PacMan's Corner

[jerzz]

Next :

 

Miguel Cotto or Sugar Shane - Legitimate Welterweights

[Kurtsky Keigee]

Dapat next si mayweather Jr. para mawala kayabangan niya

[jerzz]

Dapat next si mayweather Jr. para mawala kayabangan niya

 

Not available na

 

Kinontrata na agad si JMM para makaiwas sa hamon ni Pacman

Edited May 3, 2009 by jerzz

[Fusarium_jimini]

Manny Pacquiao's fists are loaded, and his bouts are a lock

 

by Bill Dwyre- Los Angeles Times

 

Manny Pacquiao can no longer be identified as a boxer. Lethal weapon, maybe. Or destroyer missile. Whatever the definition, he is unquestionably the sport's top gun.

 

What he did to Ricky Hatton on Saturday night, in a boxing ring at the MGM Grand Garden, before a crowd of 16,262 and millions more all over the world watching on pay-per-view, was mostly mayhem. The man from Manchester was manhandled.

 

British fans who swoop down on this city every time Hatton fights -- which is three times since December 2007 -- serenaded him into the ring as usual, with the now-annoying version of "Winter Wonderland" that begins: "There's only one Ricky Hatton."

 

They were right. He was the only one who ended up on his back in the middle of the ring.

 

The fight summary is one paragraph. Pacquiao knocked Hatton down twice in the first round, dominated the second and caught Hatton with a vicious left hook as the round ticked down. Hatton's eyes rolled back and his body fell, like a sack of potatoes, flat on his back. Referee Kenny Bayless knelt over him for several seconds, then waved his hands, with one second left in the round, to signify that the fight was over.

 

The aftermath was a bit scary. Hatton didn't move right away, and soon there were many people with concerned looks on their faces, kneeling and hovering. Hatton may have been on his back longer than he was on his feet during the fight.

 

Eventually, they brought his stool to the middle of the ring and got him on it, and a few minutes later he left the ring under his own power, waving feebly to a crowd of Brit fans who may have been driven to drink by the result. Of course, any result would have driven them to drink.

 

Pacquiao, the Filipino powerhouse whose record went to 49-3-2 (with 37 knockouts), weighed in Friday at 138 pounds and went to 148 by fight time. Hatton, now 45-2-0 (with 32 knockouts), weighed in at the limit of 140 and gained 12 pounds by fight time.

 

A measure of how dominant Pacquiao has become is that this victory marked his fourth different weight-class win in the last 14 months. His previous conquest, of boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds, sent De La Hoya into retirement. Hatton is only 30, two months older than Pacquiao, but may be pondering a similar path. The pubs of Manchester are a lot safer than Pacquiao's left hand.

 

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, now the pound-for-pound best corner man in his sport, pretty much called the shot again, just as he had against De La Hoya on Dec. 6. He said Pacquiao would knock Hatton out in the third round. Pacquiao apparently had earlier dinner reservations.

 

"This fight was no surprise to me," Roach said.

 

The star trainer always seems to have a secret strategy, and he revealed afterward that, for this one, he had watched hours of film of Hatton -- "I knew him better than my own fighter," he said -- and realized that Hatton was wide open for the right hook.

 

"Hatton pumps his fist before he throws," Roach said. "We also knew he'd be looking for the left," Pacquiao's main weapon.

 

The first knockdown in the first round came via a right, the second with a left. Hatton had actually survived somewhat better in the second, despite Pacquiao's quickly evident superior hand speed, foot speed and punching power. But the left that finished him started at about 7 o'clock, landed on Hatton's face at about 12 noon and made the likely obvious result official.

 

Hatton didn't attend the post-match news conference, because he was taken to Valley Hospital. Before he left, he said, "It was a hard lot, but I'm OK. I really didn't see the punch coming, but it was a good shot."

 

Pacquiao, ever the diplomat, said, "I'm surprised the fight was so easy. I worked hard in training camp and he was open for the right all night. It was nothing personal. I was just doing my job."

 

Bob Arum, whose Top Rank Promotions handles Pacquiao, called his boxer "a monster" afterward, and started making noises about Pacquiao's becoming boxing's "all-time great."

 

Two things to consider there. As a promoter, Arum is wired for hyperbole. But also, he is no newcomer to this and began his career promoting no less than Muhammad Ali.

 

The only thing that might stop Pacquiao now is his desire to become a prominent government official someday soon in his beloved Philippines. There is even talk of the presidency someday.

 

Were that to happen now, it would make Pacquiao the answer to the trivia question: Which country has a president even more popular than Barack Obama?

 

For Hatton, a nice guy and tough competitor who is also beloved in his country, there may not be a lot of return trips upcoming.

 

Which, of course, will send the beer distributors of Las Vegas into deep depression.

Edited May 3, 2009 by Fusarium_jimini

[Fusarium_jimini]

Lay it to rest, Manny Pacquiao is the best

 

By Epifanio M. Almeda

PhilBoxing.com

 

Ricky Hatton, his eyes closed, was at rest before his back hit the mat after taking the sleep inducing left hook from Manny Pacquiao in their 2 May 2009 140-lb IBO and Ring Magazine title fight.

 

After regaining consciousness, Ricky realized that indeed there was somebody who could beat him and who did beat him, and devastatingly, in his claimed domain at 140 lbs. The much hyped Battle of the East and West proved to be not a battle after all because Manny Pacquiao deftly defused it.

 

Doubters should now put to rest the lame excuse that Oscar dela Hoya was not his usual self when the Pacman beat him like he never was. This excuse downgraded Manny’s accomplishment to some extent. Hatton even bought the idea and said that he could have likewise beaten the drained Oscar that night of 6 December 2008. Oscar’s partial assessment of a stronger and bigger Hatton winning over Manny supported the doubters’ proposition that Manny is not really that great.

 

With Ricky’s easier and earlier dismissal by Manny than Oscar was, Freddie Roach proves right in his assessment that the Oscar of 6 December 2008 could still beat many top fighters of today. And this does not exclude the Ricky Hatton of 2 May 2009.

 

When Floyd Mayweather, Jr. announced his comeback, these doubters immediately removed Manny from the top P4P pedestal and reinstalled Floyd to it. That because of Manny’s previous 3 losses as against none to Floyd the latter should be on top. But if past performances against common opponents were to be the gauge, which should not be, Manny’s have the edge.

 

Floyd struggled with Oscar to earn a split verdict while Manny dominated and made Oscar quit before the start of the 9th round. The old-man-making defeat eventually led to Oscar’s retirement from being a fighter.

 

It took Floyd almost 10 rounds to beat Ricky who, before the stoppage, was holding his own to give Floyd problems. Manny easily beat Ricky who was on dreamland just before the bell to end the 2nd round. Now Ricky might be contemplating retirement himself.

 

By unseating Ricky Hatton, Manny won his 6th title in as many weight divisions. More so, he is the first fighter to win a 4th lineal or real championship in 4 weight divisions. He has now won the flyweight, featherweight (which many erroneously do not recognize), junior-lightweight and now junior-welterweight lineal championship.

 

So the question as to who is the best P4P fighter should now be laid to rest. Even with the return of Floyd Jr. to the mix, the world champion from the east is simply and would still be the best.

[Fusarium_jimini]

Ricky Hatton knocked out in second round by Manny Pacquiao

 

by Kevin Mitchell-Guardian.co.uk

 

Again and again, they showed the replay on the big screens overlooking what had so briefly been a battlefield. Each time, Ricky Hatton floated to the floor, eyes shut before he landed, hopes of clinging to a place in boxing's big-time consigned to the future-land of anecdotes, the night he was blown away inside two rounds by the great Manny Pacquiao.

 

It was brutal in every way: short, painful, utterly one-sided. A left hook from hell, thrown with preternatural strength, officially will be acknowledged as the finisher – but there can be no denying Hatton's hard-drinking lifestyle played a part.

 

His hangover this morning, though, will be leather-induced.

 

The Mancunian, according to the billboards, was defending the light-welterweight title sanctioned by the IBO and The Ring magazine but, in reality, was challenging Pacquiao for the Filipino's universally acknowledged accolade: the best fighter in the world – at any weight.

 

He could not have made the point that this is fact any more emphatically.

 

How in control of his emotions is the little man? He smiled nearly the whole way from the dressing room to the ring, to be greeted by a stern-faced champion who could see nothing but a tough night's work in front of him. How right he was.

 

They are friendly, without being friends, but Hatton said a few days ago, "Right now, I hate him more than any man on the planet", and the Filipino quickly gave him good reason to feel that way.

 

The Hitman and the Pacman shared the 17,000-plus audience about 60-40. But sentiment counted for little as soon as they touched gloves.

 

Hatton looked a bit dry, but was sweating up soon enough – especially when he walked on to a peach of a right hook from the southpaw stance that dropped him in centre ring. He did not know quite where he was for the rest of the round, until decked again by a left in his own corner as the bell sounded. Perhaps it would have been kinder had he been hit earlier, and given the referee good cause to stop it right there.

 

As it was, his head had cleared only enough for him to identify roughly where his opponent was standing – and moving – when they resumed.

 

All those weeks of fine-tuning his defence, the promises to move his head, to take his time, to box not brawl, were soon all going out the window, down the toilet or any other metaphor for a ring nightmare.

 

There was an inevitability about the end that was sad in the way it is awful to see a once-fine athlete taken apart in public.

 

This was also a clash billed as a tactical war between the trainers, Floyd Mayweather Snr for Hatton, Freddie Roach for Pacquiao. Well, that one went clearly to Roach.

 

"He punches his hands before he throws a punch," Pacquiao said later. "He's a sucker for a right hook. I knew he'd be looking for my left. It was nothing personal. I was just doing my job."

 

And what a job he did.

 

Time and again in round two, Hatton shipped heavy shots, failing to impress his claimed greater strength and power on the allegedly smaller man. Pacquiao looked bigger by the exchange and never more of a ring giant than when he threw the concluding punch of the fight, a left hook that could not have landed with more force on the point of Hatton's chin.

 

He lay motionless, his eyelids barely open, as Pacquiao returned to his corner and knelt in a prayer of thanks.

 

The hope that spread throughout the packed arena in those seconds immediately after this most crushing of knockouts – worse than Amir Khan's by Breidis Prescott last year – was that Hatton had not suffered serious damage.

 

He said beforehand he had decided not to allow his eight-year-old son, Campbell, to come in case something like this happened.

 

He was up soon enough and walked unaided back to his dressing room, and if there was a grimmer room in this city of losers than that place last night it would be hard to find. Hatton said later, on his way to Valley Hospital for a mandatory examination: "It was a hard loss, but I'm OK. I really didn't see the punch coming but it was a great shot. I know I'll be OK."

 

It was Hatton's inability, though, to cope with the occasion – as was the case when he was stopped by Floyd Mayweather Jnr in the same ring in December 2007 – combined with the brilliant simplicity of Pacquiao's game plan that led to defeat.

 

He will not box on after this because there is nowhere for someone so comprehensively flattened on a major stage to sell his wares. Even if, as Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, said, "Ricky just got beat by the greatest fighter of all time".

 

There was trouble in the Hatton camp the past week, so strong they could not keep the rumours out of the papers. His trainer had fallen out in a major way with Lee Beard, his assistant, and no amount of fine words could disguise the tension.

 

This reached a high point on Friday when it was learned that Richard Schaeffer, chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, had asked Roach if he would be interested in coaching Hatton after this fight. That will not happen.

 

If that clumsy rumour were designed to unsettle Pacquiao it had no effect at all. We are privileged to be in his time.

 

For Pacquiao, the world remains, like Hatton for too many worrying minutes, at his feet. He will be perfectly placed to bargain to his advantage for a fight against Mayweather, who earlier in the day announced he was coming back at this venue on 18 July, against Juan Manuel Márquez.

[Fusarium_jimini]

Wonder of the World Pacquiao Is The Undisputed Best Now

 

Published by Scoop Malinowski-Boxing Insider

 

There’s only one Manny Pacquiao. We haven’t witnessed such a boxing marvel as this humble, smiling destroying machine. The idol and inspiration of a nation, a wonder of the world, the blindingly fast, atomic-fisted Manny Pacquiao proved last night in emphatic style that he is without a doubt the greatest warrior on the planet today.

 

Ricky Hatton, never beaten before at 140 pounds, was made to look like a journeyman pug by this lethal assassin. It was a brutal mismatch from the first bell, like watching a bobcat carve up a blind-folded bulldog. All the technical coaching advices from Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya, who stood in Hatton’s corner, offered absolutely nothing to trouble this amazing Filipino.

 

Even Floyd Mayweather, the pound-for-pound pretender, calculated that it would be a competitive fight and couldn’t name a winner. After seeing Hatton flattened in less than two rounds, even the talented but timid Mayweather must now be having serious apprehensions about ever wanting to step into a ring with Pacquiao.

 

Because Pacquiao is one of those rare, supernatural athletes who seems to be capable of producing magic. Pacquiao is almost like an indescribable force, with the support and love and inspiration from millions of his countrymen, that actually seems to be still improving and growing more powerful with each contest.

 

“I’m inspired to focus to win the fight because millions of Filipinos will be watching,” says the humble warrior shortly before the match without a trace of malice or conceit.

 

That friendly smile and disposition disappears though once Pacquiao steps through the ropes. When he goes down to his knee to pray in a corner, the artist LeRoy Neiman comments, “He’s only praying that he doesn’t k*ll his opponent.”

 

With Hopkins, De La Hoya, Mosley and thousands of Brits standing with him, Hatton looks as ready as he can be. When the first bell rings, Larry Merchant says, “They are warrior kings with armies of fans who follow them to the battlefield. Now they will be alone in the battle.”

 

Within a minute, everyone can see Pacquiao is quicker, the more fluid mover, and by far the more accurate hitter. Two separate blows drop Hatton twice in the first round. But the bulldog is determined and those setbacks impel him to try harder. But Hatton’s urgency only hastens his destruction. In the blink of an eye, a pinpoint perfect left hand to the jaw transforms in an instant the ferocious Hatton into a lifeless form. Flat on the canvas Hatton, who prepared for two months for this evening, suddenly has no idea where he is.

 

“That’s as convincing as you can get,” LeRoy Neiman says. “He’s so effective. What he intends to do, he does it.”

 

When it was all over, having performed one of his most impressive triumphs, Pacquiao did not sound the least bit arrogant or full of himself when he spoke with Larry Merchant. “I expected my right hook was going to be dangerous for him…I’m satisfied. Nothing personal. I just do my job. I’m always doing my best in the ring. For the people to enjoy.”

 

Pacquiao’s legendary coach Freddie Roach said, “(Manny) can fight anybody…(Hatton) doesn’t have the ability to adjust.”

 

Emanuel Steward was another very impressed ringside observer. “This Manny Pacquiao is something else. All the great fights he’s been in. He can do everything, that’s what makes him so complicated. He can do it all. He is the pound-for-pound champion as far as 122-140. He hasn’t ducked ANYBODY.”

 

That was an obvious dig at Floyd Mayweather, the self-proclaimed best fighter, who, as everyone knows, has no interest to fight, or if you will, ducked and dodged Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley.

 

Larry Merchant also took a shot at Mayweather, with some heavy sarcasm. “I’d like to credit Mayweather’s perspicacity in choosing opponents. He’s always been smarter outside the ring than he’s been in the ring. Now he’s not interested in fighting Mosley. Of course he didn’t want to fight Margarito. He’s an excellent fighter but he’s real smart on who to and who NOT to fight.”

 

Better be careful there Larry, Mayweather might call you a racist again like he did last year for daring to criticize his handpicking ways.

 

But despite Mayweather’s piggybacking off Pacquiao’s name this weekend by announcing his return to the ring from hiding, to face Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18, this was Manny Pacquiao’s night. This was another example of the unbelievable spectacular excitement that boxing can create when you watch a true, natural, genuine, superstar champion phenomenon like Manny Pacquiao at his very best.

 

But the thing is, the best of Manny Pacquiao may be still yet to come. And that’s an exciting prospect for the sport of boxing.

[Fusarium_jimini]

ROACH HAILS 'UNBELIEVABLE' PACQUIAO

 

By Simon Lewis, PA Sport, Las Vegas

 

Trainer of the year Freddie Roach believes Manny Pacquiao is at the peak of his powers and capable of beating anyone following his demolition of Ricky Hatton.

 

Roach had long predicted an early end to their light-welterweight showdown having worked with Filipino superstar and pound-for-pound champion Pacquiao for eight years and studied Hatton long and hard on tape.

 

That belief was proven correct at the MGM Grand Garden Arena where Pacquiao scored the 49th victory of his 55-fight career with his 37th knockout, a hammering left hook that had Hatton out cold before he hit the canvas at the end of the second round.

 

"Manny's unbelievable," Roach said. "He makes me look good. He's the best fighter in the world and the reason I'm the best trainer in the world.

 

"Manny's in his prime right now. He's on top of his game. Anyone in the world, he can beat them all."

 

Pacquiao, 30, is now being linked with a string of top-level stars as potential opponents after successive box-office smash-hits with victories over Oscar De La Hoya and Hatton.

 

Yet Roach poured cold water on a potential clash with American Floyd Mayweather Jr, who earlier yesterday confirmed his return to the ring after a 16-month retirement with a July 18 fight against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez.

 

"Mayweather, he just had to wait one day and he could have fought Manny," Roach said, referring to the American's announcement. "I think he's afraid of Manny.

 

"He made the fight maybe not happen. We're not going to wait for him. There are other great fighters out there."

 

Roach also addressed the likelihood of his man facing welterweight champions Shane Mosley (WBA) and Miguel Angel Cotto (WBO).

 

"If Cotto wants to come down a few pounds or if Shane Mosley wants to come down a few pounds, we can make that happen," he said.

 

Despite having defeated De La Hoya at welterweight last December, both Pacquiao and Roach agree that the fighter is most comfortable at light-welterweight, having just taken Hatton's IBO and Ring Magazine titles.

 

"I'm very comfortable at 140 pounds," Pacquiao said. "You could see it in my performance; I want to stay there."

 

Pacquiao began his professional career in 1995 at 106 pounds, winning five world titles from flyweight up.

 

He said: "Before the fight, a lot of people think Ricky Hatton's bigger than me but I didn't put that in my mind.

 

"I still believe that my body's bigger than Ricky. But with respect, he's still a good fighter."

 

While Hatton was taken to hospital for precautionary checks, Pacquiao admitted his knockout blow had left him feeling sore

 

"I believe it was a very hard punch," he said. "My hand still hurts."

[Fusarium_jimini]

Pacquiao proves one point, Mayweather Jr. wants to see if he can do it again

 

By Brett Okamoto (not the famous condom brand, hehehe)-Las Vegas sun

 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired from boxing 16 months ago saying he had nothing left to prove.

 

Well he does now.

 

If Mayweather planned to steal the spotlight away from Manny Pacquiao Saturday by announcing his return to ring, that ruse was ruined before the second round even ended in Pacquiao’s megafight with Ricky Hatton.

 

With one perfect punch, the “Pac-Man” flattened Hatton, cemented his already rock-solid legacy, and made the capacity crowd inside the Grand Garden Arena and boxing fans worldwide wonder what fighter can challenge the pound-for-pound king.

 

The “Pretty Boy” piped up.

 

"If he wins tonight, don't be all shocked like, 'Oh, ah, he done this, he done that,'" said Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs), at his news conference to announce he will be fighting Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 at the MGM Grand.

 

“Cause guess what? I beat (Hatton) when he was undefeated. Pacquiao beat Oscar, it don't matter. Going down to 147 pounds was too much for (De La Hoya), he was dead after the first round. I also think that Marquez beat him twice. When you talk boxing, you talk Floyd Mayweather.”

 

Not if you’re Top Rank chief Bob Arum.

 

“You are going to be the greatest fighter that ever lived," Arum told Pacquiao after the fight.

 

While it will take a few more TKOs for that distinction, the Filipino superstar certainly added to his legacy Saturday by claiming the IBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight title.

 

The belt ties Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) with Oscar De La Hoya as the only fighters to win titles in six weight divisions, but more importantly makes him the first boxer in history to add a fourth lineal championship.

 

Fans no doubt would love to see a match-up between the current pound-for-pound king and the previous one, but Arum told Mayweather to be careful what he wished for.

 

"Mayweather, if he wants a piece of the little Filipino, just be my guest,” Arum said.

 

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach questioned Mayweather’s timing for the announcement, if he truly wanted a bout with Pacquiao.

 

"Mayweather could have fought Manny Pacquiao, he just needed to wait one more day," Roach said.

 

"I think he's scared of Manny. He chose Marquez and we're not just going to wait around, I like to keep Manny busy. If Miguel Cotto wants to come down a few pounds, if Shane Mosley wants to come down a few pounds, we can make that happen."

 

Mosley has already expressed desire to take on the winner of Saturday's fight.

 

Apparently, seeing Pacquiao destroy Hatton didn't scare off the WBA welterweight champion.

 

"I like to put my skills to the test, I started with Antonio Margarito and now if I had the chance to fight Pacquiao that would be great," Mosley said.

 

"I tell him in person, let's do it at 147. You want the welterweight title, let's do it and see what happens."

 

Trying to bait a man with six world titles by flashing your belt might not be the best strategy, considering Roach believes Pacquiao’s proved that point time and time again.

 

Still, if Mosley is willing to take the fight at a lighter weight, he may be able to get into talks with Pacquiao before Mayweather Jr. does.

 

"As a fan, I'd like to see him fight Mosley," said Roach, when asked to pick between the two.

 

"The Mayweather fight may not happen because we don't want to wait for him. Mosley is more dangerous, they both like to fight and his power is dangerous. But Manny is the best, anyone in the world, he can beat all of them."

 

Roach also said he wouldn't be opposed to a third fight with Marquez, who is coming off back-to-back TKOs over Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz, if he were to defeat Mayweather in July, but added, "I'd love to see that happen, but it most likely won't."

 

Yet another variable in this plot is that Pacquiao is returning to the Philippines this summer to shoot a movie.

 

If Pacquiao made one thing clear in the cloud of possibilities, he likes fighting at 140 pounds. Much like he proved in his destruction of De La Hoya, Pacquiao wasn't slowed by the leap in weight, and was even more powerful.

 

"I'm very comfortable at 140 pounds," Pacquiao said. "You can see that by my performance tonight. I think I'm very strong at 140 pounds and I want to stay there."

 

Before Saturday, Roach had said that he only wanted to watch Pacquiao fight two more fights before retiring.

 

The former pro stuck to that number Saturday, but admitted that it was personally tough for him to hang up the gloves. But Roach said Pacquiao, and Hatton, have made lots of money and have their health, so they “don’t need this anymore.”

 

If that sentiment is strong and Pacquiao stays true to his plan of becoming a political official in his native Philippines, then that leaves a small window for Mayweather to secure a bout with him — which he will probably have to do to keep regarding himself as the sport’s best.

 

Or does he?

 

“I am the king and no one has taken my crown,” Mayweather said. “Some day someone might shut my mouth, but right now I am going to talk.”

 

On Saturday, Pacquiao certainly proved his claim to the throne.

[Fusarium_jimini]

Pacquiao's hook all wrong for Hatton

 

Evening Standard UK

 

Manny Pacquiao believes Ricky Hatton did not know what had hit him as he unleashed a devastating right hook to win by a second-round knock-out in their light-welterweight fight in Las Vegas.

 

The Filipino dominated what proved to be a short fight as he floored Hatton three times, eventually leaving the Mancunian needing medical attention in the ring before he walked away under his own steam.

 

"In the first round, I expected my right hook is going to be dangerous for him because he's open when he's coming towards me," Pacquiao said on Radio Five Live.

 

"He's very surprised because I have a new right hook."

 

It was, however, a trademark left hook that eventually felled Hatton for the final time, and there was initial concern as Hatton lay flattened in the centre of the ring.

 

Pacquiao, who went to his corner to mutter a prayer after the shot, was clearly thinking of Hatton as he gave his post-fight interview with medical treatment still being given to the defeated man.

 

"I'm always doing my job in the ring, doing my best to make people happy," he said. "It's nothing personal for me, I'm just doing my job."

 

Pacquiao has claimed Hatton's IBO and Ring Magazine light-welterweight title belts.

 

Asked whether he might want a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr, who announced he was coming out of retirement, Pacquiao said would take on anyone.

 

"I can fight anybody, it will depend on my promoters," he said. "I'm just a fighter, doing my job, training and keeping at 100%."

Edited May 3, 2009 by Fusarium_jimini

[Fusarium_jimini]

PACQUIAO WATCH: Manny in devastating KO win

 

By Edwin G. Espejo

PhilBoxing.com

 

FILIPINO beakbuster Manny Pacquiao broke many Englishmen’s hearts by dealing their countryman his most devastating defeat with a spectacular second round knockout to wrest the Ring Magazine’s welterweight crown from the kid from Manchester Ricky Hatton.

 

The end came via a powerful left hook late in the second round which sent Hatton crashing into his back. Referee Kenny Bayless immediately waived his hands up in the air to end the fight.

 

Hatton lay motionless for several minutes, his eyes rolling over as his handlers tried to revive him.

 

Pacquiao was a favorite coming into the fight but many never expected the bout to end so soon.

 

The Filipino boxing sensation made it clear right in the first round that it would be a short and pitiful night for Hatton.

 

The man from Manchester tried to establish his rhythm by crowding Pacquiao at the opening bell and throwing his vaunted body punches but Manny deftly danced out of harm’s way and landed the first telling blow with a thundering right hook in the early going which untracked Hatton.

 

He would mix up his punches with left straights.

 

With barley 40 seconds left in the first canto, Manny uncorked a powerful right hook off a missed jab from Hatton.

 

It sent Hatton on all fours with his forehead touching the canvass.

 

Hatton rose at the count of eight but a worried face was splashed all over the television.

 

Manny chased him and Hatton tried to answer back.

 

But with 12 seconds left, a one-two combo attack capped by a signature left straight from Manny sent Hatton crashing down into his own corner with just the lower rung of the ring preventing his head from touching the canvass.

 

Referee Bayless again gave Hatton the mandatory eight count and the two trade punches when the bell sounded for the first round.

 

Ricky Hatton was still visibly hurting during the break as he kept nodding to the advices from his corner men.

 

He was again in his element at the beginning of the second round and tried to lure Manny into a phone booth brawl.

 

But it was not meant to be. Manny wisely hugged Hatton while covering his face with his left hand.

 

Then the climactic ending came.

 

A right jab set up Hatton for a left straight that looked like a hybrid of a left hook.

 

Hatton fell on the canvass with a big thud like the proverbial London Bridge.

 

With the win, Manny joined the rarefied circle of boxing greats who won world titles in at least five different weight categories.

 

Pacquiao, who started as a light flyweight, had captured world crowns in the flyweight, superbantamweight, super featherweight, lightweight in addition to the welterweight title he wrested from Hatton.

 

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum proclaimed Pacquiao as “the greatest fighter to have ever lived.”

 

That may be a little too early but with only a megafight with former world pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. looming in the horizon as a stumbling block to that accolade, Manny’s greatness as one of the most devastating punchers in modern times is now cemented and etched in the hallowed walls of Las Vegas, the Mecca of world class boxing.

 

Mayweather has signified his interest to fight the winner of the Pacquiao-Hatton bout.

 

That fight could come in the fall when Mayweather Jr. shall already have his tune up fight in the summer.

 

It was the first time I watched Manny’s fight live on cable outside of General Santos City.

 

In Cagayan de Oro City, virtually all villages in the heart of the city set up widescreen viewings – for free – for residents in their respective areas.

 

At the square center of Cogon public market four big television sets were already mounted as early as 6:00 in allowing marketgoers unhampered view from four sides.

 

Betting was heavy in favor of Pacquiao ending the fight as early as the third round.

 

When the first two knockdowns were registered against Hatton in the first round, audiences already saw the end coming just as long-time Pacquiao coach Freddie Roach correctly predicted.

 

The Englishman now knows what others have known before him.

 

That Manny’s speed is like no other and that while Manny may miss the bullseye on the dartboard inside Hatton’s pubhouse, his punches are as good as a ‘bulls out’ in a 501 game of darts.

 

That Hatton only lasted two rounds against Manny should sent a message across the boxing world that a new king has emerged in the world of boxing.

 

That his win over Oscar de la Hoya was by no means a fluke.

 

That Manny ably filled up the void left behind by de la Hoya who chose to retire after being handed out his most lopsided loss by the Filipino puncher-slugger turned into sweet-punching executioner.

 

The mantle has been passed and it fitted to a T with Manny’s recent decisively and clinical conquest of Hatton.

[agentjackbauer]

The underlined portion is the real accomplishment. A lineal champ is defined simply as the man who beat the man beat the man who beat the man who beat the man... i.e. Pac is (still) the lineal champ at (super) featherweight since he beat the then lineal featherweight champ Barrera, who had just beaten Morales (MAB-Morales III) at super featherweight.

 

Pacquiao proves one point, Mayweather Jr. wants to see if he can do it again

 

By Brett Okamoto (not the famous condom brand, hehehe)-Las Vegas sun

 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. retired from boxing 16 months ago saying he had nothing left to prove.

 

Well he does now.

 

 

The belt ties Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) with Oscar De La Hoya as the only fighters to win titles in six weight divisions, but more importantly makes him the first boxer in history to add a fourth lineal championship.

 

Fans no doubt would love to see a match-up between the current pound-for-pound king and the previous one, but Arum told Mayweather to be careful what he wished for.

 

 

On Saturday, Pacquiao certainly proved his claim to the throne.

Edited May 3, 2009 by agentjackbauer

[Fusarium_jimini]

I believe it was a very hard punch - Pacquiao

 

By Kieran Mulvaney- IOL.co.uk

 

Las Vegas - Manny Pacquiao admitted his hand was still feeling a little bruised two hours after a booming left hook knocked out Britain's Ricky Hatton in the second round of their eagerly awaited showdown on Saturday.

 

The Filipino challenger claimed the IBO light-welterweight title after sending Hatton sprawling to the canvas twice in the opening round before knocking him out cold with one second remaining in the next.

 

"I believe it was a very hard punch," Pacquiao told reporters after improving his career record to 49-3-2 with 37 knockouts. "My hand still hurts."

 

Hatton's assistant trainer Lee Beard said: "There was nothing Ricky could do. He got caught with a few good shots, he got back up and then obviously he got caught with that one big shot at the end."

 

Although Pacquiao was widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Hatton was believed to hold a size advantage at his natural weight of 140 pounds in a division where he had never previously lost.

 

However, Pacquiao always believed he would prove to be the stronger man.

 

"Before the fight, a lot of people think Ricky Hatton's bigger than me but I didn't put that in my mind," said the 30-year-old, who weighed only 106 pounds on his professional debut.

 

"I still believe that my body's bigger than Ricky. But with respect, he's still a good fighter."

 

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum applauded the Filipino's performance as "astounding" after his man had competed for only the third time above the super featherweight division.

 

"This kid improves with every single fight," Arum said. "He's doing things he wasn't doing two or three years ago.

 

"His defence is now tremendous. His reflexes are tremendous. I have never seen any fighter combine the speed and the explosive power that he does."

 

"I told Ricky Hatton not to be discouraged," Arum added. "There are plenty of people out there for him to fight. Nobody in the world can beat this little Filipino."

 

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach agreed.

 

"Manny's unbelievable," he said. "He makes me look good. He's the best fighter in the world. He's in his prime right now. He's on top of his game. Anyone in the world, he can beat."

 

Asked about the possibility of a clash with American Floyd Mayweather Jr, who announced earlier on Saturday he would return from retirement to fight Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18, Roach sounded doubtful.

 

He suggested instead future matchups with WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley and WBO holder Miguel Cotto.

 

"I think he (Mayweather) is scared of Pacquiao," Roach said. "If Cotto wants to come down a few pounds or if Shane Mosley wants to come down a few pounds, we can make that happen."

[uaeboy25]

mayweather sr. should go to home for the aged, keep himself busy by writing poetry. he should retire, because he is suffering from sudden memory lost, he forgot the fight this day. wehehe

[Fusarium_jimini]

peeps, last article posted up.. yung iba kasi prang kopyahan na lang, hehehe..congrats MP! (hindi massage parlor, hehehe)..

 

congrats rin kay Freddie "the joker" ...for making a big joke out of Hatton et. al...especially Gayweather Sr...

 

nga pala:

 

Hitman's GF - hot Brit! :boo:

 

Pacman's Jinkee - hot MILF! :evil:

 

peace!