The Hatton-Manny Pacquiao Fight: East Meets West
April 8, 2009 by admin
Filed under Manny Pacquiao
There is no doubt that the Pacquiao-Hatton fight is one of the much talked-about bouts in the boxing arena this early part of 2009. It can be said that even without the series of promotional tours in different strategic places, this fight will surely get a big following, not only at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but also in pay-per-view.
By themselves, Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton are two simple men. However, once they get inside the boxing ring, they have that kind of lure that attracts people from different walks of life and unites the world into one big boxing fan.
In their recent promotional appearances before their excited fans and the media, they were given such red carpet treatment that they deserve. It is a kind of special attention that even before they say anything, success is already evident.
Both boxers are supported by their countrymen. Filipinos, to whom Pacquiao dedicated his previous fights and victories, are still confident that he will set to record his 49th win by knockout. For many times, he has promised to give honor to his country through his fists, a promise that he was able to keep for many times already.
Hatton on the other hand also has the British people behind him. At 30, the British “hitman” is confident that his technical skills are still improving and will make him fit to face the Filipino southpaw. He even plans to have more fights within the year after defeating Pacquiao. This is to bring him back to the no. 1 position.
Predictions and speculations are thrown by both camps. The trainers do their own strategy of analyzing the given situations and the capacity of each of their wards. On the part of Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, he told Manny that he will be disappointed if the boxer cannot knock out Hatton in the third round. He further added that Manny is in the process of studying his opponent’s moves and how he could stop Hatton in round 3.
Hatton does not take all of these seriously. With Floyd Mayweather, Sr. as his trainer, he considers the “Battle of East and West” as just another fight of his life. Mayweather is also confident that with Hatton’s focus on the needed preparations, the British boxer will surely take the biggest step up in his life. According to the confident trainer, he has not seen this much kind of concentration on Ricky before.
Given the sad picture of the economy in the background, this event will temporarily divert the world’s attention from the gloomy situation to something on the lighter side of life. People will turn their attention to a different scene, one that is uplifting and inspiring, if only to take a breath from the strangling effect of the economic recession.
Tickets will sell and pay-per view will generate sales. The popularity of the two fighters is unstoppable. Whoever between them will succumb to the other’s strength and power, this fight will still make a history for both men. No doubt, this significant bout will surely make the “East meet West”.
The Hatton – Manny Pacquiao Fight: An Explosion to Remember
April 8, 2009 by admin
Filed under Manny Pacquiao
What do you expect when two big boxing superstars clash? Did you say explosion? Yes, the Pacquiao-Hatton fight is sure to create such explosion that the world will experience – and remember.
Pacquiao, the so-called Filipino pound-for-pound is pitted against Hatton, the British hitman in the “Battle of the East and West”. The former is eyeing for his 37th KO, the latter his 33rd. Both of them are in their 30’s and confident that they got what it takes to stop the other. In this fight, people like to see something more than an exchange of power, but a real display of supremacy in this fight of the year.
Much is done by the organizers in order to stir people’s interest, not only among the Pinoys and Brits, but especially in the United States where this main event will take place. Once more, the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas will feel the pressure of two of the world’s best.
Upon defeating de la Hoya, many plus factors have been given to Pacquiao by the boxing world. This alone is enough to spark much expectation from the fans, and give them the confidence that undoubtedly the Filipino won’t find it difficult to stop Hatton.
Mayweather, Sr., the very excited coach of Ricky Hatton does not only expect his ward to knock out Pacquiao, but also for him to receive the “best trainer award”. In some instances, the trainer has emphasized his significant role in the boxing career of Hatton, although this claim was contradicted by Freddie Roach.
Hatton reacted against the importance given by people to Paquiao’s victory over de la Hoya. It is as if he does not believe that Pacquiao deserves such grand accolade. He also pointed out that de la Hoya himself is also one of the world’s best boxers and Pacquiao only got the chance of luck.
Both boxers have instantly heightened once more their international celebrity status. Whether it is in the UK or in the US where they have visited, the two have gathered large crowds of fans and even movie celebrities. Both were given the chance to talk to their fans and do interviews with the press.
Now the two are focused on their preparations for the May 2 (Las Vegas time) explosive event. There is no question about the intensity of their trainings. Both are studying each other’s fighting style and techniques, and assessing their own in order to match and outdo each other. From what they say, there is no admittance of defeat but of success.
Internet surveys favor Pacquiao by a knockout win. Boxing experts predict the same, although British sportswriters give the favor to their own “hero”. Even those boxers who lost against Hatton said that his ability is no match to Pacquiao’s.
After putting down nine Mexican fighters in a row, will Pacquiao be able to stop his first British opponent? On the other corner, after Hatton’s first defeat to Floyd Mayweather, Jr., will he be able to go back to the boxing sight through Manny?
The Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao Fight: Clash Between Two Great Boxers
April 8, 2009 by admin
Filed under Manny Pacquiao
When the match between Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao was sealed last January, there have been many speculations from both camps about who will win. Considering that both boxers have good track records, it is difficult to tell exactly who is the more powerful, or who has a greater chance of out powering the other.
If you follow the press releases taken from both camps, each has a good story to tell, harsh words to hurl at the other, and even plans to pursue after the much-awaited fight.
However, it you go down to a more personal level and listen to what each of the two boxing heroes have to say, you can get a better picture of how they really feel about themselves and about the other.
On one occasion Pacquiao admitted that he has to be prepared more for this fight than what he did prior to fighting Oscar de la Hoya. He considers Hatton as a great opponent and that he should not underestimate the Brit’s strength and power.
Speaking before his fans at the Trafford Center in Manchester, Pacquiao said that Hatton will surely give him more problems than De la Hoya did. Pacquiao has given special attention to his every fight, and he is man enough to say that this one against Hatton will need even more of his attention and self-confidence.
He looks at Hatton’s record of 1 loss in 45 fights and with 32 knockouts as great and something of value. Hatton has won titles in the light-welterweight and welterweight classes. With all of these, Pacquiao has to see to it that he has got what it should take to face a great British boxer.
On Hatton’s assessment of Pacquiao, he is not scared of Manny. Given the Filipino’s well-decorated career, Hatton takes it only as a challenge. According to the Manchester native, the May 2 fight will be “a fight between two nice men”.
However, he continued, the two nice men will just be challengers that are willing to do anything and put everything to win once they get inside the ring. He considers both of them as both aggressive, but Pacquiao is not someone who would cause him to worry about.
The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada will be the deciding ground as to who between the two confident boxers will win the light-welterweight showdown. Great fights have been staged in this arena, but this May 2 fight will be different. It is because this will also be a match between two trainers, Pacquiao’s Freddie Roach and Hatton’s Mayweather, Sr.
In several instances, the two hurled biting words against each other, if only to prove that their wards are the best among the rest. The result of this much talked about fight will reveal which trainer did his best in order to win the title. It could be said that whether it is Hatton or Pacquiao who will win, the contention would be that the trainer of the winner is the “better one”.
The Next Manny Pacquiao Fight: Will it Be Pound for Pound or Real Strength?
April 8, 2009 by admin
Filed under Manny Pacquiao
“Get ready for some beating” for the next Manny Pacquiao fight. This statement from Floyd Mayweather Sr, Ricky Hatton’s trainer, surely put a message across to Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao – that they could expect a great fighter in Hatton.
Considering that Pacquiao moved up two weight divisions and easily beat Oscar dela Hoya in December, Hatton is also up to face a determined fighter who is considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. However, the trainer does not consider such circumstance as a reason to fear the Filipino boxer.
Mayweather has repeatedly claimed that the May 2 clash between the two boxing superstars will put Hatton back to no. 1 again. Such display of confidence might have sprung out of Hatton’s decision to change his fighting style, one that would combine strategies that he used to stop Kotsya Tszyu and Paul Malignaggi.
There is even a plan that after defeating Pacquiao on May 2, Hatton will try to do a match with Marquez. Such plan, if accomplished, will put back Hatton’s boxing career in the ring again, and will give him a big chance to win back the no. 1 spot.
Furthermore, Mayweather Sr. said that Pacquiao is not likely to bear the tremendous power and strength of his boxer. He aptly describes Hatton as the fighter that has real strength, and that Manny was tailor-made for his British opponent.
Of course, Freddie Roach would not just close his mouth as if he need not comment on Mayweather’s harsh words. Throwing back some punches, the Hall of Fame Trainer still insisted that Pacquiao will knock out Hatton some time in the later rounds. Roach belittled Mayweather for claiming that he (Mayweather) was the best trainer.
He went on by saying that Mayweather has never trained his own son Floyd Mayweather, Jr. On being the trainer of Oscar dela Hoya, Roach said that the boxer has already won four world titles before Mayweather became his trainer. In other words, Roach would like to say that the trainer claims achievements that are not really his own, or, to be blunt, he has never achieved anything.
As a morale booster to each of their wards, their belittling words hurled at each other’s camp serve as encouragement. On one occasion Pacquiao was man enough to admit that he expects a lot of problems from Hatton, much more than what he expected from Golden Boy dela Hoya. As a proof, the Filipino legendary boxer is back in thick training, more than what he has done before in his previous fights.
On the other hand, Hatton knows that Manny does not fit into his bullying fighting style that has become his trademark. To equalize Pacquiao’s tremendous speed, he will rely on his hand speed and punching power. One problem though is the issue that since Hatton is used to his old style, it would be difficult for him to stop Manny who is very much aware of his “weakness”.
For sure, boxing aficionados will enjoy this great fight between two of the world’s no. 1 boxers in their own right. Whether this fight will favor Hatton or Pacquiao, every punch will be a piece of victory for the boxing world.
The Heat is On For the Pacquiao-Hatton Match
April 7, 2009 by admin
Filed under Manny Pacquiao, Pinoy Pride
The heat of the Pacquiao-Hatton fight that is slated on May 2 this year is causing an intensifying fever in different parts of the world. The two world-renowned boxers will visit Hollywood in order to promote their much talked-about match, after their UK stint. For sure the temperature will continue to rise as they set foot in the US, especially because their light welterweight showdown will be in Las Vegas, Nevada right in the world famous MGM Grand Garden Arena.
It can be recalled that there have been lots of negotiations done by both camps before the much-anticipated fight was finally sealed last January. The British boxer Hatton, optimistic as he is, wants to have two more fights after Pacquiao, which openly shows his confidence that he would win this fight against the 30 year old “People’s Champ” from General Santos City, Philippines.
In their US promo tour, the two boxing icons will be accompanied each by their respective trainers, Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather, Sr. They are expected to hold media conferences and also to have some time with their fans. There have already been some other promo tours that were conducted in some other parts of the UK.
Pacquiao is now doing his best to face Hatton who said that he would change his fighting style just for Pacquiao. In an earlier statement, Hatton admitted that he cannot use his bullying style so he would further enhance his hand speed and punching power. He used this style to win his IBF title against Kotsya Tszyu in 2005. However, he needs to do more than that in order to beat a lightning-fast fighter that is Manny Pacquiao.
After Pacquiao, Hatton hopes to fight against two top rank boxers including Marquez who is now no. 2 in the list of the world’s pound-for-pound bests. If this plan of beating the two boxers will come true, he would have a chance to have a rematch with his favorite Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (if the latter finally decides to return from hiatus).
It could be remembered that Mayweather, Jr. beat him in the 10th round of the 2007 fight, the first lose on Hatton’s part, which nearly cost him his boxing career. Ricky would not let the same thing happen again.
On the other hand, Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said he sees a great fight between the two in the first half, but he is confident that Manny will rule over Hatton in the later rounds. There is even a big possibility that Pacquiao will knock him out at some point.
In addition, Roach said that Hatton’s old style is hard to discard just like that. Even if he changes his style, Hatton would only need a hit to get him out of his composure so that he will revert back to his old style of fighting. Once this is established, Manny could surely finish him off. This is much easier said than done, because as you see, each camp is doing its best not only to put up a good fight, but of course to win the world title.
Manny Pacquiao Fight Advantageous to Dela Hoya or Maybe Not
September 12, 2008 by admin
Filed under Manny Pacquiao
Boxing purists and fans are so convinced Oscar De la Hoya is taking the easy way out by matching up with the Pinoy Pride and Champ Manny Pacquiao instead of Antonio Margarito. No one can blame them. At a height of 5’10”, rated at the super welterweight class, with an obvious reach advantage, Golden Boy literally towers above the new lightweight champion, Manny Pacquiao.
After a Technical Knockout win over Arturo Gatti in 2001 in the super welterweight class, De la Hoya never fought below 154 lbs. He even went as far as 160 pounds (middleweight class) against Felix Sturm in 2004.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, just recently moved up to lightweight (135 lbs.) against David Diaz June this year. He stands 5’6”.
The howl of protest is reaching an embarrassing level. Insiders remain unfazed.
Bob Arum says the Manny Pacquiao vs De la Hoya bout will rank among the all-time greats in boxing history. He said that the December match at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas will be mentioned in the same breath with the 1970’s Ali-Frazier trilogy or the 1980’s historic bouts of Sugar Ray Leonard with Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns.
Arum further points out that he believes the Mexican Destroyer has more than genuine chances of defeating the Golden Boy.
While Pacquiao has to jump two weight classes to meet De la Hoya to reach the 147 mark, this is not his first time to come up the ring on such weight. He fought and decimated Barrera in October last year with all the 144 pounds of solid muscle (he weighed in at 130 lbs.)
The Golden Boy, on the other hand, has to burn a lot of body mass as he has to jump down two weight classes to satisfy the 147 lbs. maximum demanded by the Pacquiao camp. The last time he weighed lowest (welterweight) was in 2000.
He has to really starve and work himself out to shrink, or else he pays the Pacquiao camp $3 million dollars per excess pound over 147 lbs. To further worsen the deal for De la Hoya, Freddie Roach threatens not to let Manny Pacquiao get in the ring if he arrives overweight on fight night.
And the Pacquiao camp wants the weigh-in to be done on the day before the fight.
Ain’t the Golden Boy in a tight fix?
The toll this pound-shedding punishment is reaching masochistic dimensions we could just not begin to imagine how the 35-year old Oscar de la Hoya is going to take this. A weigh-in three days before the fight would make it a bit easier but the Filipino camp is threatening to withdraw the fight if they insist on it. Freddie Roach says, if De la Hoya comes up the ring at 150 lbs. he will stop Pacquiao from getting in. Three pounds is a lot of difference in this fight.
Oscar de la Hoya has, at best, been a part-time boxer. He is now more of a businessman than a ring warrior. Height and weight difference or not, the 35 year-old Super welterweight is going to face a 29 year-old boxing phenomenon that is at the prime of his game.
De la Hoya to pay Pinoy Pride Pacquiao $3 Million per Pound Beyond 147 lbs.
September 11, 2008 by admin
Filed under Manny Pacquiao
Makes me wish I was a boxer myself.
Only in the big-bucks boxing world of Oscar De la Hoya and Pinoy pride Manny Pacquiao could one demand three million big ones per excess pound you lug inside the ring. Pacquiao, the Filipino boxing sensation that fell the biggest Mexican boxing names one after the other is taking in Oscar de la Hoya on December 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
This fight (we don’t have the merchandising title yet) takes on a lot of dimensions that one can talk about it from so many angles: Revenge, Greed, and pure entertainment. This is so not unlike your usual Monday afternoon TV drama flick. Boxing critics are ranting about how De la Hoya seems to be wanting to get the easy way out by fighting a size-disadvantaged fighter instead of taking on for a rematch either Bernard Hopkins or Shane Mosley. He lost his bouts with these two.
Those who love the drama angle relish how De la Hoya would exact revenge for the Mexican legends whose sterling bright careers Manny Pacquiao have extinguished one by one. Consider the brightest of the brightest in Mexican boxing: Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Hector Velasquez, Oscar Larios, Eric Morales, Jorge Solis, and David Diaz. Big names, champions of Mexican boxing, whose heads are figuratively strewn together and hung like medals around Pacquiao’s chest.
Oscar de la Hoya reportedly took it upon himself to fight the Filipino sensation to disprove what Freddie Roach said about his not being “able to pull” the trigger against Pacquiao.
The money part is the best part.
Big bucks. This is what it’s all about. Both fighters are not in it for glory or title. They have plenty of those. Money is the prime agenda in this fight. While the other bouts of prominent boxers only assures them of $8 million dollars take-home pay, the De la Hoya-Pacquiao negotiations started off with a minimum earnings of $10 million dollars for Manny Pacquiao.
Subsequent negotiations almost stalled when t
he Pacquiao camp said no to the 70-30 sharing in favor of the Golden Boy. Now that both camps have reached an agreement (to an undisclosed sharing scheme) one could only speculate on what the Pacquiao camp initially disclosed to the press: something like between $15 million to $20 million dollars.
I wish I was a boxer. No, I wish I was Manny Pacquiao.
Forget about the purse. Just think of what the Mexican killer from the Philippines would get for every extra pound after the 147-pound max Oscar de la Hoya weighs when it is time to face the scale. $3 million dollars per extra pound! Just three tiny extra pounds and Pinoy pride Pacquiao will top what other boxers receive for winning a big championship bout.
De la Hoya-Manny Pacquiao December Fight: One of the biggest in boxing history
September 10, 2008 by admin
Filed under Manny Pacquiao
The Ali-Frazier trilogy in the 1970’s and the Sugar Ray Leonard bouts with Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler in the 80’s are just some of the only few historic and unforgettable bouts in boxing history. Expect the Oscar de la Hoya-Manny Pacquiao December 6 bout to join this shortlist of hall of famer ring encounters.
Last year’s Oscar De la Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. bout was recorded to be the largest pay-per-view fight in boxing history at 2.4 million buys. Mayweather won, and is now a filthy-rich boxing retiree at age 31. While De la Hoya lost, he earned a record $58 million purse.
Oscar de la Hoya has announced his retirement and he wants another fight with the same magnitude as, if not surpassing, that May 5, 2007 fight with Mayweather, Jr. The De la Hoya-Pacquiao is expected to become another biggest earning fight in boxing history after the blockbuster De la Hoya-Mayweather Jr. bout last year. Trust Golden Promotions in coming up with such top-grosser events. Remember the first boxing loss he suffered agains Felix Trinidad? It was also the largest non-heavyweight pay-per-view fight during its time.
Oscar de la Hoya wants his pre-retirement fight to be a “worldwide event,” not unlike the Mohammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard fights that are recorded in any boxing enthusiast’s memory as classics. A De la Hoya-Margarito fight, or a brawl with Ricky Hatton or Miguel Cotto would be exciting but not as lucrative and as magnificent as a megafight with today’s best pound-for-pound fighter of the world—Manny Pacquiao.
De la Hoya said, “I want a big fight. I want to go out with a big bang. I want to make it an event. I want to make it a worldwide event because I want to show the boxing world and I want to show everybody around the world that boxing is alive and well.”
Bob Arum, Top Rank’s vice president and Pacquiao’s promoter said, “This fight will demonstrate to everyone that there is no sport universally as popular as boxing.”
What both camps did not mention is that more than anything else, this fight is all for the money. Negotiations faltered at first when the Pacquiao camp initially refused Golden Boy Promotion’s offer of a 70-30 sharing in favor of Oscar de la Hoya. Perhaps the sharing has been upped to 60-40 or something in between, plus the fact that what Manny Pacquiao could earn in this fight is something equivalent to what he would earn from four major fights.
It can be recalled that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. got only a 30 percent cut and he earned $22 million from that fight last year.
Manny Pacquiao Fight vs De la Hoya: Its all for the money!
September 10, 2008 by admin
Filed under Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao fight against dela Hoya will be face-off of fame and glory. Two of mankind’s greatest aim.
No. Pacquiao and De la Hoya are not in for it this time. With their multiple champion belts and checkbooks bursting with millions, they are simply awash with these now that further quest for fame and glory takes a backseat to the real motivation behind why these two boxing titans are clashing on December 6 in Las Vegas.
It’s all for the money.
Right after Pacquiao’s defeat of David Diaz last June 28, 2008 in Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, talk about finding another opponent for the ring phenomenon was the most logical next national past time for boxing fans. When that Brit Ricky Hatton’s name popped out, (this British boxing superstar normally weighs around 180 lbs.), we thought it was all big talk. Well, when your chest is all bloated up with a big win plus you have just added the WBC lightweight title in your kick-ass belt collection, it’s ok to talk big. And we haven’t mentioned the millions that’s just added to your already obese bank account. It’s ok to talk big, really. Be my guest.
But then comes the news about the fight with Oscar de la Hoya that’s really happening on December 6. Now, ain’t that getting a bit too far? Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar de la Hoya? The Golden Boy’s taller by about four inches, way bigger in build that he fights in the 154 lbs. class (even fought as high as 160). Hollywood pretty boy Oscar was reported to have weighed 150 lbs. last week, will exchange blows with Manny Pacquiao who has just recently ventured to move up to the 135 lbs. class? It’s just plain nuts!
…all for the money.
Let us not forget what somebody somewhere said that goes a little something like, “professional boxing is all about putting asses in the seats.” More butts planted in seats, plus more hanging behind (pardon the pun) in SRO crowd, means more money in the pocket.
Hollywood pretty boy Oscar wouldn’t even bat an eyelash when charged with the lopsidedness of the match, “A lot of people are going to be very surprised when we’re standing next to each other,” says Golden Boy. “Size isn’t going to be that much of a difference.”
Bruce Trampler, Pacquiao promoter and Top Rank vice president also thinks the difference in weight is not an issue. The fight is not about boosting careers, it’s all about—arent’ you getting sick of this already?—the money. “Floyd wanted to fight Oscar and Hatton for the Benjamins….Everyone wants to fight an Ali, De la Hoya, Hatton, Leonard and a Pacquiao because they can get paid as opponents. Juan Diaz or Casamayor can’t make real money unless they fight an attraction.”
If our pretty boy Golden Boy Oscar loses, what the heck? Manny Pacquiao is a phenomenon at the prime of his career. It’s ok to lose to someone like him. After all, as he once said, his legacy is already written and no one can erase that. Not even a loss to someone like Pacquiao.
If our Asian boxing superstar loses, so what? It’s ok to lose to someone bigger than you are. He can always get up and pick up the pieces, it wouldn’t hurt his ego a bit.
One thing’s sure: both guys are going to go home obscenely richer than they already are.
All for the money.
Tickets for Oscar dela Hoya vs Manny Pacquiao Fight Tickets Here!
