign up now), gave both trainers a cleverly phrased boost.
"They are two men who are legendary in their ability to walk the walk," he said. "Now, their walk is exceeded only by their ability to talk the talk."
Taffet then announced that HBO's Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7, a new art form best described as advertising documentary, will do 24/7 Overtime Friday night. That will feature Jim Lampley interviewing Roach and Mayweather Sr., all three sitting in the ring at the MGM Grand.
Pray for Lampley.
Somewhere along the line, Arum introduced a member of Pacquiao's entourage. Before another Pacquiao fight, Arum had introduced a high-ranking Philippine official as "Governor what's-his-name." This time, he called Wacky Salud to the microphone.
Wacky was up for about a minute. He wore dark glasses and spoke in a deep gravely voice. His words appeared to be English. If this hadn't been a boxing news conference, it could have passed as an audition for a mafia movie.
Arum wrapped up the program by reminding all of how Pacquiao came from "abject poverty," and how he often sits outside his home in General Santos City and hands out food and money to people in need.
"The Philippines has the best social welfare system in the world," Arum proclaimed. "And it is called Manny Pacquiao."
The whole thing took a little more than an hour. It was jaw-dropping. It always is.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwyre-pacquiao30-2009apr30,1,515202.column
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Mayweather vs Ortiz Online Live Streaming
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Rhymes and reason for Pacquiao-Hatton
LAS VEGAS – Boxing news conferences aren’t known to produce rhyme or reason, but there was both Wednesday. Floyd Mayweather Sr. brought the rhymes. Everybody else brought reasons for picking Manny Pacquiao or liking Ricky Hatton Saturday night at the MGM Grand in a junior-welterweight fight marketed as timeless, yet also significant for what it says about the game’s immediate pay-per-view prospects in the post-Oscar De La Hoya era.
“It’s over, so quit wishing on a four-leaf clover,’9 Mayweather, Hatton’s trainer, said to Pacquiao in nonsensical verse that was entertaining and century or so beyond Rudyard Kipling.
If Mayweather has never heard of Kipling, he is not alone. Kipling’s name gets an occasional mention in English Lit. But at a boxing news conference, Kipling might as well be a great American heavyweight. He doesn’t exist anymore, or at least he hasn’t until Professors Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, and Richard Schaefer, of Golden Boy Promotions, borrowed from Kipling’s 19th century verse on Afghanistan and named the fight, The Battle Of East & West.
The battle between Pacquiao, a Filipino, and Hatton, a Brit, promises to be a lot less poetic. Punches don’t rhyme. They damage and disable.
“So I hope you know, Hitman Hatton by KO,’’ Mayweather, trainer-turned-bard, said as he concluded a routine that started with another salvo at Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach.
“Joke Coach Roach, or should I call you cockroach?’’ Mayweather said.
By now, Roach has heard it all, or at least most of it. Still, there are times when Roach admits that the the well-rehearsed routine angers him.
“Yeah, sometimes it gets to me,’’ Roach said after the news conference.
It sounded as if Wednesday might have been one of those times. Unlike Mayweather, however, Roach didn’t need a rhyme or Kipling to express himself. He was blunt, which is what he expects Pacquiao’s punches to be in what he says will be a stoppage of Hatton. Roach ripped Mayweather for not doing his job. In training camp, Roach said Mayweather has been late to a Hatton workout.
“He show s up late for eight rounds of sparring before a world championship fight,’’ Roach said. “That’s sickening. I’m not ever going to show up late for any of Manny’s workouts. Never.’’
The unabridged trash-talk is the fight within the fight. Mayweather and Roach continue to get much attention as Hatton and Pacquiao. From Mayweather’s perspective, it’s schtick, a lousy lounge act. But Roach isn’t always laughing. It is hard to say what the sideshow will do to the respective fighters. The quiet, yet charismatic Pacquiao says little, so it virtually impossible to get read on what he thinks of Mayweather.
But don’t be fooled by Mayweather’s clowning, says De La Hoya, Hatton’s promoter, who was trained by both.
“Strategy-wise, Floyd is more technically-sound,’’ said De La Hoya, who a few weeks ago announced his retirement after deliberating his future in the wake of his devastating loss in to Pacqu iao in December. “He’s crazy, but from-round-to-round, Floyd knows what he is doing.’’
If Roach’s confident assessment is accurate, however, Mayweather might need to be a magician in addition to master tactician for Hatton to have a chance against the left-handed Pacquiao. In Pacquiao, Roach says he simply has the better, more complete fighter. In the eight years that Roach has been the Filipino’s trainer, Pacquiao has matured with the slow, yet steady addition of skill, especially over the last two years. A more versatile Pacquiao with defensive ability was especially evident in an understated, yet significant decision over Marco Antonio Barrera in a 2007 rematch.
Hatton has been with Mayweather for only one fight – an 11th-round stoppage of Paulie Malignaggi last November. Mayweather says he has re-created Hatton, turning him into a more complete boxer instead of a brawler. At some point, however, Hatton will revert to the brawling style that has defined him, says Roach.
“The first time Hatton gets hit, he is going to move forward,’’ Roach said. “…He is a good fighter, but not a great fighter. He can’t deal with southpaws and Manny’s kind of speed.
Hatton didn’t hear Roach’s dim evaluation of skill that doesn’t seem to leave him with only a puncher’s chance at an upset. Then again, Hatton has read and heard pretty much the same thing throughout the media.
“I think you’ve made your mind up already,’’ Hatton told a ballroom full of journalists. “The fat, beer-drinking Englishman is going to have to shock the world again.’’
NOTES, QUOTES & ODDSERVATIONS
Pacquiao’s mom, Dionisia was introduced at the news conference. She has never watched her son fight from a ringside seat. She might not this time. She said she plans to stay in her room at Mandalay Bay, where Pacquiao always stays in Las Vegas. Through an interpreter, she said she plans to pray throughout the bout.
· In a visit to Hatton’s Manchester, Hatton’s hometown in the UK, De La Hoya said he was amazed to see the British junior-welterweight attract a crowd of 60,000. De La Hoya tried to compare that to a night when he fought in front 45,000 in El Paso, Tex. “Most of them were women,’’ De La Hoya joked.
· Arum loves to talk about Pacquiao’s generosity. A big percentage of his money is invested in Filipino classrooms, hospitals and the poor, according to Arum. “The Philippines hav e the best social system in the world and it’s called Manny Pacquiao,’’ he said.
· Bernard Hopkins, a De La Hoya partner in Golden Promotions, says Pacquiao’s success could be his undoing. Marvin Hagler once said it was hard to get up at dawn and run after sleeping in silk sheets. Years later, Fernando Vargas said it was tough to be a fighter when you could afford silk underwear. “I guarantee you, Pacquiao has some upgraded underwear,’’ Hopkins said. “That’s probably going to play a role in the fight. It’s very hard to fight poor when you’re rich.”
Source: http://www.15rounds.com/rhymes-and-reason-for-pacquiao-hatton-042909/
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“It’s over, so quit wishing on a four-leaf clover,’9 Mayweather, Hatton’s trainer, said to Pacquiao in nonsensical verse that was entertaining and century or so beyond Rudyard Kipling.
If Mayweather has never heard of Kipling, he is not alone. Kipling’s name gets an occasional mention in English Lit. But at a boxing news conference, Kipling might as well be a great American heavyweight. He doesn’t exist anymore, or at least he hasn’t until Professors Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, and Richard Schaefer, of Golden Boy Promotions, borrowed from Kipling’s 19th century verse on Afghanistan and named the fight, The Battle Of East & West.
The battle between Pacquiao, a Filipino, and Hatton, a Brit, promises to be a lot less poetic. Punches don’t rhyme. They damage and disable.
“So I hope you know, Hitman Hatton by KO,’’ Mayweather, trainer-turned-bard, said as he concluded a routine that started with another salvo at Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach.
“Joke Coach Roach, or should I call you cockroach?’’ Mayweather said.
By now, Roach has heard it all, or at least most of it. Still, there are times when Roach admits that the the well-rehearsed routine angers him.
“Yeah, sometimes it gets to me,’’ Roach said after the news conference.
It sounded as if Wednesday might have been one of those times. Unlike Mayweather, however, Roach didn’t need a rhyme or Kipling to express himself. He was blunt, which is what he expects Pacquiao’s punches to be in what he says will be a stoppage of Hatton. Roach ripped Mayweather for not doing his job. In training camp, Roach said Mayweather has been late to a Hatton workout.
“He show s up late for eight rounds of sparring before a world championship fight,’’ Roach said. “That’s sickening. I’m not ever going to show up late for any of Manny’s workouts. Never.’’
The unabridged trash-talk is the fight within the fight. Mayweather and Roach continue to get much attention as Hatton and Pacquiao. From Mayweather’s perspective, it’s schtick, a lousy lounge act. But Roach isn’t always laughing. It is hard to say what the sideshow will do to the respective fighters. The quiet, yet charismatic Pacquiao says little, so it virtually impossible to get read on what he thinks of Mayweather.
But don’t be fooled by Mayweather’s clowning, says De La Hoya, Hatton’s promoter, who was trained by both.
“Strategy-wise, Floyd is more technically-sound,’’ said De La Hoya, who a few weeks ago announced his retirement after deliberating his future in the wake of his devastating loss in to Pacqu iao in December. “He’s crazy, but from-round-to-round, Floyd knows what he is doing.’’
If Roach’s confident assessment is accurate, however, Mayweather might need to be a magician in addition to master tactician for Hatton to have a chance against the left-handed Pacquiao. In Pacquiao, Roach says he simply has the better, more complete fighter. In the eight years that Roach has been the Filipino’s trainer, Pacquiao has matured with the slow, yet steady addition of skill, especially over the last two years. A more versatile Pacquiao with defensive ability was especially evident in an understated, yet significant decision over Marco Antonio Barrera in a 2007 rematch.
Hatton has been with Mayweather for only one fight – an 11th-round stoppage of Paulie Malignaggi last November. Mayweather says he has re-created Hatton, turning him into a more complete boxer instead of a brawler. At some point, however, Hatton will revert to the brawling style that has defined him, says Roach.
“The first time Hatton gets hit, he is going to move forward,’’ Roach said. “…He is a good fighter, but not a great fighter. He can’t deal with southpaws and Manny’s kind of speed.
Hatton didn’t hear Roach’s dim evaluation of skill that doesn’t seem to leave him with only a puncher’s chance at an upset. Then again, Hatton has read and heard pretty much the same thing throughout the media.
“I think you’ve made your mind up already,’’ Hatton told a ballroom full of journalists. “The fat, beer-drinking Englishman is going to have to shock the world again.’’
NOTES, QUOTES & ODDSERVATIONS
Pacquiao’s mom, Dionisia was introduced at the news conference. She has never watched her son fight from a ringside seat. She might not this time. She said she plans to stay in her room at Mandalay Bay, where Pacquiao always stays in Las Vegas. Through an interpreter, she said she plans to pray throughout the bout.
· In a visit to Hatton’s Manchester, Hatton’s hometown in the UK, De La Hoya said he was amazed to see the British junior-welterweight attract a crowd of 60,000. De La Hoya tried to compare that to a night when he fought in front 45,000 in El Paso, Tex. “Most of them were women,’’ De La Hoya joked.
· Arum loves to talk about Pacquiao’s generosity. A big percentage of his money is invested in Filipino classrooms, hospitals and the poor, according to Arum. “The Philippines hav e the best social system in the world and it’s called Manny Pacquiao,’’ he said.
· Bernard Hopkins, a De La Hoya partner in Golden Promotions, says Pacquiao’s success could be his undoing. Marvin Hagler once said it was hard to get up at dawn and run after sleeping in silk sheets. Years later, Fernando Vargas said it was tough to be a fighter when you could afford silk underwear. “I guarantee you, Pacquiao has some upgraded underwear,’’ Hopkins said. “That’s probably going to play a role in the fight. It’s very hard to fight poor when you’re rich.”
Source: http://www.15rounds.com/rhymes-and-reason-for-pacquiao-hatton-042909/
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Hatton and the pound-for-pound crown: Does it fit?
Ricky Hatton talked about it before his fight against and loss to then-pound-for-pound ruler Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007. He's talking about it now, as we are right around 72 hours away from Hatton and current P4P champ Manny Pacquiao taking to the squared circle to settle their business.
Hatton, who has been the lineal champion at 140 pounds since beating Kostya Tszyu in 2005 and also has won a debated alphabet title at 147 pounds, wants to be known as boxing's best. The man at the top of the pound-for-pound ranks. The king of kings.
Some people go to great lengths in attempting to describe what "pound-for-pound" is supposed to mean, but all it was ever really meant to tell folks was who was the best fighter in the world, regardless of weight. It's not about how many weight classes you can succeed in -- just who "the man" really is, regardless of weight. It has often been said that Sugar Ray Robinson, the great middleweight and welterweight champion often recognized as boxing's pound-for-pound all-time greatest fighter, was the man for whom the tag was created. All it meant was that Ray was the best.
I've said a few times in passing that just because Hatton thinks that beating Pacquiao would make him the best in the sport, it doesn't really mean it's true. Pacquiao's title as P4P king is not something "real" -- it has been assigned by the vast majority of fans, boxing journalists, and those within the sport. Pacquiao is recognized as the best, a distinction he has earned.
But now that we get close to fight night, something does occur to me: If Ricky Hatton beats Manny Pacquiao convincingly, knocks him out or dominates him (unlikely as anyone thinks either result to be), does he have a great case to take over that spot?
The more I think about it, yes, he does. He would be the first man to get a win over Pacquiao since Erik Morales in 2005. Since then, Pacquiao has twice stopped Morales, smoked Marco Antonio Barrera, beaten Juan Manuel Marquez in one of the decade's great fights, retired Oscar de la Hoya, and destroyed credible if not great foes in David Diaz, Oscar Larios, Hector Velazquez and Jorge Solis. Since that loss to Morales, he's really only even been so much as tested by Marquez and Morales (in their second fight). Everyone else he has creamed as he's improved and gotten better and better, seemingly by the fight.
You'd also have to look over Hatton's record. There are good wins there, and the win over Tszyu has been discredited to an absurd degree by many, in my opinion. Kostya was not the washed-up old man some have made him out to be, in one of those boxing legends that gains momentum and just becomes accepted as fact when really it has developed into near-folklore, like the night Barrera made Hamed miss every punch he threw and beat him every moment of the bout. Juan Urango, Paulie Malignaggi, Jose Luis Castillo, Luis Collazo, Carlos Maussa, Michael Stewart, Carlos Vilches, Vince Phillips, etc. -- sure, not the most glamorous list of victims ever, but good fighters all of them.
His record right now also reveals one other thing: Who's he ever lost to? Mayweather, and that's it. Yeah, it was pretty convincing, but a big win for Hatton over Pacquiao makes two things happen: It makes Ricky look better, and it makes Floyd look even better.
The idea that Pacquiao is so far out of his weight class doesn't strike me as important anymore. I was shocked at how fit, lean, and strong he looked at 147 pounds. If there was an ounce of fat on him that night you'd have never known it. At 140, he's actually got a bigger reach than Ricky and is all of an inch shorter. I've already said it once, and I'm glad more people are starting to say it here and elsewhere, but Ricky doesn't have any big physical advantage in this fight. He appears to be the stronger man because he fights (historically, anyway) in a manner befitting a bull in a china shop. He's a rugged fighter who (historically, anyway) fights from his ass up to his shoulders.
But is he really a bigger puncher? No. Is he a bigger man? Not really. Hatton walks around (historically, anyway) between 170 and 180 pounds, but that's never been healthy weight by boxer standards. Pacquiao walks around at 155 pounds or so, supposedly, because he takes better care of himself in between fights.
Physically, I really feel the fight is even. Had Hatton been the sort of fitness freak that many fighters are, he probably could've made featherweight. Instead he's fought at 140 his entire career, save for two fights at 147.
So there's no pure, base physical advantage or disadvantage in my mind. Ricky's only loss came to one of the generation's greats, and now he's got the guts to be a real champion, put his money and his legacy where his heart lies, and fight another pound-for-pound top dog.
If Ricky Hatton is able to shock a lot of people and turn in some kind of dominant, clear-cut win performance on Saturday night, he's got his case as boxing's current king.
Other contenders, should Hatton beat Manny:
* Juan Manuel Marquez, the lightweight world champion who is rumored to be stepping up to a catchweight below 145 pounds for a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who would also come back into the conversation should he return and beat Marquez.
* 44-year old light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins, though I would hesitate to put him in the top spot simply because he's a once a year fighter that may or may not take on a top opponent sometime soon. Had a deal been reached for Adamek-Hopkins, he's even more in the mix than he already is.
* Welterweight titlist Shane Mosley, who rocketed back up the ranks when he beat the plaster out of Antonio Margarito in January. Sadly, Mosley's career is essentially on hold for the time being as he waits for an opponent. He wanted Mayweather, but he's not going to get him.
* Paul Williams -- he's gotten that good. In the last 10 months he has legit wins at 147 (Carlos Quintana), 154 (Verno Phillips) and 160 (Winky Wright). At 27, Williams is by far the youngest fighter in the running.
This will all only really matter if Hatton can deliver that W over Manny, though. If he doesn't but looks great in a loss, he might climb on the Bad Left Hook P4P list (he's No. 13 right now) anyway. He's also ranked No. 8 by Ring Magazine and No. 12 by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.
What's really important, though, more than the P4P talk or anything else, is this: These two guys are among the best in the world, and they're going to go at it. They're not dancers, they're not runners, they're not boring. They're fighters. They're fighters who are coming to fight, and both of them are going into what will be one of the biggest tests of their careers.
Source: http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/4/30/859732/hatton-and-the-pound-for-pound
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Hatton, who has been the lineal champion at 140 pounds since beating Kostya Tszyu in 2005 and also has won a debated alphabet title at 147 pounds, wants to be known as boxing's best. The man at the top of the pound-for-pound ranks. The king of kings.
Some people go to great lengths in attempting to describe what "pound-for-pound" is supposed to mean, but all it was ever really meant to tell folks was who was the best fighter in the world, regardless of weight. It's not about how many weight classes you can succeed in -- just who "the man" really is, regardless of weight. It has often been said that Sugar Ray Robinson, the great middleweight and welterweight champion often recognized as boxing's pound-for-pound all-time greatest fighter, was the man for whom the tag was created. All it meant was that Ray was the best.
I've said a few times in passing that just because Hatton thinks that beating Pacquiao would make him the best in the sport, it doesn't really mean it's true. Pacquiao's title as P4P king is not something "real" -- it has been assigned by the vast majority of fans, boxing journalists, and those within the sport. Pacquiao is recognized as the best, a distinction he has earned.
But now that we get close to fight night, something does occur to me: If Ricky Hatton beats Manny Pacquiao convincingly, knocks him out or dominates him (unlikely as anyone thinks either result to be), does he have a great case to take over that spot?
The more I think about it, yes, he does. He would be the first man to get a win over Pacquiao since Erik Morales in 2005. Since then, Pacquiao has twice stopped Morales, smoked Marco Antonio Barrera, beaten Juan Manuel Marquez in one of the decade's great fights, retired Oscar de la Hoya, and destroyed credible if not great foes in David Diaz, Oscar Larios, Hector Velazquez and Jorge Solis. Since that loss to Morales, he's really only even been so much as tested by Marquez and Morales (in their second fight). Everyone else he has creamed as he's improved and gotten better and better, seemingly by the fight.
You'd also have to look over Hatton's record. There are good wins there, and the win over Tszyu has been discredited to an absurd degree by many, in my opinion. Kostya was not the washed-up old man some have made him out to be, in one of those boxing legends that gains momentum and just becomes accepted as fact when really it has developed into near-folklore, like the night Barrera made Hamed miss every punch he threw and beat him every moment of the bout. Juan Urango, Paulie Malignaggi, Jose Luis Castillo, Luis Collazo, Carlos Maussa, Michael Stewart, Carlos Vilches, Vince Phillips, etc. -- sure, not the most glamorous list of victims ever, but good fighters all of them.
His record right now also reveals one other thing: Who's he ever lost to? Mayweather, and that's it. Yeah, it was pretty convincing, but a big win for Hatton over Pacquiao makes two things happen: It makes Ricky look better, and it makes Floyd look even better.
The idea that Pacquiao is so far out of his weight class doesn't strike me as important anymore. I was shocked at how fit, lean, and strong he looked at 147 pounds. If there was an ounce of fat on him that night you'd have never known it. At 140, he's actually got a bigger reach than Ricky and is all of an inch shorter. I've already said it once, and I'm glad more people are starting to say it here and elsewhere, but Ricky doesn't have any big physical advantage in this fight. He appears to be the stronger man because he fights (historically, anyway) in a manner befitting a bull in a china shop. He's a rugged fighter who (historically, anyway) fights from his ass up to his shoulders.
But is he really a bigger puncher? No. Is he a bigger man? Not really. Hatton walks around (historically, anyway) between 170 and 180 pounds, but that's never been healthy weight by boxer standards. Pacquiao walks around at 155 pounds or so, supposedly, because he takes better care of himself in between fights.
Physically, I really feel the fight is even. Had Hatton been the sort of fitness freak that many fighters are, he probably could've made featherweight. Instead he's fought at 140 his entire career, save for two fights at 147.
So there's no pure, base physical advantage or disadvantage in my mind. Ricky's only loss came to one of the generation's greats, and now he's got the guts to be a real champion, put his money and his legacy where his heart lies, and fight another pound-for-pound top dog.
If Ricky Hatton is able to shock a lot of people and turn in some kind of dominant, clear-cut win performance on Saturday night, he's got his case as boxing's current king.
Other contenders, should Hatton beat Manny:
* Juan Manuel Marquez, the lightweight world champion who is rumored to be stepping up to a catchweight below 145 pounds for a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who would also come back into the conversation should he return and beat Marquez.
* 44-year old light heavyweight Bernard Hopkins, though I would hesitate to put him in the top spot simply because he's a once a year fighter that may or may not take on a top opponent sometime soon. Had a deal been reached for Adamek-Hopkins, he's even more in the mix than he already is.
* Welterweight titlist Shane Mosley, who rocketed back up the ranks when he beat the plaster out of Antonio Margarito in January. Sadly, Mosley's career is essentially on hold for the time being as he waits for an opponent. He wanted Mayweather, but he's not going to get him.
* Paul Williams -- he's gotten that good. In the last 10 months he has legit wins at 147 (Carlos Quintana), 154 (Verno Phillips) and 160 (Winky Wright). At 27, Williams is by far the youngest fighter in the running.
This will all only really matter if Hatton can deliver that W over Manny, though. If he doesn't but looks great in a loss, he might climb on the Bad Left Hook P4P list (he's No. 13 right now) anyway. He's also ranked No. 8 by Ring Magazine and No. 12 by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.
What's really important, though, more than the P4P talk or anything else, is this: These two guys are among the best in the world, and they're going to go at it. They're not dancers, they're not runners, they're not boring. They're fighters. They're fighters who are coming to fight, and both of them are going into what will be one of the biggest tests of their careers.
Source: http://www.badlefthook.com/2009/4/30/859732/hatton-and-the-pound-for-pound
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Pacquiao's popularity getting bigger as Hatton fight looms
To understand exactly who Manny Pacquiao is requires deeper inspection than simply calling him the best pound-for-pound fighter today.
While he's the first Filipino athlete to appear on a postage stamp in his country, he's also a virtual lock to win a congressional seat in the Philippines when he runs next year. On Friday, when the next issue of Time magazine hits the stands, Pacquiao is listed as one of the world's 100 most influential athletes.
Saturday, when he meets junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton in the first major pay-per-view bout of the year (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET, $49.99), he could solidify his position as the best fighter of his era as he goes for a record fourth lineal world title after becoming the champion at flyweight (112), featherweight (126) and junior lightweight (130). He's also held major belts at junior featherweight (122) and lightweight (135).
"He transcends just an Asian fighter," says boxing historian Bert Sugar. "He's a great fighter."
It's an accomplishment that once seemed unreachable when Pacquiao — who grew up in squalor, living in housing made of cardboard — began his career in 1995 at 106 pounds, even though he won his first world championship three years later.
He didn't appear to be special. He had only four knockouts in his first 11 fights, and he was knocked out twice on singular body shots as a flyweight.
"When I lost before," Pacquiao says, "I lost because I couldn't make my fighting weight. I was too dehydrated."
As he added pounds, Pacquiao morphed into a fighting machine, dubbed the "Mexican Assassin" after toppling the holy trinity of boxing's featherweight and lightweight divisions — Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Barrera was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter, with Morales and Marquez not far behind.
All three are future Hall of Famers, but Pacquiao fought each at least twice, going 5-1-1 and scoring 11 knockdowns. Pacquiao is the only boxer to knock out Barrera and Morales.
Pacquiao also became the first fighter to stop Oscar De La Hoya below the middleweight division. In the highest profile victory of his career in December, Pacquiao battered The Golden Boy into submission after the eighth round.
As a result, he comes into Saturday's bout with Hatton as the favorite, although the Englishman is undefeated at 140 pounds, where he has been champion since 2005.
"The pressure is there and it is big, but I don't want to put that in my mind," says Pacquiao, whose trainer, Freddie Roach, has predicted a third-round knockout. "I don't want to think about that.
"Ricky Hatton is a different kind of fighter than I have ever fought before. The style of Ricky Hatton is not easy. He is a good fighter, and a strong fighter."
It took 34 fights before Pacquiao burst onto the American scene in 2001.
He was a big underdog against Lehlo Ledwaba — a junior featherweight beltholder who was being bred for stardom in the loaded 122- to 126-pound classes— but Pacquiao was too fast and too strong in his first fight under Roach.
Pacquiao, a southpaw who took the fight on just two weeks notice when Ledwaba's original opponent fell out, busted the South African's nose in the first round and finished him with a series of straight lefts in the sixth.
Proving that his victory wasn't a fluke, Pacquiao cleaned out boxing's most competitive division (126) for the past decade, triumphing where Latinos, especially Mexicans, had dominated.
"It's definitely unique. He carries his weight very well," says Shane Mosley, a three-division world champion who climbed from lightweight to junior middle (154). "His power stays around because his legs are big."
Last year alone, Pacquiao won fights in three weight classes. The Marquez win made him the lineal champion at junior lightweight, he won a share of the lightweight crown by knocking out David Diaz three months later, and six months after that he stopped De La Hoya.
Even Hatton can't deny the magnitude of such a feat. "That's incredible, bearing in mind the weight he's fighting at now. It's an absolutely unbelievable achievement," Hatton says. "From where Manny started to where he won his last world title, that is more impressive (than what I've done)."
Plenty of exceptional fighters have risen in weight only to falter. One of the most glaring examples is Alexis Arguello, a classic boxer-puncher who ruled between 126 and 135 pounds from 1974-82. But when Arguello moved up to 140, he lacked the firepower to hold off Aaron Pryor.
More recently, two-division lineal champion Felix Trinidad, the first to defeat De La Hoya in a welterweight unification bout in 1999 and undefeated between 147-154 pounds, rose to 160-170 where his two-fisted power hasn't been nearly as lethal. He's 3-3 there.
As a lightweight, Mosley won all 31 fights and 29 inside the distance for a 94% knockout rate. In the 20 fights he's had since, between 147 and 154 pounds, his KO percentage has fallen to 50.
"It's a little different for Pacquiao. Pacquiao is a little more amazing in that he can still be competitive with all this extra weight. That's remarkable. I kept my power at '47, but at '54 I lost a little bit."
Pacquiao insists that the argument over size or who'll be strongest is overblown. "Boxing is (about) more than hitting," he says. "It is using your mind, and being quick is very important."
Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank Inc., which promotes Pacquiao, expects him to fight once more this year — provided he wins Saturday — and a bout in early 2010 before the fighter campaigns in June for a congressional seat in the Philippines. Arum recently had dinner with Imelda Marcos, the country's former first lady.
"They hope even if he's elected to Congress that he will continue boxing," Arum says.
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2009-04-29-pacquiao-popularity_N.htm
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While he's the first Filipino athlete to appear on a postage stamp in his country, he's also a virtual lock to win a congressional seat in the Philippines when he runs next year. On Friday, when the next issue of Time magazine hits the stands, Pacquiao is listed as one of the world's 100 most influential athletes.
Saturday, when he meets junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton in the first major pay-per-view bout of the year (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET, $49.99), he could solidify his position as the best fighter of his era as he goes for a record fourth lineal world title after becoming the champion at flyweight (112), featherweight (126) and junior lightweight (130). He's also held major belts at junior featherweight (122) and lightweight (135).
"He transcends just an Asian fighter," says boxing historian Bert Sugar. "He's a great fighter."
It's an accomplishment that once seemed unreachable when Pacquiao — who grew up in squalor, living in housing made of cardboard — began his career in 1995 at 106 pounds, even though he won his first world championship three years later.
He didn't appear to be special. He had only four knockouts in his first 11 fights, and he was knocked out twice on singular body shots as a flyweight.
"When I lost before," Pacquiao says, "I lost because I couldn't make my fighting weight. I was too dehydrated."
As he added pounds, Pacquiao morphed into a fighting machine, dubbed the "Mexican Assassin" after toppling the holy trinity of boxing's featherweight and lightweight divisions — Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Barrera was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter, with Morales and Marquez not far behind.
All three are future Hall of Famers, but Pacquiao fought each at least twice, going 5-1-1 and scoring 11 knockdowns. Pacquiao is the only boxer to knock out Barrera and Morales.
Pacquiao also became the first fighter to stop Oscar De La Hoya below the middleweight division. In the highest profile victory of his career in December, Pacquiao battered The Golden Boy into submission after the eighth round.
As a result, he comes into Saturday's bout with Hatton as the favorite, although the Englishman is undefeated at 140 pounds, where he has been champion since 2005.
"The pressure is there and it is big, but I don't want to put that in my mind," says Pacquiao, whose trainer, Freddie Roach, has predicted a third-round knockout. "I don't want to think about that.
"Ricky Hatton is a different kind of fighter than I have ever fought before. The style of Ricky Hatton is not easy. He is a good fighter, and a strong fighter."
It took 34 fights before Pacquiao burst onto the American scene in 2001.
He was a big underdog against Lehlo Ledwaba — a junior featherweight beltholder who was being bred for stardom in the loaded 122- to 126-pound classes— but Pacquiao was too fast and too strong in his first fight under Roach.
Pacquiao, a southpaw who took the fight on just two weeks notice when Ledwaba's original opponent fell out, busted the South African's nose in the first round and finished him with a series of straight lefts in the sixth.
Proving that his victory wasn't a fluke, Pacquiao cleaned out boxing's most competitive division (126) for the past decade, triumphing where Latinos, especially Mexicans, had dominated.
"It's definitely unique. He carries his weight very well," says Shane Mosley, a three-division world champion who climbed from lightweight to junior middle (154). "His power stays around because his legs are big."
Last year alone, Pacquiao won fights in three weight classes. The Marquez win made him the lineal champion at junior lightweight, he won a share of the lightweight crown by knocking out David Diaz three months later, and six months after that he stopped De La Hoya.
Even Hatton can't deny the magnitude of such a feat. "That's incredible, bearing in mind the weight he's fighting at now. It's an absolutely unbelievable achievement," Hatton says. "From where Manny started to where he won his last world title, that is more impressive (than what I've done)."
Plenty of exceptional fighters have risen in weight only to falter. One of the most glaring examples is Alexis Arguello, a classic boxer-puncher who ruled between 126 and 135 pounds from 1974-82. But when Arguello moved up to 140, he lacked the firepower to hold off Aaron Pryor.
More recently, two-division lineal champion Felix Trinidad, the first to defeat De La Hoya in a welterweight unification bout in 1999 and undefeated between 147-154 pounds, rose to 160-170 where his two-fisted power hasn't been nearly as lethal. He's 3-3 there.
As a lightweight, Mosley won all 31 fights and 29 inside the distance for a 94% knockout rate. In the 20 fights he's had since, between 147 and 154 pounds, his KO percentage has fallen to 50.
"It's a little different for Pacquiao. Pacquiao is a little more amazing in that he can still be competitive with all this extra weight. That's remarkable. I kept my power at '47, but at '54 I lost a little bit."
Pacquiao insists that the argument over size or who'll be strongest is overblown. "Boxing is (about) more than hitting," he says. "It is using your mind, and being quick is very important."
Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank Inc., which promotes Pacquiao, expects him to fight once more this year — provided he wins Saturday — and a bout in early 2010 before the fighter campaigns in June for a congressional seat in the Philippines. Arum recently had dinner with Imelda Marcos, the country's former first lady.
"They hope even if he's elected to Congress that he will continue boxing," Arum says.
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2009-04-29-pacquiao-popularity_N.htm
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Exclusive Interview: IBF/IBO flyweight World Champion Nonito Donaire
8CountNews.com caught up with the current IBF/IBO flyweight world champion Nonito Donaire and got his thoughts on his recent title defense against Raul Martinez. Nonito put his belts on the line in front of his homeland fans in The Philippines, and he didn't let anyone down. The flyweight sensation dominated Martinez, and got out of their with a very impressive 4th round TKO.
Nonito tells 8CN that he is looking forward to getting back into the ring soon, and would very much like a rematch against Vic Darchinyan. It was back in July of 2007 when Nonito put Darchinyan to sleep, and the fans have been calling for a rematch ever since. As of right now it doesn't appear as if Darchinyan promoter Gary Shaw is showing any interest in making this one happen, so although Donaire would love the rematch, he makes it clear that he's not playing games and is ready to move on to other champions.
In this exclusive 8CN podcast, Donaire talks about possible future opponents, and also gives us his thoughts on the May 2nd showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. Don't miss what else the world champ had to say.
Source: http://www.8countnews.com/news/125/ARTICLE/1559/2009-04-29.html
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Nonito tells 8CN that he is looking forward to getting back into the ring soon, and would very much like a rematch against Vic Darchinyan. It was back in July of 2007 when Nonito put Darchinyan to sleep, and the fans have been calling for a rematch ever since. As of right now it doesn't appear as if Darchinyan promoter Gary Shaw is showing any interest in making this one happen, so although Donaire would love the rematch, he makes it clear that he's not playing games and is ready to move on to other champions.
In this exclusive 8CN podcast, Donaire talks about possible future opponents, and also gives us his thoughts on the May 2nd showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. Don't miss what else the world champ had to say.
Source: http://www.8countnews.com/news/125/ARTICLE/1559/2009-04-29.html
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How might Hatton conquer Pacman?
Houston, Texas - What might be junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton's game plan against Manny Pacquiao in their showdown in Las Vegas this May 2nd? To be sure, trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. has thought long and hard over what can be effective strategies against the Pacman.
We ask Houston-based boxers and trainer on how they would approach the fight if they were facing the Filipino icon.
Alfonso Lopez (undefeated Texas Super Middleweight Champion)
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas
* I think this is going to be an excellent fight. Hatton could probably pull off a decision.
* He has to get Pacquiao moving backwards. Manny gets defensive when he is moving backwards. And he only punches when he is stepping forward.
* Hatton needs to take it to Pacquiao. Ricky needs to square up a little but more, and take his right hand out to Manny.
* He'll need to rough him up and push him around. Doing so allows Hatton to wear down his opponent down the stretch. That will not be easy to do for Ricky. Manny is in great shape, and is always in great shape."
Larry Pryor (Light Heavyweight Boxer)
Hometown: Washington D.C. (currently based in Houston, Texas)
* Pacquiao should be able to stop Hatton in the seventh or eight round.
* To beat Manny, Hatton would have to be a great counter-puncher on Saturday night.
* Hatton will be a different strategy in order to defeat Pacquiao. The Brit will have to tie up Manny. Immediately after breaks from the referee, Hatton can throw his combinations.
* Hatton will need to attack Pacquiao early, and inflict blows on his body. He'll have to earn Manny's respect. That will be a tough task for Hatton because Manny is both a boxer and a brawler.
Felix Ramirez (Houston-based Trainer)
* I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Ricky Hatton will win the fight. He is much smarter than before and improved on his boxing ability. He is close to his prime, and is naturally at 140lbs. He is the bigger and stronger fighter.
* Hatton needs to be careful with the explosive Pacquiao. He'll have to make Manny miss a lot of his punches. When Pacquiao is not set, that is when Hatton needs to attack.
* Ricky needs to be overly aggressive in this fight. We have two guys with the same abilities. The bigger and stronger guy will win. Freddie Roach has not fixed Manny Pacquiao's flaws: he is not able to handle counter-punchers. The stronger Hatton can knock Pacquiao out of balance.
Source: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-4514-Houston-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m4d29-How-do-you-beat-Manny-Pacquiao
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We ask Houston-based boxers and trainer on how they would approach the fight if they were facing the Filipino icon.
Alfonso Lopez (undefeated Texas Super Middleweight Champion)
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas
* I think this is going to be an excellent fight. Hatton could probably pull off a decision.
* He has to get Pacquiao moving backwards. Manny gets defensive when he is moving backwards. And he only punches when he is stepping forward.
* Hatton needs to take it to Pacquiao. Ricky needs to square up a little but more, and take his right hand out to Manny.
* He'll need to rough him up and push him around. Doing so allows Hatton to wear down his opponent down the stretch. That will not be easy to do for Ricky. Manny is in great shape, and is always in great shape."
Larry Pryor (Light Heavyweight Boxer)
Hometown: Washington D.C. (currently based in Houston, Texas)
* Pacquiao should be able to stop Hatton in the seventh or eight round.
* To beat Manny, Hatton would have to be a great counter-puncher on Saturday night.
* Hatton will be a different strategy in order to defeat Pacquiao. The Brit will have to tie up Manny. Immediately after breaks from the referee, Hatton can throw his combinations.
* Hatton will need to attack Pacquiao early, and inflict blows on his body. He'll have to earn Manny's respect. That will be a tough task for Hatton because Manny is both a boxer and a brawler.
Felix Ramirez (Houston-based Trainer)
* I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Ricky Hatton will win the fight. He is much smarter than before and improved on his boxing ability. He is close to his prime, and is naturally at 140lbs. He is the bigger and stronger fighter.
* Hatton needs to be careful with the explosive Pacquiao. He'll have to make Manny miss a lot of his punches. When Pacquiao is not set, that is when Hatton needs to attack.
* Ricky needs to be overly aggressive in this fight. We have two guys with the same abilities. The bigger and stronger guy will win. Freddie Roach has not fixed Manny Pacquiao's flaws: he is not able to handle counter-punchers. The stronger Hatton can knock Pacquiao out of balance.
Source: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-4514-Houston-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m4d29-How-do-you-beat-Manny-Pacquiao
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Hatton vs. Pacquiao to explode, says Khan
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan has predicted a volatile, high quality contest when his compatriot Ricky Hatton defends his IBO light-welterweight title against Filipino Manny Pacquiao on Saturday.
The 22-year-old has huge respect for both fighters and has regularly sparred with Pacquiao at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles where they share the same trainer, Freddie Roach.
"This fight is going to be explosive," Khan told Reuters at the MGM Grand Hotel on Tuesday. "You've got two great fighters at the peak and the prime of their career.
"I think it's going to be all about who can get who first, who settles down in the fight quicker and the best man is going to win."
Khan, who will have his first crack at a world title when he takes on Andreas Kotelnik of Ukraine for the WBA world light-welterweight belt in June, said it was a shame two great fighters had to face each other.
"They could be great fighters in different weights," said Khan, lightweight silver medallist at the 2004 Athens Games.
"But what a fight it's going to be for the crowd. I think we are all going to be on the edge of our seats. I can't wait for it."
"Manny has got speed, Hatton has got power ... Manny has got great footwork, Hatton is very good at cutting (off) the ring. It's going to be very explosive."
ROACH PREDICTION
Khan disagreed, however, with his trainer Roach's forecast, that former four-division world champion Pacquiao would beat Hatton in three rounds.
"I think he's probably just saying three rounds as a mess-around," said Khan (21-1-0), who has fought mainly in the lightweight division.
"If there is going to be a stoppage from either fighter, I think it will be in the later rounds. It won't be early.
"This fight is going to be explosive and if it does go to 12 rounds, both fighters are going to be in pain the next day. I know that for a fact."
Although Hatton has established a reputation for being a brawler more than a boxer, Khan believes the Briton has become much more astute in the ring since linking up with seasoned trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. last year.
"I think Ricky has improved in that area," Khan said. "He is thinking more about what he throws and he's a pressure fighter. He has improved big-time on that."
Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUKTRE53T0CM20090430
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The 22-year-old has huge respect for both fighters and has regularly sparred with Pacquiao at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles where they share the same trainer, Freddie Roach.
"This fight is going to be explosive," Khan told Reuters at the MGM Grand Hotel on Tuesday. "You've got two great fighters at the peak and the prime of their career.
"I think it's going to be all about who can get who first, who settles down in the fight quicker and the best man is going to win."
Khan, who will have his first crack at a world title when he takes on Andreas Kotelnik of Ukraine for the WBA world light-welterweight belt in June, said it was a shame two great fighters had to face each other.
"They could be great fighters in different weights," said Khan, lightweight silver medallist at the 2004 Athens Games.
"But what a fight it's going to be for the crowd. I think we are all going to be on the edge of our seats. I can't wait for it."
"Manny has got speed, Hatton has got power ... Manny has got great footwork, Hatton is very good at cutting (off) the ring. It's going to be very explosive."
ROACH PREDICTION
Khan disagreed, however, with his trainer Roach's forecast, that former four-division world champion Pacquiao would beat Hatton in three rounds.
"I think he's probably just saying three rounds as a mess-around," said Khan (21-1-0), who has fought mainly in the lightweight division.
"If there is going to be a stoppage from either fighter, I think it will be in the later rounds. It won't be early.
"This fight is going to be explosive and if it does go to 12 rounds, both fighters are going to be in pain the next day. I know that for a fact."
Although Hatton has established a reputation for being a brawler more than a boxer, Khan believes the Briton has become much more astute in the ring since linking up with seasoned trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. last year.
"I think Ricky has improved in that area," Khan said. "He is thinking more about what he throws and he's a pressure fighter. He has improved big-time on that."
Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUKTRE53T0CM20090430
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