Pacquiao vs. Hatton Press Conference at Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California

Mickey Rourke holds up the fists of Manny Pacquiao, left, and Ricky Hatton, right, at a red carpet event at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday, March 30, 2009. The fighters were on hand to promote their May 2 World Championship Showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.[(Photo Credit: AP Photo/David Zentz)and Yahoo Boxing]


Manny Pacquiao, left, and Ricky Hatton pose at a red carpet event at the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday, March 30, 2009. The fighters were on hand to promote their May 2 World Championship Showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.[(Photo Credit: AP Photo/David Zentz)and Yahoo Boxing]


Manny Pacquiao poses at a red carpet event in front of the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday, March 30, 2009. The fighter was on hand to promote a May 2 World Championship Showdown against Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.[(Photo Credit: AP Photo/David Zentz) and Yahoo Boxing]


Ricky Hatton poses at a red carpet event in front of the Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday, March 30, 2009. The fighter was on hand to promote a May 2 World Championship Showdown against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
[(Photo Credit: AP Photo/David Zentz and Yahoo Boxing]


[Photo Credit: (AP Photo/David Zentz) and Yahoo Boxing]


Actor Mark Wahlberg talked to the press as he arrives on the red carpet at a press conference for the upcoming boxing match between Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Ricky Hatton of Great Britain.
[Photo Credit: (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) and Yahoo Boxing]




[Photo Credit: (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) and Yahoo Boxing]












Photo Credit: M. Legaspi | FilAmNation.com

Source: http://teampilipinas.info/2009/03/pacquiao-vs-hatton-press-conference-at_31.html

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HBO banks on Pacquiao, Hatton to draw younger viewers to boxing

MANILA, Philippines – Premium television programming giant HBO is banking on the huge popularity and appeal of both Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton to attract younger viewers to the sport as it unveils its Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7 preview series.

Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7 is a four-part series that will extensively chronicle the respective training of Filipino pound for pound king Pacquiao and British bomber Hatton for their May 2 pay-per-view fight in Las Vegas.

According to HBO senior vice president of sports operations Mark Taffet, HBO looks at Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7 as a tool to draw 18- to 49-year-old males to a sport whose median viewing age skews over 35.

Towards this end, HBO has launched a multiplatform marketing and promotional campaign highlighted by a Web-based sweepstakes offering a behind-the-scenes experience right at the MGM Grand.

“The goal of 24/7 is not only to provide an all access look at the sport's biggest events, but also to reach out to the next generation of boxing fans and to engage them with a compelling program which speaks their language," Taffet said in an article posted at HBO.com.

Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7 is the fifth installment of the acclaimed HBO sports series, which debuted in 2006 in the leadup to the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather, Jr. megafight. The first four installments have averaged 2.5 million viewers, according to HBO.

But given the two fighters’ tremendous draw among young fans, HBO is putting up promos that the target market can relate to, including the internet-based sweepstakes.

Up for grabs in the sweepstakes is a free trip to Las Vegas for the three days leading up to the fight. The sweepstakes runs from March 30 through April 22 on HBO.com.

The winner and a guest will enjoy access to fight activities such as the weigh in and the pre-fight party, and attend the live event. A daily video journal will be posted on Facebook and HBO's YouTube site, according to Taffet. The winner also can have his or her photo on HBO.com.

Leaving no stone unturned for the Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7 sweepstakes promo, HBO will do media buys on sports outlets including ESPN.com, Foxsports.com and Yahoo.com and also place postcards in college campuses, sports bars, bowling alleys, and boxing and sports gyms in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Miami.

Complementing these is a "significant" presence on Facebook, HBO's YouTube page and HBO.com as well as ads on ESPN.com, CBS SportsLine, Fox Sports.com, USAToday.com, and Yahoo.com. More ads will run on ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, Versus, Fox Sports Net, YES Network and Spike TV, and in mixed-martial-arts-related programming and magazines and sports radio stations in the top 11 markets.

Pacquiao, the only boxer in the running for a spot in TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the world for 2009, and Hatton, the International Boxing Organization junior welterweight champion, mix it up in a showdown many foresee as a potential fight of the year owing to the two’s aggressive, explosive styles. –GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154989/HBO-banks-on-Pacquiao-Hatton-to-draw-younger-viewers-to-boxing

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Pacquiao convinced of Mayweather’s comeback, welcomes possible duel

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao, the current pound for pound king, is convinced that his predecessor at the mythical P4P throne, Floyd Mayweather Jr, is all set to get back into the ring. And the Filipino ring sensation welcomes a possible megafight with the coming-out-of-retirement Pretty Boy Floyd.

According to a report by boxingscene.com, Pacquiao has received word from Mayweather’s camp that the old P4P superstar is on his way back to take on the challenge from the reigning big guns such as himself. Such feelers came at a time Mayweather has hit the gym anew, reportedly to seek a fight for July 11 or September.

"I think he's going to fight again. He's not really retired. I heard from Floyd Jr.'s camp that he's coming back to the ring," Pacquiao was quoted as saying.

Speculations are rife that Mayweather is eyeing a super bout with Pacquiao for his grand return or even a gig with world lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez as possible “tune-up" fight before taking on the “Pac-man." Marquez had called out Mayweather after winning the lightweight title and his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions are reportedly serious to pursue this fight.

But if you ask Pacquiao, he feels it would be a smart move if Mayweather tackles Marquez or anybody else before their ultimate battle but expressed willingness to take on Mayweather’s challenge should it materialize immediately.

"For me -- if I'm Floyd -- I would fight a tune-up fight and then fight me," Pacquiao said. "That's for me, but I don't know what his plan is. He might want to fight me right away."

The 30-year-old Pacquiao is set to battle Ricky “Hitman" Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas with the latter’s International Boxing Organization junior welterweight title on the line. –GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154910/Pacquiao-convinced-of-Mayweathers-comeback-welcomes-possible-duel

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Hatton: Pacquiao's De La Hoya win a fluke

LOS ANGELES — Ricky Hatton thinks Manny Pacquiao's big win over Oscar De La Hoya in December was a fluke. Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) is counting on beating the Filipino star on May 2 in Las Vegas.

"Any win against Oscar is a magnificent one. Is that the Oscar De La Hoya we have come to love? I don't think so," Hatton said. "And only Oscar can say what happened on the scales. He looked a shell of the Oscar we know. I don't think it was hard to beat Oscar that night."

Pacquiao (48-3-2) and Hatton were at a red carpet event at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood to promote the junior welterweight title fight for the first and only time in the U.S.

Pacquiao wants the IBO title, which belongs to Hatton.

But Hatton thinks he will have a leg up against one of the sport's best pound-for-pound fighters.

"A lot of people are seeing it as size versus speed and a lot of people thought Paulie Malignaggi would outspeed me and that wasn't the case and that was only after seven weeks with my new training team," Hatton said.

"We're even quicker again. If you could see how fast I'm performing, there's not that big a gap there. Ultimately I think size will play a big factor. He has dangers in other areas, like his speed and footwork but I'm boxing a lot cuter than I was a few years ago."

Pacquiao is known for his speed. But he could be fighting his biggest opponent in Hatton. Pacquiao was fighting in the super featherweight division last March. He moved up to welterweight to fight De La Hoya, who lost weight for the matchup.

De La Hoya didn't come out of his corner after the eighth round. Hatton suggested that De La Hoya tried to make weight too early.

"That's what people believe. Maybe they were rooting for Oscar and maybe they were fans of Oscar," Pacquiao said. "It's hard to make reasons or alibis after the fight. It's not good."

Pacquiao told reporters he weighs 148 pounds (67 kilograms). He is training with Freddie Roach in Hollywood and said camp was going well.

Hatton, who is training in Las Vegas, said he was feeling good at 150 (68 kg).

"We started training camp earlier, started sparring earlier, started running earlier. It's just because of the size of the fight. It's a fight I massively believe I can win. A boxer can't get any higher if he's the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, so I need to just go about me business more so than ever." -AP

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154919/Hatton-Pacquiaos-De-La-Hoya-win-a-fluke

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Pacquiao convinced of Mayweather’s comeback, welcomes possible duel

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao, the current pound for pound king, is convinced that his predecessor at the mythical P4P throne, Floyd Mayweather Jr, is all set to get back into the ring. And the Filipino ring sensation welcomes a possible megafight with the coming-out-of-retirement Pretty Boy Floyd.

According to a report by boxingscene.com, Pacquiao has received word from Mayweather’s camp that the old P4P superstar is on his way back to take on the challenge from the reigning big guns such as himself. Such feelers came at a time Mayweather has hit the gym anew, reportedly to seek a fight for July 11 or September.

"I think he's going to fight again. He's not really retired. I heard from Floyd Jr.'s camp that he's coming back to the ring," Pacquiao was quoted as saying.

Speculations are rife that Mayweather is eyeing a super bout with Pacquiao for his grand return or even a gig with world lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez as possible “tune-up" fight before taking on the “Pac-man." Marquez had called out Mayweather after winning the lightweight title and his promoters at Golden Boy Promotions are reportedly serious to pursue this fight.

But if you ask Pacquiao, he feels it would be a smart move if Mayweather tackles Marquez or anybody else before their ultimate battle but expressed willingness to take on Mayweather’s challenge should it materialize immediately.

"For me -- if I'm Floyd -- I would fight a tune-up fight and then fight me," Pacquiao said. "That's for me, but I don't know what his plan is. He might want to fight me right away."

The 30-year-old Pacquiao is set to battle Ricky “Hitman" Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas with the latter’s International Boxing Organization junior welterweight title on the line. –GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154910/Pacquiao-convinced-of-Mayweathers-comeback-welcomes-possible-duel

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Ricky Hatton demonstrate his style against pacquiao!

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HATTON vs PACQUIAO

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Lea Salonga eyed to sing RP National Anthem in Pacquiao-Hatton bout

MANILA, Philippines – World renowned artist Lea Salonga is being eyed by Team Pacquiao to sing the Philippine National Anthem in Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming fight against Ricky Hatton.

The Pacquiao-Hatton bout, dubbed “The Battle of East vs. West," is scheduled on May 2 (May 3 in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena is Las Vegas, Nevada.

Aside from Salonga, the other Filipino singer being considered is Philippine concert king Martin Nievera according to entertainment blog Sassyqarla.com, which quoted Bulgar columnist Nap Alip.

Alip, in his column, said that Salonga leads Nievera since the Tony Award-winning actress is Pacquiao’s personal choice.

Artists who previously sang in Pacquiao’s previous fights were Karylle (against Oscar de La Hoya), Ciara Sotto (versus Juan Manuel Marquez), Nicole Angela Judalena (against David Diaz), Kyla (versus Marco Antonio Barrera) and Geneva Cruz (against Jorge Solis). – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154510/Lea-Salonga-eyed-to-sing-RP-National-Anthem-in-Pacquiao-Hatton-bout

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Pacquiao among Time's most influential people

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s influence transcends beyond the sport of boxing in the Philippines and this got noticed by Time Magazine in a recent poll out to find the world’s Top 100 most influential people.

The candidates list is a compilation of the most influential people in government, science, technology, the arts and sports.

According to the magazine’s website, the 30-year old Filipino boxing superstar earned a place in the list after he stunned the boxing world with an eighth-round technical knockout win over Oscar De La Hoya last December.

Pacquiao’s popularity in the sport of boxing is clearly etched in the Filipino minds consciousness that every time he climbs the ring the country experiences zero crime rate

But Pacquiao’s fame failed to propel him to victory when he decided to enter the political ring in 2007 where he suffered a knockout loss in his bid for a seat in the House of Representatives.

Fans of the Filipino boxing icon have been very vocal in discouraging Pacquiao to enter politics. He is again planning for another congressional bid in the 2010 national elections.

Pacquiao is currently ranked seventh among the Top 10 with 135,921 votes and a 26 average rating. He is behind TV comic Jon Stewart and is ahead of pop princess Britney Spears in the Top 10 list.

Leading the list is imageboard website 4chan.org followed by South Korean pop star Rain, TV host Stephen Colbert, former US presidential candidate Ron Paul and Rwanda President Paul Kagame in the Top 5.

Others in the Top 10 are American author Stephenie Mayer and rap artist T-Pain.

Pacquiao is ranked above the likes of Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Barrack Obama, California Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger, radio host Rush Limbaugh, golfer Tiger Woods, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, athletes Lance Armstrong and Alex Rodriguez, the Dalai Lamai and media mogul Oprah Winfrey.

Pacquiao is only the second Filipino to be included in the Time 100 list next to former President Corazon Aquino. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154408/Pacquiao-among-Times-most-influential-people

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Pacquiao leads online poll for top P4P fighter

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao is currently leading an online poll that hopes to crown the top pound-for-pound fighter in the last 20 years.

Boxing fans chose from the 10 boxers of the last 20 years compiled by examiner.com writer Marv Dumon.

Aside from Pacquiao, also included in the list are “Iron" Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr., Evander “The Real Deal" Holyfield, Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad, Oscar “Golden Boy" De La Hoya, Bernard “The Executioner" Hopkins, “Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Pernell “Sweet Pea" Whitaker.

Pacquiao got 81 percent of the votes followed by Tyson with seven and Jones with three. Chavez, De La Hoya, Hopkins and Mayweather got one percent of the votes while Holyfield, Trinidad and Whitaker got none.

Dumon made the list based on “four criteria that stand out that differentiates a fighter from a crowd full of commendable talent."

Boxers were selected based on the following criteria: (1) Quality of opponents and willingness to face adversity; (2) Ring dominance: boxing skills, knockout power, fight intelligence; (3) Ability to “rise to the occasion", courage and “ring magic"; and (4) prestige, following, marketability (in sports, boxing and society). – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154381/Pacquiao-leads-online-poll-for-top-P4P-fighter

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‘Hitman’ plans two more fights after Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – British boxer Ricky Hatton plans to have two more fights after his bout with Manny Pacquiao before finally hanging up his gloves hoping to end his career as boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighter.

Hatton will face Pacquiao, the reigning pound-for-pound king, on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and hopes to fight Juan Manuel Marquez, who is ranked second in the list, later this year.

“I would like to finish the year off fighting Juan Manuel Marquez – he's number two in the pound-for-pound ratings – and in doing that and establishing myself as number one," Hatton said in an interview with British news website Evening Standard.

Hatton believes beating Pacquiao and Marquez would give him the chance for a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., the only boxer who beat him. “I'd like to think I'd get a rematch with Mayweather."

Mayweather, who ended Hatton’s 43-match winning streak with a 10th round TKO in 2007, plans to get out of retirment and is looking for a megabuck deal among the sport's top draws. Hatton wants to capitalize on Mayweather’s planned return and is seeking for a rematch.

He, however, is currently focused training for his match against Pacquiao. “Those three fights will see me to the end of my career. But I can't look at Marquez or Mayweather yet as I’m fighting Pacquiao."

Helping him prepare against Pacquiao is Floyd Sr., Mayweather’s father. “Floyd (Sr.) has brought my boxing ability back, got me using my jab."

Hatton said he is comfortable with the older Mayweather’s training style. “When you think of the improvements in the Paulie Malignaggi fight – we were only together seven weeks and for the first two or three we had to get used to each other." – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154354/Hitman-plans-two-more-fights-after-Pacquiao

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Hatton credits Mayweather Sr. for getting him back in shape

MANILA, Philippines – Ricky Hatton’s weight problems are a thing of the past, no thanks to the training he endured under Floyd Mayweather Sr.

The “Hitman’s" fluctuating weight is a well-documented event in Britain since Hatton regularly gains a few pounds in between fights.

But after completing the British leg of his preparations for his May 2 fight against Manny Pacquiao, Hatton says he feels fitter than ever. “My weight is right down, I'm in great shape. Ricky “Fatton" has disappeared."

“I've never been as down on my weight. I’m pretty much at the weight – 154lbs – which I will be on the night. As the fight gets nearer I will get faster, sharper and more explosive," said the reigning IBO light-welterweight champion in an interview with British website sportinglife.com.

Hatton said Mayweather was instrumental in whipping him into shape that helped restore his career.

He added that he rather wants to be ahead of schedule than fall behind with his training. “It is great being ahead of schedule in that it gives you a luxury. I’d rather be ahead now than chasing it later on."

“I have to be careful I don't over-cook it but I – and Floyd – are too long in the tooth, boxing-wise, to let that happen."

Hatton scored a convincing win against Paulie Malignaggi in November with Mayweather’s help. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154238/Hatton-credits-Mayweather-Sr-for-getting-him-back-in-shape

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‘Hitman’ Hatton to go with guns blazing vs Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – As if living up to his ring moniker and new tattoo, Ricky “Hitman" Hatton said he would come to his Manny 2 fight with Filipino ring super star Manny Pacquiao with all guns blazing.

In an interview with British media Tuesday (Wednesday morning in Manila), Hatton bared a “simple gameplan" against the reigning pound for pound fighter: “Attack, attack and attack again," he said.

This relentless offensive from the opening bell on, claimed Hatton, would be too much for Pacquiao to bear. Especially with his vaunted size and power plus his underappreciated speed, coming into play.

“We are both very aggressive and both like to go forward but ultimately my size and power will be a factor. But it's not just a power thing. I'm working on my speed. I think they [Pacquiao camp] see me as a slow fighter and they will get a shock on the night [at] just how fast I am," Hatton was quoted by The Sporting Life.

The Ring Magazine and International Boxing Organization world junior welterweight champion assessed that the tactic Pacquiao utilized in demolishing a “fading" Oscar De La Hoya – box - won’t work against him.

"I'll be keeping the same ferocity I've always had and when he (Pacquiao) feels my strength I don't think Manny will stand about," Hatton said.

"I think he will think he can out-box me like he did Oscar De La Hoya. He might come and have a go early on but with the greatest respect I don't think it would have been hard to out-box Oscar that night. If Manny thinks he can do the same to me I think he will come unstuck," he added.

The 30-year-old Hatton boasted that he's been tremendously improving under the guidance of Floyd Mayweather, Sr., the same trainer on his corner when he dished out what many acknowledge as one of his best performance ever against Paulie Malignaggi.

"We are only halfway through the training camp, there are six weeks to go and I think a lot of fighters would be happy with my speed, sharpness and timing come fight night," the bomber from Manchester said.

"I'm happy with the stage I am at but I just know my boxing ability, combination punches, jabbing and head movement is going to get so much better. I have a nice balance now and the fight can't come quick enough," he added.

During the same chat with the British press, Hatton downplayed the presence of his compatriot and pal Amir Khan in Pacquiao’s Los Angeles training camp. Fresh from his technical decision win over Marco Antonio Barrera, Khan has been summoned to the Wildcard Gym by his trainer Freddie Roach to possibly train and spar with the Pac Man.

But Hatton shrugged this off, believing Khan wouldn’t be of much help to Pacquiao anyway.

“I will be putting pressure on Pacquiao and backing him to the ropes. Amir will be using his speed to move away," the Mancunian noted. "He (Pacquiao) is not fighting someone who is going to move away. Style-wise we are two completely different fighters and I can't see how that is going to benefit Manny in the slightest. I don't think that Amir, as fast as he is, is a good sparring partner."

Hatton and Pacquiao are slated to mix it up for the anticipated "Battle of East and West" bout on May 2 in Las Vegas, with the British bomber’s title on the line. Hatton vowed to not only retain the title but also outclass the man universally recognized as the world’s best fighter regardless of weight.

“If you beat the pound-for-pound number one that is a statement," Hatton said. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154213/Hitman-Hatton-to-go-with-guns-blazing-vs-Pacquiao

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Mayweather may return, eyeing Pacquiao as foe

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s name is being floated as one of the top contenders of Floyd Mayweather Jr. if ever the former pound-for-pound king decides to come out of retirement.

Golden Boy Promotions chief executive officer Richard Schaeffer said Mayweather, who retired after beating Ricky Hatton in 2007, could pick from four high-profile opponents if he decides to once again climb the ring this year.

A Mayweather-Pacquiao match would pit the reigning pound-for-pound champion against the former title holder.

Mayweather was undefeated in 39 fights, with 25 knockouts, when he retired.

Pacquiao holds a 48-3-2 win-loss-draw record with 37 of his wins by way of knockout. He is currently training for his upcoming fight against Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas.

Schaeffer said Pacquiao would solidify his hold of the pound-for-pound title if he beats Hatton. “I don't care who you put in front of (Pacquiao), big or small, he would be the pound-for-pound champion."

He added that a Mayweater-Pacquiao match will be a huge draw in Las Vegas. “To put (Pacquiao) and Mayweather together, it would be for all the marbles. If you think about it, even if you were a casual fan, you would have to get excited about them."

Others being considered are Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), “Sugar" Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) and Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs).

Hatton is eyeing a rematch against Mayweather after suffering a ninth-round technical knockout (TKO) loss in their December 8, 2007 fight. He could earn that rematch if ever the British boxing superstar upsets Pacquiao.

“Just imagine the huge draw of a sellout crowd at Wembley Stadium in London with 100,000 people if Hatton would beat Pacquiao," said Schaeffer. “It (Hatton-Mayweather) would be a huge, huge, historic fight."

Mosley, meanwhile, called on Mayweather after a ninth-round TKO of Antonio Margarito in their WBA welterweight title fight in Los Angeles early this year.

Schaefer said Mosley’s speed could counter Mayweather’s speed. “He’s (Mosley) a bigger and stronger guy, so Mayweather would have to utilize all of his skills in the ring. It would be interesting. It would make for a great fight."

Marquez, meanwhile, could get Mayweather’s attention after his knockout win against Juan Diaz last month making him Mexico’s top boxer.

“So, you're going to have all of Mexico standing behind Marquez. He’s a smaller guy, but, as he has moved up in weight, he has gotten better and better. Mayweather hasn’t fought in like 16 months. Marquez is a pound-for-pound star. That would be an amazing match up," said Schaeffer. – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154209/Mayweather-may-return-eyeing-Pacquiao-as-foe

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Manny Pacquiao Is A Candidate For The 2009 TIME Magazine 100

He is the only boxer to make the list of candidates this year, but he needs more high rated votes to make the actual top 100. For people who follow boxing you know how influential Manny Pacquiao is in his country of the Philippines. When he fights there is nearly zero crime because everyone stops what they are doing just to watch his fight. He can bring the country of over 80 million and the Filipinos around the world together for that brief moment which is an amazing feat not even shared by many political figures today. The Pacman is also one of the most generous sports figures in the world, he gives back so much to the poor in his country of the Philippines that his trainer Freddie Roach worries that he might wind up broke. His story inspires many people world wide not just Filipinos but anyone who can relate to the struggle of coming from nothing and having to survive on hope, hard work and determination to never quit no matter how tough the fight is in the ring or in life.

Vote for The Pacman HERE

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Pacquiao voted 2008 fighter of year by US boxing scribes

NEW YORK — Filipino star Manny Pacquiao has been voted fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America after a dominating win over Oscar De La Hoya.

Joe Calzaghe was runner-up, but voted manager of the year Tuesday for guiding his own career. The undefeated former super middleweight champion recently retired.

Pacquiao won three times in 2008, highlighted by his stoppage of De La Hoya. Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, was a voted trainer of the year, the third time he has won the award.

The super batamweight rubber match between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez was chosen fight of the year. Vazquez won the fight by split decision.

The awards will be presented at the annual BWAA dinner June 12 in New York. -AP

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154127/Pacquiao-voted-2008-fighter-of-year-by-US-boxing-scribes

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It's all work for Pacquiao at Wildcard Gym in LA

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao resumed his training at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), putting behind the controversy that could have stirred up a hornet's nest.

GMA News' 24 Oras reported that Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao's assistant trainer, jacked up Pacman's sparring sessions to six rounds to keep the Filipino boxing icon in top form.

“Slowly we will increase the number of rounds of his sessions until he reaches his peak. Before it was only five rounds now we are doing six and we would add more as the fight nears," Fernandez said in Filipino.

To make Pacman more focussed on his training, Team Pacquiao prohibited media coverage at the Wildcard Gym and scheduled autograph signing and photo sessions with the boxer only every Saturday.

It was apparent that Pacquiao was already working out at ease after he was able to settle his dispute with Solar Entertainment Corporation over the latter's right to air Pacquiao's match with British champ Ricky Hatton.

Last week, Pacquiao decided to rescind his contract with Solar Sports and personally gave the rights of airing his scheduled May 2 fight against Ricky Hatton to ABS-CBN.

The Filipino boxing icon, however, changed his mind and honored his existing contract with Solar, which has the rights of airing all of his future fights until 2011. Pacquiao met with Solar officials led by president and chief executive officer Wilson Tieng and chief operating officer Peter Chanliong last Friday to discuss the terms of his contract.

According to Pacquiao, ABS-CBN failed to keep its promise to not air his video statement until he has proven that Solar did not violate any provisions in their contract.

But according to ABS-CBN, Pacquiao gave them his consent to air his recorded statement. However, they still respect Pacquiao’s decision of sticking with Solar Sports.

GMA Network president and chief executive officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, meanwhile, welcomed Pacquiao’s decision of honoring his contract with Solar.

“Pacquiao made a bold statement during the press conference organized by GMA and Solar Sports when he said that ABS reneged on their commitment not to air the video of his transfer until after he has proven the breach of contract on Solar’s part," said Gozon in a statement.

Gozon even admired Pacquiao for his courage in admitting his faults. “It’s now time to move forward and forget everything that happened. GMA wishes for Pacquiao’s victory against Hatton." – GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/154073/Its-all-work-for-Pacquiao-at-Wildcard-Gym-in-LA

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Pacquiao gets 'fully focused' on training now

MANILA, Philippines – The mess brought about by his planned switch in TV partner and its consequential legal implications already over, Filipino pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao goes about his usual business – training – with 100 percent focus.

“From this day onward I want to fully concentrate on my training for my upcoming fight on May 2," Pacquiao, who is slated to slug it out with Ricky Hatton, said after fixing the problem by agreeing to honor his live contract with Solar Entertainment Corp.

The 30-year-old Pacquiao got entangled with the TV brouhaha Wednesday when he announced he was rescinding the license-agreement with Solar despite the fact it still has two years left. He then picked ABS-CBN, drawing howls of protests from Solar, which threatened to sue Pacquiao for breach and damages. Pacquiao was also under fire from GMA Network, Inc., with which he is contracted as a talent, for appearing on ABS-CBN.

But after thinking things over with his team, Pacquiao on Saturday announced he was sticking it out with Solar, saying the disturbance was just a “misunderstanding" on the part of Pacquiao’s MP Promotions and the media outfit. With this, the Pacquiao-Hatton fight will be shown on GMA, as per a separate contract between the network and Solar.

An apologetic Pacquiao, in a statement read by his lawyer Franklin Gacal, appealed to his fans for understanding. “Hopefully everyone will understand and I count on your never-ending support and prayer on all my fights."

The resolution of the TV mess eliminated a source of distraction for the reigning pound for pound king, who is in the thick of preparations for his brawl with International Boxing Organization junior welterweight champion Hatton.

But with or without distraction, Pacquiao’s brother, Bobby, expressed belief the ring superstar is a focused man at camp. “Si Manny naman, kapag oras ng training, talagang training iyan," he said in an earlier interview with 24 Oras.

It also got rid of fight fans’ nagging fears that the looming legal battle over airing rights might result to the Pacquiao-Hatton fight not being shown on local TV at all. –GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/153759/Pacquiao-gets-fully-focused-on-training-now

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Hatton looks past Pacquiao, eyes megabuck fights with JMM, Floyd Jr

MANILA, Philippines – Ricky “Hitman" Hatton looks at his upcoming fight with Manny Pacquiao not only as a shot at the pound for pound title but as a stepping stone to more lucrative fights.

In an interview with News of the World, Hatton said he is eyeing a megabuck gig with lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez and comebacking P4P superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. before he hangs up his gloves.

But that is if he gets past the Filipino ring idol on May at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

““If I beat Pacquiao, I’d like to fight Marquez. Then next summer I’d love an open-air fight at Wembley Stadium against Floyd Mayweather, Jr," Hatton told NOTW.

He did not say what his plans are in case of a loss to the Pac Man.

The 30-year-old Hatton envisions a Manchester bout with Marquez, who is currently ranked second in the latest P4P lists of Ring Magazine, Sports Illustrated and ESPN, that will generate £20 million. Even bigger, probably quadruple that amount, would be a second go at Mayweather, the man responsible for his lone setback, at Wembley. Mayweather, reportedly on the comeback trail from retirement to challenge the current P4P holder and/or wannabes, knocked out Hatton in 10 their welterweight showdown in 2007.

But then again, Pacquiao would surely have other plans that could spoil Hatton’s dream farewell outings. –GMANews.TV

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/153757/Hatton-looks-past-Pacquiao-eyes-megabuck-fights-with-JMM-Floyd-Jr

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Pacquiao: Hatton bout will be a tough fight

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/sports/03/18/09/pacquiao-hatton-bout-will-be-tough-fight

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