I won’t let you down,’ Hatton tells British fans

Ricky Hatton has made a promise to his legions of British fans.

"I am not going to let you down," the ultra-aggressive Hatton told the BBC after it was confirmed that everything is green and go for the much-awaited 12-round showdown with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"I’ve challenged the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world once and came second," said Hatton, who lost a heartbreaking stoppage to then pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Dec. 2007.

"That fight was at welterweight (147 lbs) but I’ve always said that at light-welterweight (junior-welterweight) there is no one better than me in the world. With perseverance and hard work I believe I can become the best boxer in the world," said the 30-year-old native of Manchester.

Hatton hasn’t been beaten at super-lightweight (140 lbs) and the steel-fisted right-hander plans to add a marquee name like Pacquiao to his growing list of victims.

Pacquiao hasn’t fought at this weight class but was sensational at welterweight late last year against Oscar De La Hoya, who looked as though he had been ran over by a truck after eight rounds of relentless battering.

"It’s going to be a cracking fight, if I wasn’t fighting Pacquiao I’d be a fan of his, and Ricky Hatton fights are never dull," concluded Hatton, who is a 2-1 underdog.

Pacquiao is unperturbed that he is facing a livewire foe like Hatton as the four-division champion remains optimistic that Hatton will end up like the ones who tried to challenge his superior skills and blazing hand speed.

Pacquiao will start training under Freddie Roach not on March 1 as what had earlier been targeted but on March 4 or 5 as he has to fulfill his promotional obligations.

Pacquiao leaves for Los Angeles on Feb. 24 and the following day he will be joined by Roach and a few advisers and Top Rank chief Bob Arum to London then onward to Manchester. From the UK, they’ll head back to the US and New York will be the first stop of a two-leg tour that will end in Los Angeles.

Pacquiao officially signs contract of May 2 fight vs Hatton

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao officially signed the contract Friday night for his most-anticipated battle against England's most famous boxer, Ricky Hatton.Pacquiao confirmed the news to ABS-CBN correspondent Dyan Castillejo at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where he fetched his wife, Jinky, and fourth child, Baby Queenie, on Saturday morning.Castillejo said that according to Pacquiao, the contract has been passed on to Bob Arum of Top Rank. The contract was expected to reach England on Saturday.Castillejo also reported over radio dzMM that the latest agreement was to hold the action packed face-off at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.She said Pacquiao will train for eight weeks for the big fight starting March. Before the rigorous training in the United States, she said Pacquiao and Hatton will hold separate press conferences in February in England and US.According to Castillejo, Pacquiao will train harder for the equally aggressive Hatton. She said Pacquiao told her that he would have to watch out for Hatton's deadly left hook.Pacquiao will be entering a new territory when he faces Hatton, who is considered the king of the 140-lbs division. He will have to go down to Hatton's turf from 147 lbs.Pacquiao was the first Filipino to win in three divisions in a single year. He defeated Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez at 130 lbs and then David Diaz at 135 lbs.The Filipino boxer's last victory, and according to him the sweetest in his career, was the historic fight against boxing legend Oscar dela Hoya. He beat the Golden Boy at 147 lbs.Meanwhile, Los Angeles Times' online edition reported that Arum has confirmed that he has in his possession the Pacquiao-signed contract.The report said Arum had confirmed Pacquiao agreed to a 52-48 split in his favor and a $12 million guaranteed purse.Three bottles of beerA PhilBoxing.com report said Friday that Pacquiao was convinced by long-time buddy Rex Salud to sign the contract after a dare over three bottles of beer.The report said that according to Salud, Pacquiao told him he will agree to sign the contract only after he downed three bottles of beer.Salud, who is not a drinker, downed the three bottles of beer because he is one of the millions of Filipino boxing enthusiasts who want to see Pacquiao slug it out with Hatton.On Wednesday, Pacquiao failed to meet the 6 p.m. deadline set by Hatton's camp. Pacquiao reportedly wanted a bigger guaranteed purse.Franklin "Jeng" Gacal, Pacquiao's lawyer, said the decision was not about money, but principle. He said Pacquiao wanted a little respect from Hatton's camp in the negotiating table.

Source: Abs-Cbn

Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton

ROACH WANTS 'DELA HOYA-LEVEL' FOR PACQUIAO VS. HATTON

MANILA, Philippines – If Manny Pacquiao’s projected showdown with Ricky Hatton finally gets the green light, trainer Freddie Roach wants his boy to undergo the same regimen as he did when he trained for Oscar de la Hoya.

“I want him to be there (Wild Card gym) first week of March," said Roach, stressing that the length of training should just be fine for Pacquiao in a proposed but yet-to-be-finalized May 2 play date with the Hitman in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao prepared for more than two months for his fight against De la Hoya, a match that ended in a stunning eight-round technical knockout win for Pacquiao.

That Roach wants his most prized ward to mimic his preparation time with De la Hoya for Hatton is well-founded.

“Hatton’s a very good body puncher and is very dangerous," he admitted.

A former junior lightweight champion, the noted puncher from Manchester, England packs an impressive win-loss record of 45-1, 32 of which came by way of knockout.

His relentless style and vicious punching makes him “tailor-made" for Pacquiao, according to the two-time Trainer of the Year.

“Manny should stay away from the ropes when he fights Hatton," said Roach.

Along with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, the celebrated trainer arrived in the country Tuesday to join the lavish celebration of Pacquiao’s 30th birthday. The two left for Los Angeles Thursday night via Philippine Airlines.

Pacquiao vs. Hatton

LAS VEGAS – Yes, Ricky Hatton wants Manny Pacquiao more than Oscar dela Hoya.

The pride of Manchester and reigning IBO light-welterweight champion said Thursday he wants to face Pacquiao early next year because it’s the best fight for him out there.

“I want to fight the best. He’s the pound for pound champ after all,” Hatton, who demolished Paul Malignaggi just recently, told ABS-CBN in an interview.

A couple of Filipino scribes caught up with Hatton, at 30 just days older than Pacquiao, at the famous Burger Bar of Mandalay Bay later in the evening.

He was with friends enjoying a few drinks, but was kind and generous enough rising from his seat to shake hands with the scribes.

“Yes, I want to fight Pacquiao,” said Hatton, here to watch the “Dream Match.”

Hatton was told that Pacquiao wants him, too, and is even willing to stage the fight at the Wembley Stadium in England.

“No, I will fight him in LA,” said Hatton, laughing.

Oscar dela Hoya wants Hatton, too, but must beat Pacquiao to get that fight.

In contrast, Pacquiao may lose Saturday and still end up fighting Hatton because it could be the next best fight the people will ask for.

“Win or lose, Manny will end up facing Hatton because that’s the next big fight,” said Pacquiao’s adviser Wakee Salud.

Just an hour earlier, in his 61st floor suite of The Hotel, Pacquiao sounded his excitement to face the British superstar, a brawler just like him.

“Of course I’m excited to face him but I have to finish this fight with Oscar first. I will go to England to fight Hatton,” said Pacquiao.

Told that fighting in England would also mean facing 100,000 fans chanting Hatton’s name, Pacquiao said he doesn’t care.

“I like it even more when the people chant my opponent’s name because it drives my determination. I can already see that if we do the fight, it’ll be awesome,” he said.

“I will accept his invitation,” said Pacquiao.