Pacman fans steal Hatton show Stuart Brennan February 28, 2009 FILIPINO fight fans turned Manchester into Manny-chester when their hero came face to face with Ricky Hatton. Hatton and ther world pound-for-pound number one Manny Pacquiao smiled and laughed together as they met at the Trafford Centre today, to officially launch their super-fight on May 2 in Las Vegas. It was intended as a fan rally, with Hatton fans showing up to cheer and sing for the Hitman – but around 200 Pacquiao fans stole the show. They had come from all over the country – including a delegation from the Philippines embassy in London – and at first made themselves heard as they shouted and cheered their man, who had God-like status among his people. Pacquiao was delighted with his reception: “This is my first time in England and I would like to thank everyone for turning out. “The fight will be a great challenge because Ricky is a great fighter. It will be a once in a lifetime fight, the kind you only see once in boxing history.” Hatton was confident that the fact he is unbeaten at light-welterweight – his only defeat coming when he moved up to welterweight to face Floyd Mayweather Junior – was crucial. “I am unbeaten at 140 pounds, and believe I am unbeatable at that limit. This is a fight between two nice men, but there is nothing nice about either me or Manny when we get inside the ring. “We are both aggressive, but in recent fights everyone has been a bit worried about Manny’s aggression. I know a man who won’t be bothered by it, and that’s me.” Hatton’s fans, backed by the Sheffield Wednesday band, rallied behind their man, as bemused shoppers looked on. The turn-out by Filipino fans did not surprise Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, who said: “When Manny goes into the ring he fights for the 90million people in his country, and the ten million Filipinos who live around the world. “He is a tremendous athlete and unlike any other champion we have ever promoted. “When Manny walks to the ring he carries the weight of his country on his shoulders and he fights with all of his heart, every second of every round.” With the two fighters greeting each other with cordial respect, it was left to the trainers to provide the first bad blood of the build-up. Americans Floyd Mayweather Senior and Freddie Roach have a long history of mutual hatred, and Mayweather’s face was like thunder when Arum introduced Pacquiao’s trainer Roach as “the greatest trainer in the world.” Mayweather, never shy of controversy, grabbed the mike and said: “If anybody thinks Freddie ‘the Joke’ Roach can out-train me, they have to be sick.” Roach retorted: “It’s a shame Floyd senior isn’t in the Hall of Fame.” “He should be in the Hall of Shame!” crowed Hatton’s man, as the two boxers looked on and laughed. Mayweather had to have the last word, poetically predicting Hatton would de-throne Pacquiao: “When he beat the world legend Oscar de la Hoya, he was over the hill, now it’s time for you to swallow the same old pill. “When it comes Manny, then you had better be ready, because I don’t want you to blame it on Freddie.
I can't believe all these foos are making a such fuss over the stupid ass dart game. Who cares if Hatton won?? What about it?? That's what the brits do at the bars. Drink beer and play dart so of course he would be better at it than Pacman... Let's see who wins in a game of Pool. PAc would rack em up. Oh well hatton better treasure that dart moment because that's the only way he'll beat Pacman at something. INside a boxing ring, hatton will get his ass beat down from pillar to post.
Haha. Yeah, it's other people making a fuss over the darts game, isn't it? It certainly isn't you getting upset about it. You big weirdo, ya! By the way, Brits play more pool in the pub than darts.
Im not the one making threads about it limey. Ohhh no Hatton beat pac in a game of dart.. Wow let's make a thread about it.. Brits suck at pool.
haha just returned home from the conference at the trafford centre in manchester, i just watched a short news clip aswell of the press conference and the darts game.. so much respect between the two fighters you'd of thought they were best friends not upcoming opponents for each other! coming from manchester myself i wasn't surprised by how many filipino's were there today there is a large number of filipino population over here at the moment, but was a real top class event today as i said the respect was something else bring on May 2nd!
Look, this is the situation. You can't fight every fighter defensively. As you go up and weight and get guys who have speed, a counterpunching defensive style, and have enough size to make it difficult to get your shots in, you can be beat. It's happened all throughout history. It even happened to Floyd Sr against Leonard because in Leonard you had a guy who met those characteristics. But unlike Floyd Sr, Leonard showed the ability to turn pitbull and did in his fight against Hearns. There isn't just ONE style that beats all, you have to diversify your game, so unless Floyd Sr. learned that on his way up, Freddy may very well be the best trainer. Then again, I don't know either man, so it's not for me to say.
