I am ready – Pacquiao

LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton behaved as though they were hosting a luncheon party for dignitaries on Wednesday at the MGM Grand.

They hardly spoke words of hatred towards each other and conducted themselves in a manner as though they were long-lost friends who suddenly bumped into each other during a social gathering.

They even shook hands, tapped each other on the shoulder and smiled back when one of them was smiled at.

It didn’t appear they are going to punch each other in wild abandon come Saturday night before an expected sellout and boisterous crowd of over 16,000 at the Grand Garden Arena.

It was only the support cast — Hatton’s trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. — who actually made some noise when he opted to call Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach as ‘joke coach Roach” and “cockroach.”

Roach just muttered a few words when he was asked to speak on the dais, telling the audience in a polite manner that since Pacquiao is superior than Hatton, victory would be theirs Pacquiao also didn’t resort to trash-talking, a common ingredient in these types of events, while Hatton’s statements were just rehashed from his previous remarks during the countless Q&A sessions conducted by the organizers.

“I am ready for the fight on Saturday,” said Pacquiao, dressed in a mafia outfit from head to toe.

“I know Ricky Hatton has trained for this fight. I have seen it on (HBO’s documentary) 24/7.”

“I respect Ricky Hatton. He is a good person,” said Pacquiao, eventually telling the people that he is even praying and hoping that nobody gets (seriously) hurt in the fight.”

Hatton’s words had more substance, boxing-wise.

“It doesn’t scare me being in this position. This is my weight division, but I understand that I am the underdog. I understand why people are picking on me especially since Manny Pacquiao is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world who had just an exceptional win over Oscar (De La Hoya).”

It was Mayweather Sr., who stole the show with his rough rendition of a poem predicting Pacquiao’s downfall.

“Come May 2nd, you (Pacquiao) will be uncrowned with your head hanging down. The pain and stress left to confess that the Hitman’s the best. So let’s make it simple and plain after this fight, Pac will never be the same. It aint no diggity it aint no doubt, Pac’s gonna find out what it’s all about, when he beat ole legend Oscar De La Hoya, he was over the hill. Now it’s time for you to swallow the same damn pill.”

Top Rank chief Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions boss De La Hoya acted as the emcees.

Source: http://mb.com.ph/articles/204417/i-am-ready-pacquiao

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