Hitman Looks Ahead to Hatton Pacquiao
April 22, 2009
With Hatton Pacquiao tickets sold out, the war of words is raging off to the side between both camps. Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao’s trainers are currently entwined in a tit-for-tat negative publicity campaign that at least has something of a funny side. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer recently sent Floyd Mayweather Sr, Hatton’s trainer, a “gift”, wrapped with a ribbon bearing the words, “second place.” Inside the wrapping paper? A t-shirt from Roach with a picture of himself on it, with a bottle of Roach’s weight-loss supplement, intended to infer that Hatton might not make the weigh-in before the “Battle of east and West” on May 2.
“Just another joke from the (Freddie) Roach. But Roach is the joke,” said Hatton’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr. “They too late,” added Mayweather. “We’ve been there and done that and we ain’t even done yet. Look at Ricky, he’s got an eight-pack. They don’t want ‘Slick Rick’ to beat up the ‘Pac-Man.’”
Hatton halted his media rope-jumping session to participate in the foolery.
“Does the package say to be gentle?” he asked, with a smile.
The psychological battle has been a long one ahead of this massively important junior welterweight title fight. Much has been made of Pacman’s speed but Hatton shrugged off the idea that Pacquiao would be too fast for him. Hatton’s last fight in which he beat Pauli Malignani saw The Hitman do some damage having trained with a backroom staff he’d only known for 7 weeks. This time, he’ll be even faster, Hatton claims. And as for the baiting between coaches, Hatton loves it, and believes it makes the fight even more exciting.
“It would be a very boring sport if we didn’t have personalities like this,” said Hatton, who is busily honing himself to his ideal fighting weight.
“We’ve got two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world fighting, and arguably two of the best trainers in the world fighting. They just want to get one over on each other. I wouldn’t read too much into it. They’re both excellent coaches.”
Hatton is quick to acknowledge his admiration for Pacman’s boxing style, in contrast to trainer Mayweather, who is content to completely dismiss Pacquiao as overrated, especially on the evidence of his victory over Oscar de la Hoya. One thing is for sure, Ricky Hatton tickets are selling like crazy, and this is gonna be one of the biggest fights in years!
Battle of East and West is Sold Out!
April 22, 2009
The so-called Battle of East and West between Hatton and Pacquiao is utterly sold-out, with adjacent casinos selling TV fight tickets to the unlucky ones who missed out on the ringside seat treat. The fight between “Pac Man” Pacquiao and “Hitman” Hatton on May 2 will have the MGM Grand Garden Arena rocking like never before! Las Vegas is bracing itself for the coming of the Hatton army, with their banners and songs, and 50,000 CCTV tickets have gone onsale for the big event.
With Hatton Pacquiao tickets all gone and television the only remaining option, organisers and promoters are dubbing this fight “the battle of east and west”. It is believed that the gross earnings for the clash could exceed almost all that came before it. Bob Arum, Chairman of Top Rank, said “Given that the live gate for this event is sold out, coupled with the sellout of tonight’s San Francisco Giants baseball game where Manny is the guest of honor, indicates to me that ‘The Battle of East and West’ is on track to break all existing pay-per-view records.” An estimated 15,000 Ricky Hatton fight fans are expected in Sin City the first week of May, with millions mor watching at home on television.
Pacman Warned About Hatton’s “Dirty” Tactics
February 17, 2009
As Hatton Pacquiao tickets sell like crazy, and boxing fans flock to be part of the Hatton boxing schedule for the Hitman-Pacman showdown, Manny Pacquiao has been warned about possible dirty tactics on the part of Hitman Hatton at their Las Vegas bout in May. WBA featherweight champion trainer Craig Christian issued the warning to Pacquiao’s camp, and Pacman’s boxing advisors and trainers say they are doing all they can to prepare Pacquiao for the “rough” style of Manchester-born Hatton.
Christian has been quoted as saying that Hatton is “one of the dirtiest fighters out there. [He] will rough up Pacquiao or try to for sure” and use “the same brawling tactics that led to the knockout over Kostya Tzsyu”.
Despite the claims of dirty tactics, Christian predicts that Hatton will win by a KO, and says that this weight is natural for Hatton, while it is not for Pacquiao. He advised Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach to alert referees to Hatton’s underhanded methods so they will be aware of the problem before the fight begins.
All of this is, of course, part of the pre-fight verbal banter. Pacquiao has already said he will not participate in this type of exchange, but it appears that people like Christian are doing the job for him.
Ricky Hatton tickets continue to sell like wildfire and other boxing personnel have come out to give their verdict on this massive fight.
WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman also believes that Pacman will struggle to contain and combat Hatton’s fighting style. “[He] “comes in with four, five punches and then holds so he won’t let the opponent punch back.”
Sulaiman went as far as to suggest he didn’t want the fight to go ahead, but that the final decision rested with Pacquiao’s trainers and promotor Bob Arum.
If you’re still trying to find cheap Hatton Pacquiao boxing tickets, move quick. This boxing match is bringing them out of the woodwork from around the globe and you can bet that the fight will see some of the world’s biggest sporting and entertainment celebs flocking to the MGM Grand. Manchester man Hatton plans to do some last minute training in the English city before following Pacquiao to Vegas, and the bell will finally ring on May 2, for what is billed as the “fight of the year”.
Hatton Trainers Predict Knockout, Pacquiao Refuses to be Drawn
February 13, 2009
Currently carrying 155 lbs, Manny Pacquiao says he will not be drawn into verbal cut and thrust ahead of his Vegas bout with Hatton in May. Hatton trainers Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Lee Beard have accused the Filipino fighter as one who makes big mistakes in the ring, for which Hatton will punish him, but Pacquiao is choosing to rise above the war of words.
If anything, Beard appears to be a source of humor in Pacman. “He even asked me for an autograph and posed for a picture with me,” Pacquiao told reporters in General Santos City. Pacquiao was referring to an episode in 2008 when Beard visited Pacquiao’s suite at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay following his KO defeat of US fighter David Diaz.
The hype surrounding this huge fight is of a higher proportion than any in recent memory, so it is easy to see how either fighter, and their camps, might get dragged into a verbal circus. Beard has played a major role in the media manipulation, with his jabs at Pacquiao’s in-ring lack of skill.
A Hatton knockout win in six rounds is Beard’s bold prediction. We will wait and see. If you’re lucky you’ll have Hatton Pacquioa tickets and you’ll be in Las Vegas. Live boxing is the only way to truly appreciate the sport, that’s for sure.
Hatton Pacquiao Promo Tour Cancelled
February 13, 2009
The US promotional tour ahead of the Pacquiao-Hatton fight has been canceled so the boxers can train for longer hours and be adequately prepared for the fight of the year in Las Vegas on May 2, 2009.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum did add that a huge media conference in LA towards the end of March, once the British leg of the promotions have been completed. Plans to promote the fight in New York and San Francisco have been scrapped and the boxers appear to be taking the run-in to this fight with the utmost seriousness.
Arum stated that a trip to London and Manchester would be followed by a return to Los Angeles by Pacquiao for immediate training. Hatton will spend two weeks training in England and then complete his build-up celebrations in Las Vegas. Hatton will again use Floyd Mayweather Sr. as his trainer.
Pacquiao Training to Combat Hatton Boxing Style
February 13, 2009
Pacquiao’s training style has recently been questioned by Hatton trainer Lee Beard
“I have been to Pacquiao’s gym, and watched him train a couple of times, and he makes lots of mistakes, mistakes that he also makes in fights,” Beard said on Hattons official website. One thing’s for sure; Boxing Hatton will be a different kettle of fish than boxing Oscar de la Hoya.
“Hatton’s much younger, more vibrant guy,” Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach recently commented. “He’ll give us more difficulty… he’s a rough fighter.”
Hatton’s in-close frenetic persistence could be the deciding factor in what many are billing as the fight of the year. The Manchester fighter is notoriously aggressive and unless Pacquiao packs the kind of weight Mayweather does it could get very interesting. The Hatton style is a point of interest to Roach, who made time to discuss it with reporters.
“He’ll come on with his shoulders and elbows, combinations. Kind of nudge you a little bit,” said Roach.
As a result, Pacquiao will train in a manner designed to combat the Hatton style, and Pacman’s corner are hoping they’ve got it right.
“I’ll get the right sparring partners for Manny,” said Roach, “It’s a little bit different style but we’ll train for it.”
Hatton is a fast fighter, but so is Pacquiao. Nobody really knows what this fight will turn out like, but odds are the Pay-Per-View receipts alone will be staggering, as everyone wants to see this one. Demand for Hatton boxing tickets is said to be outstripping almost all others right now, so if you need Ricky Hatton tickets it is recommended you move fast and score your Vegas Hatton fight tickets.
Hatton trainer Beard reckons that Pacquiao makes a lot of professional mistakes which could prove very dangerous against an opportunist like Hatton. “Manny makes some massive errors, and he is very repetitive in some of his movements, and with certain punches, and the way he throws them,” Beard said.
The Hatton camp are very confident, with the hype surrounding the fight buoying the Mancunian Hatton like never before.