Pacquiao is PDI's ‘Filipino of the Year’

With the theme song from the movie “Rocky” blaring from speakers, Manny Pacquiao strode into the Philippine Daily Inquirer office Thursday—and made new conquests.
Mobbed on every floor of the four-story building on Pasong Tamo in Makati City, the suave-looking world champion won over the hearts of hundreds of Inquirer employees when he came to receive the newspaper’s “Filipino of the Year” for 2008 award handed him by Inquirer chair Marixi Prieto.
“He has remained humble even with all his achievements. It just confirms his award,” Prieto said.
Pacquiao received a framed front-page Jan. 18, 2009 Inquirer issue that announced his selection as the Filipino of the Year.
Inquirer president Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez, Inquirer publisher Isagani Yambot and editor in chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc joined the Inquirer chair in handing the award to Pacquiao, who was dressed in dark jacket, yellow shirt and khaki pants.
“For scaling this forbidding peak of achievement, for reinventing himself as a compleat boxer of high discipline and uncommon gallantry and, not least, for inspiring millions of Filipinos with his uplifting example of hard work and sense of purpose, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s Filipino of the Year for 2008,” the Inquirer said in the award citation.
The building echoed with cheers of “Manny, Manny” as the Philippines’ pride arrived accompanied by his close friend, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, who is also deputy national security adviser.
Pacquiao won three fights last year, all in scintillating fashion.
He came out on top of a bloody war with the technically proficient Juan Manuel Marquez to capture the Mexican’s WBC super featherweight title last March, before virtually torturing tough David Diaz, who was then the WBC lightweight champion, in nine rounds last June to become the first Asian to win world titles in four different weight divisions.
Higher stakes
The stakes got higher and Pacquiao strengthened his claim as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter by handing the sport’s biggest star, Oscar “The Golden Boy” De La Hoya, a corner-to-corner beating in a welterweight “Dream Match” last December.
“He is someone who will probably go down as the greatest Filipino and Asian boxer of all time,” Yambot said, calling Pacquiao “a unifying force” to Filipinos.
Hats off to the media
“I’m very very happy with this award from the Inquirer,” Pacquiao said in Filipino. He also thanked the Inquirer for its “trust and support.”
“The media are a part of my victories,” he added. “If it wasn’t for the media, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. My victory is our victory.”
Pacquiao gamely posed for photos with employees and signed copies of the Inquirer with its banner story declaring him the top Filipino for 2008.
Favored over Hatton
Less than three months away from what he considers as the toughest fight of his career—against British superstar Ricky Hatton—Pacquiao said he needed support from all Filipinos.
“Sana ipagdasal ninyo ako (I hope you’ll pray for me) against Ricky Hatton,” he said. “I hope I get lucky against Hatton. I need your support and prayers. I can’t do it without you.”
Pacquiao is favored to prevail against the “Hit Man” from Manchester, England, on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
$40-M fight
Friday morning, Pacquiao is flying to England for a three-day promotional tour in London and Manchester for the Hatton fight.
From England, he will fly to Los Angeles to link up with his American trainer Freddie Roach and begin working out for the fight set at the light welterweight limit (140 lbs).
Pacquiao doesn’t think Hatton‘s trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., can transform the British pugilist into an all-around boxer for their duel that is expected to rake in close to $40 million in revenues.
And the Filipino champ thinks he is more ringwise than Hatton since he was once a reckless slugger before evolving into a classy boxer.
“The Hatton you know is the Hatton I’ll be facing on May 2,” Pacquiao said. “You can’t change him.”
Pacquiao, 30, dodged questions about his political plans amid reports that he is eyeing a congressional seat in Saranggani province.
“I’d rather focus on my fight with Hatton,” said Pacquiao, who lost to incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio in their congressional battle in General Santos City in 2007.
Stuff of legend
Pacquiao’s climb to greatness is the stuff of legend—from sleeping on cardboards in dusty streets in some nondescript town in Mindanao to being hailed as the country’s top Filipino.
“Every time we pass a street child sleeping in a street corner, Manny would point to that child and say, ‘that’s who I used to be,’” said Pacquiao’s business manager, Eric Pineda.
“I know how it feels to be that child. I used to sleep on cardboard boxes only,” said the former bakery helper who struggled to make ends meet before he found glory in the ring.
Pacquiao’s Filipino of the Year award bolstered his image as an inspiration to millions of Filipinos in a country gripped by poverty.

Source : Inquirer.net

Ricky Hatton’s excesses tamed as he prepares for Manny Pacquiao arrival

According to several insiders from Ricky Hatton’s camp, the thoughts of trainers Floyd Mayweather Snr and Lee Beard on Hatton’s excesses between fights have found a foothold.
Hatton has not ‘binged’ on his family holiday this year, and is believed to have had an earlier ‘cut-off’ point in his celebrations. Hatton is deadly serious about this contest, having felt he underperformed when he fought the then world No 1 pound for pound fighter in Floyd Mayweather Jnr 15 months ago.
It also appears that Hatton has grown tired of looking ‘big’ next to his upcoming opponents, with Manny Pacquiao due for a public fan rally in Manchester on Saturday, with the pair then heading down to London for a press open day at the Imperial War Museum on Monday.
Several times now, Hatton the man who has promoted his contest three months before on a press tour is not the man who appears in front of the fans and media in fight week.
Hatton is serious - and that can only be good, as Manny Pacquiao has the potential to close Hatton’s career if he is not in tip-top shape.
Beard insists fans should not worry. “Ricky is coming along and is in great shape.”
Pleasing for the camp, is that Hatton has passed several early fitness tests with flying colours. It is also a sign of growing maturity with the Mancunian, who wants two more fights after this, potentially against Floyd Mayweather Jnr, and one other major name,
For now, having been dismantled by Pacquiao, last December, Oscar De La Hoya would seem out of the equation. Beard is insistent on having Mexican sparring partners to approximate the Pacquiao style, admitting there is no-one in the UK capable of creating the havoc that the Filipino can generate in a ring.
Beard, who has been studying Pacquiao’s style in minute detail, said the hallmarks of Hatton’s opponent were “extremely strong fighter, very active and throws every punches in the book, allied with variety of punches, good on his feet and fine defensively or offensively going forward or backwards.” No wonder Hatton is already in shape !
The business begins this weekend. It will be a long haul until the moment they meet at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on May 2.

MANNY PACQUIAO VOLUNTARILY RELINQUISHES HIS WBC LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL NEWS

February 24, 2009 – Mexico City.

From WBC President Jose Sulaiman:

“The WBC has received a letter from the great boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, stating that he has voluntarily relinquished his WBC lightweight world championship.

“The WBC is extremely proud of Manny, who has been associated with our organization since 1997, when he won the WBC-affiliated OPBF championship. Manny became the WBC flyweight world champion in 1998.

“With severe weight problems, he moved up to the super bantamweight division and immediately won the WBC International super bantamweight title, which he defended five times.

“In 2005, he challenged Erik Morales for the WBC International super featherweight title and although he lost that fight, Manny came back to win the vacant International title in his next fight. He won the rematch with Morales in 2006, and went on to defend the International title five times.

“In March, 2008, Manny defeated Juan Manuel Marquez to win the WBC super featherweight world title. In June, 2008, he moved up to the lightweight division and defeated David Diaz to win the WBC lightweight world championship, and he finished his historic year with a knockout win against Oscar de la Hoya in a welterweight fight.

“Manny Pacquiao won the WBC’s award for ‘2008 Fighter of the Year.’

“The WBC wishes to thank Manny for his beautiful letter, and we wish him the best of luck. He will always have the WBC in his corner.”

Manny’s letter read in full:

“Dear Mr. Sulaiman and World Boxing Council:

“I take great pride and honor in representing the WBC as its lightweight champion at the present time. Your institution has opened the door for my success in boxing and I am grateful for the prestige your organization had given me over the years as on of its champions in many different weight categories.

“I have had discussions with my team as to the direction of my career since my fight at 147 lbs. with Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 6, 2008. After careful consideration and in the advancement of my professional boxing career, I intend at this time to campaign in the super lightweight division with a fight against Ricky Hatton on May 2, 2009.

“Therefore, this correspondence will serve as formal notice to the World Boxing Council I am voluntarily relinquishing my WBC lightweight championship in order to pave the way for a new champion and provide opportunities and success for other fighters in the lightweight division.

“I look forward to the opportunity and distinction of representing your organization as a world champion in future.

“Sincerely,

“Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao”

Pacquiao to use footwork vs. Hatton

Good footwork is a key element of Manny Pacquiao’s successful boxing career, a tool he used to advantage in pummeling to submission the bigger and stronger Oscar De La Hoya in their December 6 fight.

It’s a device he would need to employ again to the hilt when he tangles with British junior welterweight star Ricky Hatton in their coming May 2 bout, according to his renowned trainer Freddie Roach.

Nigel Collins, editor-in-chief of The Ring Magazine, observed that the signature move Pacquiao used in his “Dream Match” against De La Hoya carried the Filipino icon to his upset victory by “largely nullifying Oscar’s biggest weapon, his concussive left hook.”

“Pacquiao would step in quickly, deliver a rapid combination, pivot to his right, bend at the knee, and duck low,” Collins, a veteran boxing writer, wrote in his article “The Lost Art of Footwork” in the April issue of The Ring.

It is a routine that Pacquiao mastered at training camp and employed to near perfection during the fight, and handed De La Hoya, boxing’s biggest draw, his worst beating in his entire career.

“We developed that move especially to take away Oscar’s bread-and-butter [left hook] and work on it throughout camp,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainor for more than eight years. “Footwork is something of a lost art, but it was the key to Manny’s victory over Oscar.”

Collins observed that the top four boxers in The Ring’s current pound-for-pound ratings—Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, Joe Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins—are all known for employing intelligent footwork.

“Overlooked, misunderstood, and difficult to master, footwork [and its co-joined twin, balance] has always been and remains and remains the hallmark of the great fighter down throughout the generations,” said Collins, a keen student of The Sweet Science.

He said that among the iconic heavyweights, Jim Corbett, Jack Johnson, Gene Tunney, Joe Walcott, Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes were all gifted hoofers.

Collins said good movement in the ring also played a major role in the success of fighters not normally associated with fancy legworks, noting how the likes of Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, or better yet, Roberto Duran cut off the ring in their prime.

Among active fighters, Collins mentioned the ageless Bernard Hopkins, who practically gave unbeaten middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik a boxing clinic using excellent footwork.

“It’s all about footwork, footwork and balance. They’re together,” Hopkins told Collins.

Hopkins said that “70 percent to 80 percent of winning a fight is based on positioning,” adding that it is proper footwork that allows a fighter to be in position to attack or defend himself.

Hopkins said the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard both had great footwork, a quality that helped earn them their status as best among the elite boxing greats in the history of the sport.

According to Collins footwork has always been a part of the development of boxing since the time of the bare-knuckle prizefighters of the 18th and 19th century.

“Footwork has always been the shifting foundation upon which boxing excellence is built,” Collins said.

Pacquiao vs Hatton Online - Live

Manny "PACMAN" Pacquiao vs Ricky "HITMAN" Hatton Online Video Streaming.

Pacquiao vs. Hatton, a 12-round bout for Hatton's Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight titles, is promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions in association with MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions. Watch Live on May 2, 2009.

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.