LAS VEGAS—“I’ve seen this before with Ali years and years ago. This is the same type of reaction. Ali was Ali, but Manny’s getting there.” This was how Bob Arum described the frenzy that greeted Manny Pacquiao’s grand arrival at Mandalay Bay on Tuesday afternoon, where the Filipino ring icon instantly drew a swarm of fans and journalists upon stepping out of a 56-seater luxury bus bearing his image.
“It’s insane,” said the 78-year-old Arum, top honcho of Top Rank which promotes Pacquiao’s fights.
The “Pacman,” he declared, is the new face of boxing.
Just as electric was the reception England’s Ricky Hatton got from flag-waving compatriots as he made his own grand entrance, which officially started the countdown to his world welterweight title defense against Pacquiao here on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
“I may be fat and I may be round but guess who is going to be the best pound-for-pound?” the “Hitman from Manchester” told backers before mounting a small ring set up at the lobby.
Security personnel warded off surging crowds as Pacquiao got off the bus. Even for the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, Tuesday’s welcome still came as a big surprise for its sheer scale and zest.
“It’s bigger than the (Oscar) De La Hoya one,” Pacquiao said, recalling the arrival bash leading to his blockbuster welterweight showdown against the Golden Boy last December, which the Filipino won by a knockout in the eighth round.
'Most manic’
Arum likened Pacquiao’s unprecedented fame after beating De La Hoya to that of heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali.
“Ali, remember, was so tied up with politics, with the Vietnam war, so you can’t really equate Manny with Ali,” he explained. “But as a fighter, as a pure fighter, he’s the most popular, the most manic that I’ve ever seen.”
Arum noted that Pacquiao had even landed recently on Time magazine’s list of the world’s most influential persons, which included US President Barack Obama.
Dapper in khaki slacks, dark coat and Kangol cap, Pacquiao arrived with an entourage that included his mother Dionesia, chief trainer Freddie Roach and close friends Luis “Chavit” Singson and Wakee Salud.
“I don’t want to talk too much before the fight,” Pacquiao said. “I want to let my fists do the talking in the ring.”
Hatton limo
Hatton, who alighted from a gleaming limousine in black shorts and a Hatton-brand T-shirt, joked with the crowd and posed for photographers before doing a brief workout at the 16,000-seat Grand Garden Arena, venue of the megabuck clash.
Though he remains unbeaten at 140 pounds, Hatton conceded it would have been tougher for him had he met Pacquiao earlier.
“Three or four fights ago, Manny Pacquiao would have beaten me,” Hatton, bottled water in hand, later told reporters after the workout.
But after being trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. and posting a win over Paulie Malignaggi last November, Hatton said, “I feel so much more relaxed because I’m boxing technically so much better. I’m jabbing and moving a lot better.”
“I don’t think (Pacquiao could win) now.”
Still a brawler
Dismissing perceptions that Mayweather had turned him into a different fighter, Hatton said he would still use his trademark aggressive, brawling style.
“Everyone seems to think that because of my new training camp I’ve turned into this twinkle-toed, jab-and-move boxer,” Hatton, said. “But I haven’t. I’m still aggressive. I’m still as ferocious as ever.”
His size and power, coupled with the technical know-how he gained under Mayweather, will turn the tide in his favor, the defending champ said.
Though only an inch taller than the 5’6” Pacquiao, Hatton earlier said he would be the biggest man Pacquiao has ever faced as he intends to enter the ring at 154 pounds.
If that happens, he’ll be even bigger than De La Hoya who weighed 147 pounds when he was stopped by Pacquiao last Dec. 6.
Scraping the surface
Slighted by the 2-1 betting odds favoring Pacquiao, Hatton vowed to prove he is the 140-lb king and to protect his crown from someone who has never fought at that weight.
“Maybe I could be too strong for Manny, but now it’s not just strength and power. With the new team, we’ve scraped the surface. And I think you can see more improvement in that area. This is the best Ricky Hatton that has ever been.”
Having reached ideal form, Pacquiao only did early-morning runs at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas track oval and then sweated it out at the IBA Gym late afternoon before proceeding to the Mandalay Bay.
Under the supervision of conditioning coach Alex Ariza, Pacquiao focused on fast-twitch muscle drills designed to enhance his speed without losing power.
“It’s insane,” said the 78-year-old Arum, top honcho of Top Rank which promotes Pacquiao’s fights.
The “Pacman,” he declared, is the new face of boxing.
Just as electric was the reception England’s Ricky Hatton got from flag-waving compatriots as he made his own grand entrance, which officially started the countdown to his world welterweight title defense against Pacquiao here on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
“I may be fat and I may be round but guess who is going to be the best pound-for-pound?” the “Hitman from Manchester” told backers before mounting a small ring set up at the lobby.
Security personnel warded off surging crowds as Pacquiao got off the bus. Even for the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, Tuesday’s welcome still came as a big surprise for its sheer scale and zest.
“It’s bigger than the (Oscar) De La Hoya one,” Pacquiao said, recalling the arrival bash leading to his blockbuster welterweight showdown against the Golden Boy last December, which the Filipino won by a knockout in the eighth round.
'Most manic’
Arum likened Pacquiao’s unprecedented fame after beating De La Hoya to that of heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali.
“Ali, remember, was so tied up with politics, with the Vietnam war, so you can’t really equate Manny with Ali,” he explained. “But as a fighter, as a pure fighter, he’s the most popular, the most manic that I’ve ever seen.”
Arum noted that Pacquiao had even landed recently on Time magazine’s list of the world’s most influential persons, which included US President Barack Obama.
Dapper in khaki slacks, dark coat and Kangol cap, Pacquiao arrived with an entourage that included his mother Dionesia, chief trainer Freddie Roach and close friends Luis “Chavit” Singson and Wakee Salud.
“I don’t want to talk too much before the fight,” Pacquiao said. “I want to let my fists do the talking in the ring.”
Hatton limo
Hatton, who alighted from a gleaming limousine in black shorts and a Hatton-brand T-shirt, joked with the crowd and posed for photographers before doing a brief workout at the 16,000-seat Grand Garden Arena, venue of the megabuck clash.
Though he remains unbeaten at 140 pounds, Hatton conceded it would have been tougher for him had he met Pacquiao earlier.
“Three or four fights ago, Manny Pacquiao would have beaten me,” Hatton, bottled water in hand, later told reporters after the workout.
But after being trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. and posting a win over Paulie Malignaggi last November, Hatton said, “I feel so much more relaxed because I’m boxing technically so much better. I’m jabbing and moving a lot better.”
“I don’t think (Pacquiao could win) now.”
Still a brawler
Dismissing perceptions that Mayweather had turned him into a different fighter, Hatton said he would still use his trademark aggressive, brawling style.
“Everyone seems to think that because of my new training camp I’ve turned into this twinkle-toed, jab-and-move boxer,” Hatton, said. “But I haven’t. I’m still aggressive. I’m still as ferocious as ever.”
His size and power, coupled with the technical know-how he gained under Mayweather, will turn the tide in his favor, the defending champ said.
Though only an inch taller than the 5’6” Pacquiao, Hatton earlier said he would be the biggest man Pacquiao has ever faced as he intends to enter the ring at 154 pounds.
If that happens, he’ll be even bigger than De La Hoya who weighed 147 pounds when he was stopped by Pacquiao last Dec. 6.
Scraping the surface
Slighted by the 2-1 betting odds favoring Pacquiao, Hatton vowed to prove he is the 140-lb king and to protect his crown from someone who has never fought at that weight.
“Maybe I could be too strong for Manny, but now it’s not just strength and power. With the new team, we’ve scraped the surface. And I think you can see more improvement in that area. This is the best Ricky Hatton that has ever been.”
Having reached ideal form, Pacquiao only did early-morning runs at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas track oval and then sweated it out at the IBA Gym late afternoon before proceeding to the Mandalay Bay.
Under the supervision of conditioning coach Alex Ariza, Pacquiao focused on fast-twitch muscle drills designed to enhance his speed without losing power.
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