Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas Nevada

LAS VEGAS -- Wherever Manny Pacquiao goes, it seems there are crowds waiting to cheer him. Today, for example, it has taken him 30 minutes to fight his way from the entrance of the MGM Grand to a small group of reporters waiting in a room at the other end of the lobby. It is a degree of adoration that has prompted his promoter, Bob Arum, with perhaps just a pinch of hyperbole -- but not necessarily much more than that -- to dub Pacquiao the most popular athlete in the world today. It is a designation from which the man himself shrinks.

Manny Pacquiao pummels Margarito for 8th Championship title

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Manny Pacquiao more than made up with speed what he lacked in size.
Giving away both pounds and inches, boxing's little superstar turned Antonio Margarito into a bloody and nearly blind fighter with a dizzying array of punches Saturday night in a lopsided decision victory that wasn't close from the opening rounds on.
In a spectacular performance before a delighted crowd of 41,734 at Cowboys Stadium, Pacquiao cemented his claim to being the best fighter in the world by dominating the bigger but slower Margarito almost from the opening bell. Pacquiao won round after round, opening a cut on Margarito's cheek, closing his right eye, and turning his face into a bloody mess.

Pacquiao vs. Margarito and F1 Finale: Two Sporting Events Hard to Miss this Weekend

Two important sporting events are happening this weekend.

The ever popular and the Hon. Manny Pacquiao, our Congressman in Sarangani Province will once again go up to the ring to fight the not so popular Antonio Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight division. Where else would this event be held? There's no other place to hold  a fight as huge as this than in the gambling capital of the US, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Racing fanatics on the other hand, will have to fasten their seat belts to watch the finale of the Formula 1 race in Abu Dhabi featuring four title contenders for the most coveted 2010 Formula 1 Champion.

Manny Pacquiao's fight against Margarito has already been labeled as lopsided and very predictable. Manny's coach Freddie Roach predicted "the fight will be short and sweet". Many people consider that if Manny is serious with pounding hard Margarito, the fight will be over in just one round. What can make this fight exciting and interesting for us Filipinos? Well, after Manny has boxed out Margarito, he will  claim  his 8th championship title never been done before by any professional boxer since its inception (really???). That's how great Manny is! He should be regarded then as the best pound for pound king following this fight, after Mayweather Jr. reclaimed this title earlier this year.

Pacquiao in Forbes’ most ‘powerful’ list

 By NICK GIONGCO. Manny Pacquiao made it to the 100 World’s Most Powerful Celebrities for the second straight year on a list made by Forbes magazine.

Boxing: Pacquiao's secret in toppling opponents

MALUNGON, Sarangani, Philippines—Ever wondered what keeps boxing icon Manny Pacquiao going and possibly one of his secrets in toppling his ring opponents?

Pacquiao, who has a reputation for demolishing his opponents through powerful punches, on Tuesday provided some hints on how he keeps in shape and maintains his strength.

“Hindi lang dapat puro karne ang kainin natin (We should not eat just meat),” he said during the fellowship lunch he hosted for some 500 participants to the three-day vegetable congress here that also started on Tuesday.

Pacquiao said Filipinos need to learn to eat vegetables as well.

“Kailangan nating kumain ng marami at sari-saring gulay upang lumakas ang ating resistensya at katawan (We need to eat many and different vegetables to have strong resistance and bodies),” the southpaw said to his guests, led by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

As if to show to his guests that he was serious in his call for increased vegetable consumption, the pugilist from General Santos City toured them around his 10-hectare vegetable farm here.

Pacquiao said vegetables have many health benefits and that he owed his being in shape to eating them.

He said during his rigid pre-fight training, he made sure that he consumes lots of vegetables.

Yap agreed by saying: “We need to eat lots of vegetables and fruits to sustain and maintain a healthy life.”

He said even the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommends that a person should consume at least 75 kilograms of vegetable in a year to remain healthy.

“We in the Philippines consume just half of that,” Yap said.

Increasing vegetable consumption among Filipinos was one of the reasons the three-day national vegetable congress was held here (July 14-16), he said.

The congress was aimed not only at helping stakeholders and boosting the vegetable industry but also instill in the minds of the participants the value and benefits of eating vegetables, Yap said.

Among the issues tackled in the congress was the revival of the Philippine Vegetable Industry Development Board (PVIDB) Technical Working Group.

The organizers, among them the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the reactivation of the PVIDB-TWG would play a vital role in boosting the country’s vegetable industry.

Tommy Ala, DA director for Central Mindanao, said the region, which has about 10,000 vegetable farmers, has the advantage to boost production because it is typhoon-free.

“This is to our great advantage. Vegetable farmers can plant whole year round. Given the right technology, opportunity, and government support, local vegetable growers can enhance their production capability resulting to a much better income generation,” Ala said.

Central Mindanao accounts for about 30 percent of the country’s total vegetable production, according to Ala.

Jose Victor Santos, president of the Central Mindanao Vegetables Industry and Development Council (Cemvidec), said his organization also wanted to unify the efforts of industry players to make an impact in the government’s food sufficiency and poverty alleviation program.

Pacquiao is ambassador for peace

MACTAN ISLAND—What exactly does an ambassador for “peace and understanding” do?

Malacañang Tuesday spelled out—though still vaguely—the latest job description of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao under the Arroyo administration.

To begin with, he would grace a basketball tournament pitting government troops against members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) or rightist rebels, said Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.

“There will be events and activities that will be organized that will center on him as a focal person,” Remonde said in a media briefing here. “He will be useful as a symbol, as a rallying point for events, which in the process, would involve national unity.”

Special intel aide also

Remonde said Pacquiao would focus on his new job within the next three to four months when he is not yet training for his next bout. During the period, the boxer would go around the country gracing activities promoting national solidarity.

Besides the title of peace envoy, Pacquiao was named “special assistant on intelligence matters” of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez on Monday.

Gonzalez said the post would be “honorary,” meaning the boxer would receive no salary.

Remonde said the idea of a basketball tournament was hatched on Friday when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was originally set to meet with Pacquiao.

Ms Arroyo moved the meeting and the “national day of celebration” to Monday on the recommendation of the World Health Organization.

Pacquiao and his team had been advised to go on a five-day self-quarantine since they had stayed in Los Angeles where a case of human-to-human transmission of the deadly A(H1N1) flu virus had been recorded.

Riding on the Champ

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Pacquiao could easily do the job for Gonzalez. “With all the people adulating him, he can get information.”

Sen. Panfilo Lacson was noncommittal, saying he did not know Pacquiao well enough.

“All I know is that he is good in sports, he’s the best in the world. If he’s appointed as undersecretary for sports, he can do a good job,” Lacson said in Filipino.

But the opposition senator observed that the positions given Pacquiao by the Palace were apparently done because “everybody wants to jump on the bandwagon.”

“He’s very popular and people idolize him and that’s why it’s understandable that there are those who want to ride on and take advantage of the situation,” Lacson said.

Time for politics

Sen. Manuel Roxas II said he believed Pacquiao would be able to help the government and the country as envoy for peace, especially in Mindanao.

“Many people will listen to him,” Roxas told reporters.

But he said people would have to see for themselves how Pacquiao would be able to contribute as an intelligence officer.

He echoed Lacson’s views that Pacquiao was given such positions because it was “a time for politics now.”

“Those seeking to run for office are looking for ways to be close to Pacquiao as their endorser,” Roxas said.

Symbol of unity

The senator said Pacquiao should protect his clean and untarnished name. “If he allows himself to be used, he will be tainted by the corrupt who are coming to him to use him.”

Pacquiao has hinted that he would again run for Congress in next year’s election, much to the dismay of not a few of his fans. He ran and lost in the 2007 elections.

“Right now, he has agreed to be this symbol of unity and of course, we are very grateful for that,” Remonde said. “But of course, when it comes to his decision to go into politics, that is his own decision. We should all respect him.”

Pacquiao to visit Cebu

WORLD boxing pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao will observe another tradition following his gripping conquest of British brawler Ricky Hatton: Visit Cebu next week.
Pacquiao snatched Hatton’s IBO junior welterweight crown last May 3 with a second round knockout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, according to Cebu City Acting Mayor Mike Rama, will visit the Queen City of the South next week. Last Monday, the six-time boxing superstar had a motorcade around Metro Manila in what Malacanang Palace declared as a Day of Celebration and yesterday he was in his hometown of GenSan.

Pacquiao always makes it a point to visit Cebu after every major fight to thank his Cebuano fans and to pray at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino.

Rama though, informed, that Team Pacquiao is yet to set a date for the champion’s visit but would prefer to be here either on May 18 or 22.

Rama tasked Councilor Raul Alcoseba and City Administrator Francisco Fernandez to prepare for Pacman’s visit. He also urged the public to get out of their homes and join in greeting Pacquiao along the parade’s route.

Mayor Tomas Osmena is also expected to return on said dates.

Rama also said that he already asked Councilor Arsenio Pacana to draft a resolution recognizing Pacquaio’s victory. He suggested that Pacquiao be conferred the “Mega Tourism Promoter” award for promoting the country worldwide, but wants the national government to give it.

However, Rama is not so keen about the suggestion of erecting a Pacquiao statue saying the boxing hero is still alive and is just 30 years old.

“I’m not against building a statue for Manny but its not good for him. Statues are built for those who are already dead,” he added.

Pacquiao's motorcade causes traffic snarls in Manila

Boxing champ began his Metro Manila-wide motorcade on Monday morning, causing traffic snarls as crowds cheered the local boxing hero.The motorcade passed through main roads in Quezon City, Manila, Pasay City and Makati City this morning.

Everyone young and old seemed to pause at what they were doing to cheer Pacquiao, who was riding in a truck adorned with Philippine flags.

Some motorists stopped and got out of their cars to wave at Pacquiao. A group of nuns was also seen from among the crowd cheering in his direction.

Uniformed employees were also seen on the streets, taking a break from work to take a peek at the ongoing celebration.

One FX driver, meanwhile, stopped and even went on top of his vehicle to wave as chants of “Manny! Manny!” echoed all throughout.

The streets were littered with placards while some have their own confetti prepared and ready to be thrown. People were simultaneously waving and taking pictures from their mobile phones and cameras.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, basked at the adoring crowd, throwing away Team Pacquiao t-shirts.

With him is Bernabe Concepcion, a member of Team Pacquiao who won in an undercard fight during the title bout with Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas earlier this month.

The motorcade, which started some 20 minutes behind schedule, left the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at around 8:15 a.m. and began a slow cruise along Visayas Avenue.

Earlier, a festive atmosphere greeted Pacquiao at DENR.

Wearing a black polo shirt, a gray vest, khaki pants, brown shoes and a gray golfer’s hat, Pacquiao arrived at the DENR office just before 8:00 am and participated in the department’s flag-raising ceremony on board a black SUV.

He was welcomed by a marching band, an explosion of red, blue and white confetti, around 300 employees of the DENR and the usual coterie of environment officials led by DENR secretary Lito Atienza.

He was immediately mobbed by local and international media and a cheering crowd.

In a short speech after the flag-raising, Pacquiao thanked God and Filipino people for the support and prayers in his May 3 fight against British champ Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.

He will make a short call on Vice President Noli De Castro before proceeding to Malacanang were the boxer is due to make a 10:45 a.m. call on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Atienza, a long-time and rabid supporter of the Filipino boxing champ, said Pacquiao considers the DENR as his “second home.”

"Manny (Pacquiao) is like a sponge who accepts what he needs to learn making him d best fighter," Atienza said in an earlier interview.

"Ang payo ko sa kanya wag muna isipin ang politika (My advice to him is not think of politics for now)," Atienza said, when asked about Pacquiao's rumored plans to run for public office in next year's elections.

"He's at the pinnacle of his boxing career. He should focus on his career first," he added.

Atienza said they have been coordinating with the Philippine National Police for security and the Metro Manila Development Authority, which is in charge of traffic flow.

Pacquiao-Hatton ppv a hit

The Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton showdown is now a certified pay-per-view monster hit.
Exceeding everyone’s expectations, the fight—which Pacquiao won by knockout late in the second round to wrest Hatton’s International Boxing Organization light welterweight crown—drew anywhere from 1.6 million to 2 million PPV buys, according to the USA Today newspaper.

The fight’s co-promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, had earlier projected sales of about 800,000 due to the world financial crisis.

Initial sales reports from cable firms, however, indicated that PPV buys was already over the 1.6 million mark, which would make the Pacquiao-Hatton duel the fourth biggest ever in boxing annals.

The Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. battle in 2007 remains the all-time PPV top draw with 2.4 million buys.

It was followed by the Holyfield-Tyson II with 1.99 million buys and the Lennox Lewis-Tyson in 2002 with 1.95 million.

If the Pacquiao-Hatton bout indeed breached 1.6 million buys, it would break the PPV records of both fighters.

The Pacquiao-De La Hoya tussle netted 1.25 million buys while the Hatton-Mayweather battle drew 915,000.

While the Pacquiao-De La Hoya clash attracted a live gate of just 15,000, the Pacquiao-Hatton tiff drew 16,262 fans to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, unbeaten Venezuelan knockout artist Edwin Valero has urged Arum to include him on the list of Pacquiao’s probable next opponents.

Valero, the WBC lightweight champ with a 25-0 card, all by knockout, said he’s willing to move up in weight to fight Pacquiao.

Junior middleweight prospect Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. also wants his name on the roster that already includes Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley and the winner of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez fight in July.

Arum said he will consult Pacquiao and chief trainer Freddie Roach as to who will be the next opponent of the reigning pound-for-pound king.

In a related development, Hatton told The Sun newspaper that he was absolutely devastated by the one-sided beating he absorbed from Pacquiao.

“My head is in bits,” Hatton said. “I don’t think I could cry anymore after the Floyd Mayweather Jr. loss, but I certainly have.”

Manny Pacquiao is home

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao defied a raging typhoon and a World Health Organization (WHO) advisory amidst a global virus scare, and arrived home Friday morning to a warm welcome.
Pacquiao arrived at 6:38 a.m. on board Philippine Airlines Flight PR 103 from Los Angeles.

Clad in a white suit, he was escorted by his wife Jinkee, and the rest of Team Pacquiao, including Bernabe Concepcion who won in an undercard fight before Pacquiao’s title bout with Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas.

Sons Michael and Jemuel, and daughter Princess were present at the airport to welcome their father.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza and his son Ali were also there to greet the boxing champ.

About 20 airport police K9s and a “light reaction unit” were deployed at the international arrival area, according to Manila International Airport Authority assistant general manager Tirso Serrano.

Pacquiao and his entourage passed through the airport’s thermal scanners and were screened by doctors from the Bureau of Quarantine of the Department of Health (DOH).

In his arrival statement, Pacquiao said: “Maraming salamat sa inyo, taas noo tayong mga Pilipino kahit saan sulok ng mundo [Thanks to you, we are proud to be Filipinos wherever we go],” addressing hordes of media upon his arrival.

Speculations have been circulating that Pacquiao plans to run for congressman in his hometown of General Santos City after the Commission on Elections early Thursday accredited the boxing icon's local political party, People's Champ Movement (PCM), which is expected to bolster his political ambitions in next year's elections.

Asked by a reporter about his political plans, Pacquiao answered: “Ayaw ko muna pag-usapan ang politika [Let’s not talk about politics first].”

He then gave recognition to the victory of Bernabe Concepcion in the undercard.

“Salubungin din natin ng masigabong palakpakan si Bernabe. Alam nyo hindi lang ako ang nagbigay ng karangalan sa ating bansa pero yung mga undercard din katulad ni Bernabe [Let’s also give a big hand to Bernabe. It was not only I who gave honor to our country but also those in the undercard like Bernabe].”

When asked why he decided to return early despite recommendations of the WHO and the DOH, Pacquiao said: “Mas lalong makakasama kung mag-stay ako doon. Mas safe kung uuwi ako dito sa Pilipinas [It will be worse if I stayed there. I feel a lot safer here].”

“I feel so happy that I’m home now with my family,” Pacquiao added.

Atienza said Pacquiao would check in at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati City to rest before heading for Quiapo Church around 10 a.m. to hear mass.

In the afternoon, Pacquiao will attend a special event honoring him organized by television network GMA 7 at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Due to Typhoon Emong, a victory motorcade and a courtesy call in Malacañang have been moved to Monday, subject to Pacquiao's approval, according to Atienza.

Upon the recommendation of the WHO, Malacañang on Wednesday requested Pacquiao to reset his flight back home for Monday, considering that he and his entourage would be coming from Los Angeles.

The WHO had recorded a “third-generation, human-to-human transmission” of the A(H1N1) virus in the area.

But since Pacquiao has decided to return, he and his team should exercise “self-quarantine” for at least five days, according to the WHO, whose advice was sought by the DOH on how to handle the returning Pacquiao and his legion of adoring fans.

Atienza said the DOH advisory was “ill-advised”, although he noted he and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III were friends.

“Di ko matanggap na patitigilin pa siya sa LA (Los Angeles) at langhapin ang virus. Sabi ni Manny ‘bakit hindi ako pauuwiin, baka mahawa pa ko dito’ [I cannot accept that he (Manny) should stay in Los Angeles any longer. Manny himself said he may contract the virus there],” Atienza said.

Manny coming home despite WHO's and DOH's advisories

MANILA, Philippines -- World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and his entourage will be back in Manila Friday as scheduled, contrary to the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH).

In a phone patched interview, Pacquiao, who beat Ricky Hatton for the light welterweight crown in Las Vegas, Nevada over the weekend, said he was on his way to the airport.

Pacquiao, now considered a boxing legend after his masterful defeat of Hatton whom he knocked out in the second round, was advised by the Philippine government to postpone his return until he and his team could be declared safe from the swine flu virus that has spread worldwide.

Celebrations in Manila, including a courtesy call to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, have been cancelled.

One person was found to have been infected with the deadly strain in Texas, prompting authorities here to request Pacquiao to extend his stay in the US.

Over 100 people were reported to have been infected worldwide.

Manny Pacquiao is now a legend

LAS VEGAS—IT WAS SHORT, SWIFT AND MERCILESS, and the end surprised Manny Pacquiao as much as it stunned Ricky Hatton into oblivion.
Finding the opening he had been looking for, Pacquiao threw a thunderous left hook from hell that found Hatton’s jaw with nine seconds left in the second round, sending the Briton flat on his back for several minutes, unconscious.

In just five minutes and 59 seconds, “The Battle of East and West” on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) was over.

Referee Kenny Bayless did not even bother to count as Pacquiao enhanced his best pound-for-pound-fighter reputation while wresting Hatton’s International Boxing Organization’s light welterweight crown.

Aside from clinching his fifth world title in as many divisions, Pacquiao enshrined himself as the only boxer who fought in four weight classes in four successive fights and won them all.

Pacquiao took away Juan Manuel Marquez’s World Boxing Council 130-pound title, snatched David Diaz’s 135-pound crown, and then stopped Oscar De La Hoya in a 147-pound nontitle duel last year.

It took only a short time for Pacquiao, who raised his record to 47-3-2 with 37 knockouts, to solve the Hatton puzzle, connecting on a right hook that first sent the Briton down with barely 51 seconds gone in the first round, to the surprise of 16,262 paying fans who filled MGM Grand Garden Arena to the rafters.

Hatton took the mandatory eight-count, but in no time Pacquiao was all over him again, nailing him with a right-left combination that put him down again near a corner.

“I was surprised that this [victory] was so easy, but I’ve worked hard in training camp since the beginning of March,” said Pacquiao, who also held the WBC flyweight and International Boxing Federation super bantamweight crowns.

Wide open for right hook
When the referee signaled the end of the bout, Pacquiao went to the corner to pray, then stood on the ropes to acknowledge the cheers of jubilant Filipinos.

“He was wide open for the right hook. I knew he would be looking for my left,” said Pacquiao, who was also acknowledged by the Ring Magazine as its featherweight champion in 2003.

“It’s nothing personal. I was just doing my job. This is as big for me as the De La Hoya win,” added Pacquiao, who climbed the ring at 148 lb after checking in at 138 during the weigh-in. Hatton fought at 152 after earlier weighing in at the welterweight limit of 140.

The devastating loss stunned the loud Briton fans, who were drowning the Filipinos’ cheers by singing a modified version of Winter Wonderland, Hatton’s main cheer.

It was no Wonderland but Dreamland for Hatton, who stayed almost motionless on his back for a few minutes while being attended to by two ring physicians. He eventually got up on wobbly feet and left the ring assisted by his seconds.

As a precautionary measure, Hatton was taken to Valley Hospital, accompanied by members of his family and De La Hoya.

$12-M purse guaranteed
Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions chief executive officer, revealed during the post-fight conference that Hatton’s safety was their primary concern so he was taken to the hospital.

“It was a hard loss, but I’m OK,” Hatton said later. “I didn’t really see the punch coming, but it was a great shot.”

Pacquiao was guaranteed $12 million and Hatton $8 million outside of the pay-per-view and gate receipts.

It was the third straight time that Pacquiao finished a fight without a mark on his face. He also ended up unscathed against Diaz and De La Hoya.

And, the frightening thing, according to Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum, was the fact that Pacquiao was still getting better.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s chief trainer, was also in awe and said it’s but natural that his prized ward should fight the winner of the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez clash in July.

“The fans would want to see it. I think it would be great,” said Roach, who thanked Pacquiao for making him look good as a trainer.

He’s a ‘monster’
The win also upheld Roach’s growing reputation as a fight seer as he accurately predicted that Hatton, unbeaten in the 140-pound division until last night, won’t last three rounds.

For Pacquiao, it doesn’t matter who’s going to be his next opponent. All he wanted is savor the moment that affirmed his greatness as a fearless fighter.

“This was no surprise at all,” Roach said. “Hatton pops his hand before he throws a punch. He’s a sucker for the right hook and that’s what we worked on the whole camp. He fights the same way over and over.”

“Manny is a monster. He is the best fighter ever. There is no surprise here.”

Hatton did not appear to have suffered a serious damage. He walked unaided back to his dressing room.

Floyd Mayweather Sr. was a no-show at the postfight news conference, leaving Hatton’s cotrainer, Lee Beard, to explain the mauling by Pacquiao.

Ricky got caught
“We knew about Manny’s speed and that it could play a factor in the fight,” Beard said. “What you saw was two rounds of action and Ricky got caught.”

According to computer statistics, “Pacman” landed 73 of 127 punches in just under six minutes, including 34 of 53 power punches in the second round, while “Hitman” Hatton connected on only 18 of 78.

In the main supporting bout, Mexican Humberto Soto retained his WBC super featherweight title by knocking out Canadian Benoit Gaudet with 2:25 gone in the ninth round.

Bernabe Concepcion, the other Filipino in the card, won by unanimous decision over Yogli Herrera in his debut as a lightweight.

Martin Nievera sang “Lupang Hinirang” while legendary Welsh singer Tom Jones rendered “God Save the Queen.” Filipino-American teener Jasmine Villegas dished out the “Star-Spangled Banner” before Hatton and then Pacquiao made their way into the ring.

Hatton came in to the tune of Supra and Pacquiao to his own “Lahing Pinoy” recording.

Among the celebrities present were Denzel Washington, Mariah Carey, Mark Wahlberg and Jack Nicholson.

The crowd briefly fell silent when ring announcer Michael Buffer boomed his famous “Let’s get ready to rumble” line, before the Filipinos resumed their “Manny, Manny” chants.

With the fight long over, hundreds of Britons, part of the 25,000 that flew in here, lingered at the hotel halls and gambling tables, beer in hand, not knowing what hit them.

In contrast, the Filipinos, led by Pacquiao himself, celebrated at Mandalay Bay. Pacquiao, who brought along a band from Manila, even sang a few songs. With reports from AFP and AP

May 8 is Manny Pacquiao day

MANILA, Philippines—Mark your calendar: This coming Friday is Manny Pacquiao Day.
But the day will not be a holiday, Cabinet Secretary Silvestro Bello III stressed.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday declared May 8 a “national day of celebration” in honor of Pacquiao for his rousing knockout win over Britain’s Ricky Hatton, which all but guaranteed the Filipino a place in the boxing Hall of Fame.

In Proclamation No. 1764, Ms Arroyo said the declaration was the “nation’s expression of gratitude (to Pacquiao) for bringing worldwide acclaim for the country.”

“His spectacular victories show the world the best in the Filipino and that his determination and love of God and country exemplify the indomitable Filipino spirit,” Ms Arroyo, who is on a visit to Syria, said in her proclamation.

Bello said a massive motorcade was being organized for Pacquiao’s homecoming on Friday. He said the affair was being coordinated by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, a fixture in the boxer’s entourage.

Bello agreed that politicians would again jump at the opportunity to be seen as close to Pacquiao and ride on his popularity.

“If I can give them a piece of advice, although I’m sure they won’t like my advice, let him enjoy his celebrity status because he was the one who stepped [into] the ring so only he should benefit [from the glory],” Bello said.

Pacquiao’s spectacular two-round victory over Hatton brought to six the number of weight division titles he has won in his career, including the honorary but prestigious Ring Magazine featherweight crown.

Pacquiao told to keep out of politics

MANILA, Philippines—Keep out of politics. You may be fearsome in the ring but in the political arena, you may end up like Ricky Hatton—cold and senseless on the canvas.
Malacañang on Tuesday cautioned Manny Pacquiao, who ran for Congress but lost in 2007, against returning to politics.

“He is being idolized because he is one very good boxer—a tough one—but we don’t know if he would be just as tough as a politician,” Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a press briefing.

“That might be the time when he would be knocked out.”

Bello said Pacquiao “should think about it a thousand times before he makes a decision about entering politics.”

“When it comes to boxing, we have no worries for him but if he enters politics, he’s a greenhorn,” Bello said. “Every Filipino would hate to see the day when he is knocked out [in the political arena].”

Still in his prime as a boxer, Pacquiao has all the time to focus on politics once his boxing career is over, Bello said, suggesting Pacquiao first take care of the flashy American Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Senators, too, are not too keen about Pacquiao being a politician. They either want him to remain as a boxer or try another arena.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Pacquiao could help bring peace to the troubled South.

“I suggest the goodwill Manny Pacquiao has struck in our people’s hearts and minds be immediately put to good use in the search for peace in Mindanao, perhaps as an adviser to the peace panel,” Pimentel said in a text message.

While they said the choice was up to Pacquiao, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis Escudero preferred that the boxing champion pursue his boxing career.

“His name has been carved in the history of the Philippines, he’s now a legend. I think he should stick to what he has been known for, that is in sports,” Lacson said.

He said politics would only give Pacquiao headaches, not to mention, enemies.

Escudero said he could not blame people for wanting Pacquiao to remain in boxing.

“His fights are the few [occasions] that we unite, man or woman, administration or opposition, red or white,” Escudero told reporters.

5 Senate resolutions

Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said Pacquiao had every right to get into politics but it was too early for him to run for the Senate, if ever. But he said Pacquiao had been a very good symbol for the youth and the nation.

Still, senators were elated about Pacquiao’s knockout of Hatton, filing five resolutions to honor him for the feat.

The resolutions were filed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sen. Richard Gordon and Sen. Lito Lapid.

Pacquiao has signaled his intention to return to politics by forming the People’s Champ Movement (PCM) and petitioning the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to accredit it as a “local political party.”

“The major benefit of having a political party is that it will enable you to increase your campaign spending,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters.

“An independent candidate can only spend his money. If you have a political party, the party can contribute to your spending.”

Under election laws, an independent candidate can only spend P5 per voter. A candidate with a political party can spend twice more than that, to include party contributions, Jimenez said.

Party machinery

“If you have a political party, it (also) means that you have a machinery. There will be help for you in the campaign. You will have somebody campaigning for you even if you are not there,” he said.

If the Comelec approves Pacquiao’s petition, it would also mean he could fund and support other candidates in General Santos City and in Sarangani province.

As a local political party, PCM can only support candidates for local office. However, it can field candidates for national positions if it partners with a national political party, Jimenez said.

Jimenez said the Comelec was expected to rule on Pacquiao’s petition within the month.

Commissioner Rene Sarmiento has expressed disappointment at Pacquiao’s decision to enter politics.

“We know politics is divisive so that will not help the Filipinos and Manny. My advice for Manny is to remain a national icon and national symbol of unity,” Sarmiento said.

PCM platform

According to its constitution and bylaws, PCM aims to promote the economy and improve the peace and order situation in General Santos and Sarangani.

PCM says it also wants to create a “special economic zone and bring investors to General Santos City and Sarangani province.”

The party wants to revive the Civilian Volunteers Organization and “promote high morale among military service units through the transparent use, distribution, and utilization of the intelligence funds.”

Manny Pacquiao photos against Ricky Hatton (In adobe flash)

Filipinos wanted more from the Manny-Pacquiao match

FILIPINOS AROUND THE COUNTRY yesterday erupted in jubilation when Manny Pacquiao’s left hook exploded on the jaw of Ricky Hatton, but some said they felt bitin (unsatisfied) because the fight ended too soon.
Caught in the excitement generated by the fight, some priests hurried through with their Sunday Masses or shortened their sermons, while ordinary people woke early or climbed trees to see live feeds of the bout.

In Tacloban City, organizers of the Palarong Pambansa suspended some games so that athletes and spectators alike could watch the telecast of the Las Vegas fight.

But tragedy struck in Batangas City where a 64-year-old fan of Pacquiao collapsed dead from a heart attack while watching his hero on television score a devastating ring triumph 12,000 kilometers away.

In parts of Bicol, residents failed to see the fight because a storm had toppled power lines and plunged their communities into darkness.

As in previous Pacquiao fights, soldiers and Moro guerrillas briefly stopped fighting in some areas of Mindanao so they could follow the fight on radio and television.

But there was no respite for some units pursuing the Abu Sayyaf bandits in Jolo. Saying duty came first, they captured one of the bandits’ camps in the village of Bunot in Indanan town yesterday morning, police said.

President Macapagal-Arroyo declared a “national day of celebration” to mark Pacquiao’s feat, saying his “spectacular victory” should inspire all Filipinos to emulate his example of always striving to improve oneself.

Malacañang officials said Ms Arroyo learned about Pacquiao’s victory while she was visiting Egypt on her way to Syria and was herself surprised at how swiftly the Filipino champion had disposed of the English brawler.

Remonde said the delegation could not believe that the fight was over in less than six minutes.

“We found it sort of incredulous that it was over quickly,” Remonde said.

Ms Arroyo plans to honor Pacquiao later with a luncheon in Malacañang.

The “Pacman mania” also spread to the cyberworld, where popular singer Mariah Carey twittered, “Unbelievable,” in reference to Pacquiao.

Facebook was filled with cheers for Pacquiao. Some users said:

“Asar si Aling Dionesia kasi naunahan siya ni Hatton na himatayin!” (Aling Dionesia is pissed off because Hatton became unconscious ahead of her).

“It took a longer time to look for a parking lot than to watch the fight.”

Deposed President Joseph Estrada said Pacquiao “is truly an inspiration to Filipinos everywhere.”

Agence France-Presse said “millions of Filipinos danced in the streets and joined raucous parties” after Pacquiao’s victory.

The following reports from Inquirer reporters and correspondents in Metro Manila and around the country show how Filipinos were caught up in the Pacquiao frenzy:

Hearts belong to Pacman
Hatton may be their countryman, but to British citizens like Paul Pryde and Arthur Conn, who have stayed and fallen in love with the Philippines, their hearts belong to Pacquiao.

They said they considered themselves to be Filipinos.

“So we’re rooting for Pacquiao,” Conn said at Howzat sports bar on Kalayaan Street in Makati City before the start of the live telecast. “Hatton likes to drink, too … he gets drunk every night unlike Pacquiao,” added the 35-year-old software engineer, who has been in the country for five years.

Pryde, one of bar’s owners, said Britons who are in the Philippines on vacation may be cheering for Hatton—but not those who have been “Filipinized,” like him and Conn.

Five LCD TV screens at Howzat attracted a beer-guzzling, predominantly male crowd. A large-screen projector was put up in another part of the bar to cater to a total of 200 customers, who spent P500 each to watch the fight. The ticket came with coffee and a breakfast buffet.

Many customers obviously felt disappointed that the fight ended quickly. Allison W. Lopez

Some felt shortchanged
Fruit vendor Rodel Ubaldo felt shortchanged after spending hard-earned money to watch a live telecast of the fight.

“I know Manny would win but it would have been better if the fight had lasted for at least five rounds so I would have gotten my money’s worth,” he said in Filipino. He said he paid P250 to see the fight.

“It was finished even before I could warm my seat,” Ubaldo added.

More than 1,000 people filled up the Amoranto Stadium to see the fight by satellite sponsored by the Rotary Club Kamuning East. Nancy Carvajal

No room for everyone
Hundreds of fans kicked, pushed, shoved and then ripped up tickets after they were refused entry to a free viewing of the fight at the San Andres Sports Complex.

The stadium had been filled to its capacity of 8,000, prompting personnel of the Manila Recreations Bureau to close all four crowded gates, as early as 7 a.m.

Retired soldier Jose Acosta Jr., 64, said he came to watch the match for free and waved his ID papers and a ticket to marshals but his pleas to be admitted were ignored.

“I am just one old man. I am also a retired soldier. They should take pity on me,” Acosta told the Inquirer.

Others lamented that some of those without tickets were allowed to enter first. Jeannette I. Andrade

Watching from trees
A group of men in shorts and slippers were so excited about the fight that they literally climbed a tree for a better view.

Others stood on a “kariton” or wooden cart, while a few clambered up the steel gates of the Pasig City Hall, risking life and limb, to watch the LCD screen showing satellite feed of the bout.

Officials had mounted two monitors in tents in front of the Pasig City Sports Center for people who could not get into the 5,000-seat stadium, which was filled to capacity.

Queues to the free showing had reached several blocks away from City Hall as early as 7 a.m. DJ Yap

‘Palaro’ games suspended
They waited for nearly four hours but it was over in just six minutes.

But jubilation still swept restaurants, shopping malls and gymnasiums across the Visayas when Pacquiao stopped Hatton in two rounds.

The fight prompted the suspension of some of the games of the Palarong Pambansa as a giant screen, normally used to monitor various events of the Palaro at the Tacloban City Convention Center, was used for the showing of the pay-for-view match.

The big crowd included athletes themselves.

Traffic was greatly reduced in key Visayan cities as people stayed home to watch the fight.

But while most streets in Cebu City were empty, a stretch along D. Jakosalem Street fronting the LGC Marketing building teemed with people. LGC Marketing had brought out three 21-inch TV sets to show the fight.

Msgr. Esteban Binghay, the epicospal vicar of the Cebu Archdiocese, said he shortened his Mass at Carcar City’s Theotokos Diocesan Shrine because the people were eager to know the result of the fight.

He said attendance was also down by half.

In Iloilo City, thousands flocked to public gymnasiums in Jaro, Arevalo and Molo districts to watch the bout for free. The screenings were sponsored by officials led by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, his son Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez Jr. and Mayor Jerry Treñas.

Anticipating a grueling match, many spectators brought sandwiches, juice drinks and beer.

“Bitin (It was over too soon),” said Josepha Dingcong, 53, who had waited for four hours to see the bout.

Sally Biansong, a vendor of salted peanuts, was also unhappy that the fight ended early. “I only sold P50 worth of peanuts because of the short match,” she said.

In Bacolod City, traffic ground to a halt, the police went on alert and sermons ended early as people rushed home to catch the Pacquiao fight.

Residents in Antique watched the fight for free at the Biniarayan Sports Complex. Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Jhunnex Napallacan, Lito Tecson, Joey Gabieta, Carla Gomez and Jani Arnaiz, Inquirer Visayas

No rest for soldiers
Thousands of soldiers and civilian volunteers in Sulu and Basilan had to make some sacrifices and missed the fight to answer the call of duty.

Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo, spokesperson for the Sulu kidnapping crisis, said many soldiers were “longing to watch this fight live but because of the ongoing pursuit operation in Sulu, many of our personnel had to sacrifice.”

About 8,000 soldiers, police and civilian volunteers are involved in the search for kidnapped Italian engineer Eugenio Vagni.

“We will just watch the fight later because we are at the height of operation,” said Senior Supt. Julasirim Kasim, Sulu police chief.

In Basilan, Rear Adm. Alexander Pama, commander of Naval Forces Western Mindanao, said troops carried radios with them “so they can only listen to the fight if there’s a radio signal in their respective areas.”

Kidnappers are still holding six hostages in the province.

Pama and Arevalo said they had the fight recorded and compact disc copies would be sent to the troops in the field later. Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao

Darkness in Bicol areas
The Albay Electric Cooperative said it had received many phone calls from consumers requesting them to fix electric lines immediately so they could watch the fight.

About 50 phone calls were received by the desk until noontime Sunday.

Some villages in Camalig town in Albay experienced power outages due to Tropical Storm “Dante,” “so I failed to watch Manny’s live fight,” said Anton Llandelar, a computer technician of Camalig.

Gov. Joey Salceda said the fight was “a brief distraction” from the storm, but it gave little relief.

“The earlier we return to work and rebuild our farms, the better,” he said. “What we need here is relief goods not emotional relief.”

In Batangas, a 64-year-old tricycle driver, Francisco Lalongisip, died of a heart attack while watching his idol battle Hatton on TV at his neighbor’s house in San Pascual town, police said. Romulo Ponte, Maricar Cinco, Marrah Lesaba, Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Ephraim Aguilar, Rey Nasol and Joanna Los Baños and Geral Querubin, Inquirer Southern Luzon

Jubilation in Luzon
In Luzon, the jubilance of jeepney and tricycle drivers and vendors was shared by local officials and politicians as they watched Pacquiao knock out Hatton.

But Pacquiao fans expecting a brawl were dismayed that the fight did not go the distance.

In Nueva Ecija, some overseas Filipino workers in Alberta, Canada, in messages sent online, said they were disappointed that they did not see an exciting fight, which had been billed as a “war between the East and the West.”

PHOTOS from the Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton fight

All photos courtesy of the Associated Press.

Pacquiao TKOs Hatton in 2nd round

STORIES:
Pacquiao overwhelms Hatton in shocking second-round knockout
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- First Oscar De La Hoya, now Ricky Hatton. The way Manny Pacquiao is handing out beatings, maybe Floyd Mayweather Jr. should have stayed retired.

Pacquiao cemented his claim to being the best pound-for-pound boxer Saturday night with a spectacular performance that ended with Hatton sprawled helplessly on the canvas after a devastating left hand to the head late in the second round.

Coming off a dominating win over De La Hoya, Pacquiao was even better against Hatton, knocking him down two times in the first round before finally stopping him with a vicious left hand that dropped Hatton for good in the 140-pound title bout.

Referee Kenny Bayless took one look at Hatton and declared the fight over at 2:59 of the second round.

"I didn't have to count," Bayless said.

Hatton laid on the canvas for several minutes while doctors tended to him before finally leaving the ring with a wry smile on his face. He was taken to a local hospital for a precautionary brain scan.

Pacquiao was always supposed to be quicker than Hatton, but he was also a lot stronger -- and a lot more accurate. He landed 73 of his 127 punches in the fight in a display that had to catch the attention of Mayweather, who earlier in the day said he would return to the ring for a July 18 fight against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Hatton, meanwhile, connected on only 18 of 78 punches, according to ringside stats.

"I'm surprised the fight was so easy," Pacquiao said. "He was wide open for the right hook. I knew he would be looking for my left."

Pacquiao had the perfect game plan for Hatton, evading his bullying rushes and then picking him apart with counter punches. The performance was even more stunning because Hatton had lost only once and has been a world-class fighter for years.

"Are you happy?" Pacquiao asked promoter Bob Arum in the ring afterward.

"You're going to be the greatest fighter who ever lived," Arum replied.

That would take some doing, but on this night Pacquiao staked a claim to greatness that few would have thought possible before he scored his big upset over De La Hoya last December.

Pacaquiao needed less than half a round to figure out the onrushing Hatton, hitting him with a flurry of punches midway through the first round before putting him down for the first time with a right hook to the head. Hatton got up at the count of eight but Pacquiao landed another flurry and dropped him again just before the end of the round.

Hatton attempted to carry the fight to Pacquiao in the second round but was mostly ineffective as Pacquiao sized him up for a big punch. It finally came at the end of the round when he landed a left cross that flattened the English fighter.

"It was a hard loss but I'm OK," Hatton said. "I really didn't see the punch coming but it was a great shot. I know I'll be OK."

Pacquiao was a 2-1 favorite, but few thought Hatton would go easily. His only loss came when he was stopped in the 10th round by Mayweather Jr., and he built a career and a reputation as a tough and aggressive fighter who wore his opponents down.

But he stood no chance against Pacquiao, whose punches came straight down the middle and landed with increasing frequency as the fight went on.

"I was just doing my job," said Pacquiao, who is a national hero in the Philippines and is fast becoming a hero among boxing fans. "I always try to do my best in the ring."

Pacquiao's best on this night quickly quieted a boisterous crowd of 16,262 at the MGM Grand arena, many of them who came over from England to sing and chant Hatton's praises. They didn't even get a chance to warm up, though, before Hatton was on the canvas for the first time of the night.

"The fight was no surprise to me," Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, said. "We know he always pumps his hands before he throws a punch. He's a sucker for the right hook."

On the same day Mayweather announced his return to the ring, Pacquiao stole the undefeated former champion's thunder with a performance that was so lopsided it looked like a sparring session. Even more impressive, it came in only his third fight over 130 pounds.

Pacquiao weighed 138 pounds for the fight to 140 for Hatton, and was fighting a bigger man for the second time in a row. But nothing seems to bother the boxer who is so popular at home that there is talk of him running for president some day.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 knockouts) earned $12 million for the fight, while Hatton (45-2) was paid $8 million.

There is only one Manny Pacquiao!

LAS VEGAS – Four years ago, in the very same ring where he scored a crushing second-round knockout over an opponent many thought would give him the challenge of his career, Manny Pacquiao lost a decision to Erik Morales.
Morales was one of the most entertaining fighters of his time, but never once were “Morales” and “all-time great” ever used together in the same sentence.

In 2005, Pacquiao was a good and exciting but hardly great fighter. After Saturday’s K.O. of Ricky Hatton, though, he stands atop the boxing world, even with the heavily hyped return of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who had been a near-unanimous choice as the world’s top fighter prior to his untimely retirement in June 2008.

Mayweather Jr. unretired on Saturday and said he’d fight Juan Manuel Marquez in July, but he’ll have to defeat Pacquiao if he wants to be regarded as the best after Pacquiao decimated Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao knocked Hatton down twice in the first round and then knocked him cold with a crushing left hand that may have been the best punch of his career late in the second round. Hatton fell face first and laid motionless for several minutes as the arena erupted.

If the Pacquiao Era hadn’t started with his decimation of Oscar De La Hoya in December, it began with a straight left that left promoter Bob Arum squealing.

Arum has promoted many of the game’s finest fighters, including Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler. Arum was so ebullient after Pacquiao’s devastating victory, he was comparing Pacquiao favorably to Ali.LAS VEGAS – Four years ago, in the very same ring where he scored a crushing second-round knockout over an opponent many thought would give him the challenge of his career, Manny Pacquiao lost a decision to Erik Morales.

“I promoted Muahmmad Ali and the best Ali I ever saw was the one who fought before he was forced to take a sabbatical for 3½ years,” Arum said. “That was the best Muhammad Ali. He had phenomenal speed and he had terrific reflexes, but he sure as hell didn’t have the explosive power that Manny Pacquiao has. … He was a great, great fighter, but there has never been a fighter with the same combination of speed and explosive power as Manny Pacquiao.”

It was hard to argue with any superlatives hurled Pacquiao’s way after the finest effort of his career. He picked apart a guy who was 45-1 coming into the fight and who was the linear super lightweight champion, making Hatton look like an upstart amateur.

Pacquiao was far too fast and far too strong for Hatton, who fought his entire career as a 140-pounder. Pacquiao, who began at just 106, hurt Hatton with nearly every shot on Saturday.

“Before the fight, a lot of people were saying I’m small at 140 and Ricky Hatton is bigger than me,” an unmarked Pacquiao said. “I didn’t put that in my mind.”

Ever since that disappointing loss to Morales, Pacquiao has made a transformation that has turned him into a superstar and has old-school boxing experts talking of him as an all-time great.

He barely squeaked out a victory over Marquez 14 months ago, but his trainer, Freddie Roach, said it would be no contest if they were to fight now.

“He’s a different now than he was [when he lost to Morales],” Roach said. “He’s not that guy. He’s a different guy. If he fought Marquez right now, I guarantee you he’d knock him out in three rounds. I’m telling you. I know that’s a bold statement, but he’s a much better fighter than the guy who fought those guys.

“Something clicked inside of him. I can’t pinpoint it. He’s just a different guy.”

Pacquiao isn’t a guy who simply goes to the gym to shed pounds to make the weight. He uses his training sessions as a classroom and takes a studious approach to improving himself.

Roach worked diligently with him to improve his right hook and on Saturday, it was his key punch. Hatton would cock his left as he went to throw it, a sign for Pacquiao to unleash his right hook, which he did in devastating manner.

He hurt Hatton with a combination that began with a right hook about 90 seconds into the fight, sending the British star spaghetti-legged in the corner. As Hatton’s many fans in the sellout crowd of 16,262 sang “There’s only one Ricky Hatton,” you had to wonder if Hatton somehow thought there might have been two Manny Pacquiaos the way punches were raining down upon him.

Hatton wasn’t in Pacquiao’s class, though he might have beaten him a few years ago. Pacquiao and Roach now form the best team in boxing as Pacquiao has developed his game to a point where he compares favorably with any man alive.

“What I am watching is something that is astounding,” Arum said. “Usually when a world championship-caliber boxer reaches the top, he can be good for a number of years. But most of the time, there is no improvement. This young man improves every single fight.

“He’s doing things he didn’t do two years ago. He’s doing more things and he’s doing other things he didn’t do before. His defense is tremendous and his reflexes now are tremendous. I have never, ever in more than 40 years – and I say this without hyperbole – I have never seen a fighter combine speed and explosive power the way he does.”

Boxing now needs a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. If it occurs, it could be the most significant fight in the sport in decades.

But Pacquiao doesn’t need Mayweather to affirm himself as one of the sport’s greats. Pacquiao answered that question plenty well in the ring on Saturday.

Pacquiao chases sixth title, history

LAS VEGAS -- Manny Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound king, stands on the precipice of history. In his way stands junior welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton.But if Pacquiao, fighting for the first time as a junior welterweight, can defeat Hatton, the long-reigning champion who has never lost at 140 pounds, in their much-anticipated showdown at the MGM Grand on Saturday night (HBO PPV, 9 ET), the Filipino icon will enter rare air.

• A Pacquiao victory would give him a world title in a record-tying sixth weight division -- flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and junior welterweight.

Yes, there was a time when there were only eight weight classes with one champion per division, and now there are 17 divisions with four sanctioning organizations handing out the most recognizable titles. But if it were easy to win titles in six divisions, everyone would be doing it. So far, only one man has: Oscar De La Hoya, who won belts from junior lightweight to middleweight before Pacquiao sent him into retirement by handing him a beating in a nontitle welterweight bout in December.• If Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs), the betting favorite, dethrones England's Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), he will accomplish something no fighter in boxing history has ever done, which is to claim the lineal championship in a fourth division. Lineal, as in the man who beat the man, who beat the man, who beat the man, etc. In other words, he'll be considered the "real" champion in a fourth division, not just a mere titleholder, the way he was when he claimed his junior featherweight belt and lightweight title.

"Pacquiao goes down as one of the greats if he can accomplish a junior welterweight championship to go along with his other hardware," said boxing historian and occasional ESPN.com contributor Bert Sugar. "Reason being -- it's not only difficult to leapfrog this many weight classes, but because you have equaled and passed greats like a Henry Armstrong, greats like Alexis Arguello. The way he has done it, we still don't know his true fighting weight. Even with all the belts, he's still the lineal champion in so many weight classes. I make him out to be the greatest Asian fighter of all time and conceivably one of the greatest fighters of all time if he can carry this off.

"Now, we have a lot more titles, but it still does not dim or in any way minimize what Manny Pacquiao has done."

Already a five-division titleholder, Pacquiao is in impressive company. The only others to get one for the thumb? Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The four-division titleholders in boxing history are Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker, Roy Jones Jr. and the not-so-well-known Leo Gamez.

Pacquiao is reserved about the historical implications of a win Saturday, but he is certainly aware of what is at stake.

"It is very important for me to win [titles] in six different divisions for the people of my country," said Pacquiao, who has always dedicated his accomplishments to the Philippines. "Being a six-division champion, if that happens, people will want to put my name in boxing history, and that will be my legacy."Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, admitted that he is surprised that Pacquiao has been able to keep moving up the scale with such success.

"I never thought this would ever happen. When I started with Manny because he was just 122-pound champ," said Roach, who took over Pacquiao's training after he had already been flyweight champion. "He's just been getting bigger and stronger. He's a lot happier when he's not making weight. He's healthier, he gets to eat what he wants, and I feel when I have a happy fighter that's not struggling to make weight, it's a good thing. And his powers come up with him. Manny Pacquiao, he's a machine. He is the hardest worker I've ever seen in my life, and that's why he's the best fighter in the world today."

De La Hoya was considered the lineal champion in three of the weight divisions he won titles in, junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight.

As the only six-division titleholder, he can appreciate what Pacquiao is gunning for.

"He's in a position now where he can make history," De La Hoya said. "It's not easy to jump six weight classes. It's not easy at all. It's probably the most difficult task that any fighter can have. I've always said it was more difficult than just being world champion for 10 years at one weight class."

Even Hatton, who has dominated at junior welterweight for years, although he did claim a belt at welterweight before returning to his natural division, is somewhat in awe of Pacquiao's climb up the scale.

He's with De La Hoya in believing that it's more of an achievement to win titles in multiple divisions than it is to stay in one weight class and systematically clean it out.

"It's a phenomenal achievement what Manny's done. He [turned pro] at 106 pounds. So that's incredible, a man fighting at the weight he's fighting at now," Hatton said. "But I think it's a lot easier to move up through the weights the lighter weight you are because, obviously, the weights are a lot closer together. From where Manny started off when he won his first world title [at 112 pounds] to when he won his last world title [at 135 pounds], you would have to say it's more impressive. Even though the weights are very, very close together, it's absolutely such a massive achievement."

Top Rank's Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, knows a thing or two about fighters moving up in weight. He promoted De La Hoya for virtually all of his career, and he also promoted many of Leonard's biggest fights. He said Pacquiao's background could be a reason why he's been able to start off in such small divisions and steadily move up with success."He came from a background where it very hard to gauge his true weight because when he fought early on at flyweight, was it because of the lack of nutrition or was he a naturally smaller guy?" Arum said, noting that Pacquiao grew up in poverty without much food. "Then as he became more affluent and could feed and take care of his body, the fact that he has put on weight and seems to be better with the added weight is not surprising. The conventional wisdom is when a fighter moves up in weight he loses his speed and his power. With Manny just the opposite seems to have happened. His speed is now better, and his power is certainly better.

"Manny is a very unique fighter, and he has a great set of skills that translates itself to going up and down the divisions. It's as simple as that. He outspeeds everybody, and he outpunches everybody. And he never gets tired."

If Pacquiao does make history by beating Hatton, more could be on the way. A title fight at welterweight is certainly not out of the question.

"I don't put it past him to look really good [Saturday] and maybe beat some of the top welterweights," Arum said. "There are welterweights out there that he can compete with, like [Miguel] Cotto or [Floyd] Mayweather [Jr.], that would make very interesting fights in the years ahead. So I am not concerned with his smaller frame. He matches up really well with some of the top welterweights. I really believe that Manny's body of work at this particular time establishes him as one of the great fighters in the history of boxing. I really believe that there is a lot more to come which will cement that legacy."

Pacquiao is game.

"Fighting at 140 pounds is my regular weight, and I am very comfortable at that weight," he said. "But I can fight at other positions. It's about discipline. I have disciplined myself, so that is why I can fight at heavier weights. If the fight is at 147, I can fight at 147. Right now, the fight is at 140, so I have to fight at 140 pounds."

Sugar also wouldn't put it past Pacquiao to beat Hatton and move on to even greater glory.

"What Manny has done sort of defies all reason," Sugar said. "We don't yet know where he will hit that wall. What is the weight at which he can't? We have come to the point where we are watching a phenomenon. I don't know if we will appreciate it now or it will take us years to appreciate it."

Here's what's scary: Pacquiao may not even be at his best yet.

"I believe that I am improving," Pacquiao said. "And everybody knows and can see that by my last few performances."