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Ricky Hatton:'This Time I'm Gonna Do It'
By Andrew Wake:
Universally recognised junior-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton will meet pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2.
At a well attended press conference at the Village Hotel in Ashton Under Lyne near Manchester, the Hitman officially confirmed that the on-off saga that has been the past few weeks has been resolved and a deal is now in place for what is likely to be the sport’s biggest event of the year.
Only a week ago the fight looked to be dead in the water as Pacquaio wanted to receive the lion’s share of the million’s of dollars the clash will generate but Hatton’s lawyer Gareth Williams confirmed that the two fights will receive parity in the pay stakes.
Williams said: “I’ve read on the internet and from press releases that we’d offered a 55/45 [percentage split] at one stage and then I read it was 52/48 but the reality is that we have never wavered from what we originally wanted and that’s a straight 50/50 deal.
“We don’t want to take anything away from Manny Pacquiao because we recognise that he is regarded as the best fighter in the world but we also recognise what Ricky Hatton brings to the table. He brings a tremendous amount of support in the UK and generates tremendous interest in TV and the press.
“As far as we are concerned, Ricky Hatton is an equal participant and contributor in this fight.”
Hatton himself admits that he has let the possibility of the clash not materialising get to him but is at ease now that an agreement is firmly in place.
“It’s been a very difficult few weeks,” explained the 30-year-old Mancunian. “We spoke to [Pacquiao’s promoter] Bob Arum and we were ready to put pen to paper. Two weeks ago I was absolutely delighted and then I started seeing things on the internet saying the fight was on and then it was off…I was absolutely devastated.
“I said to my dad and Gareth ‘If it’s not done in the next few days I’m gonna have to look elsewhere because I’ve gotta start my training camp and I wanna know who I’m fighting.
“Things came to a head last Friday when we actually spoke to Manny Pacquiao’s people and I think that was the clincher.
“It’s an absolute honour to fight him. I’ve already challenged once for the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world title and I came second but with perseverance and hard work and by maintaining that same focus and keeping my eye on the prize I’m gonna get the chance to fight the best fighter in the world again.”
After Pacquiao brutally dismantled one of the greatest fighters of this generation, Oscar De La Hoya, in Las Vegas this past December the Filipino will enter the May encounter as a heavy favourite but Hatton believes that Pacquaio’s latest victories, while brilliant, have been a little flattering.
“When he fought [David] Diaz it was an outstanding performance but Diaz is a very good opponent and I couldn’t say he’s an outstanding opponent and I like to think I’d have done much the same [to him as Pacquaio did]”
“As good as his performance was against Oscar De La Hoya, I think he boxed a shell of what Oscar should be.
“I’m filled to the brim with confidence that I’m winning this fight. A lot of people thought in the early days that I wouldn’t become a world champion. People said ‘he’s not bad but he’s not quite good enough.’ But I’ve won world titles at two different weights and the only thing left for me to achieve is to become the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
“I challenged for the last pound-for-pound title at welterweight [against Floyd Mayweather Jnr], which was obviously out of my division but I’ve always said at 10 stone I don’t believe anybody will beat me and I still believe that.”
To the media, fellow boxers and his family and friends that filled the room, he added: “I’m very grateful that I’ve got the opportunity to do it now and I promise I won’t you let you down. This time I’m gonna do it.”
By Andrew Wake:
Universally recognised junior-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton will meet pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2.
At a well attended press conference at the Village Hotel in Ashton Under Lyne near Manchester, the Hitman officially confirmed that the on-off saga that has been the past few weeks has been resolved and a deal is now in place for what is likely to be the sport’s biggest event of the year.
Only a week ago the fight looked to be dead in the water as Pacquaio wanted to receive the lion’s share of the million’s of dollars the clash will generate but Hatton’s lawyer Gareth Williams confirmed that the two fights will receive parity in the pay stakes.
Williams said: “I’ve read on the internet and from press releases that we’d offered a 55/45 [percentage split] at one stage and then I read it was 52/48 but the reality is that we have never wavered from what we originally wanted and that’s a straight 50/50 deal.
“We don’t want to take anything away from Manny Pacquiao because we recognise that he is regarded as the best fighter in the world but we also recognise what Ricky Hatton brings to the table. He brings a tremendous amount of support in the UK and generates tremendous interest in TV and the press.
“As far as we are concerned, Ricky Hatton is an equal participant and contributor in this fight.”
Hatton himself admits that he has let the possibility of the clash not materialising get to him but is at ease now that an agreement is firmly in place.
“It’s been a very difficult few weeks,” explained the 30-year-old Mancunian. “We spoke to [Pacquiao’s promoter] Bob Arum and we were ready to put pen to paper. Two weeks ago I was absolutely delighted and then I started seeing things on the internet saying the fight was on and then it was off…I was absolutely devastated.
“I said to my dad and Gareth ‘If it’s not done in the next few days I’m gonna have to look elsewhere because I’ve gotta start my training camp and I wanna know who I’m fighting.
“Things came to a head last Friday when we actually spoke to Manny Pacquiao’s people and I think that was the clincher.
“It’s an absolute honour to fight him. I’ve already challenged once for the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world title and I came second but with perseverance and hard work and by maintaining that same focus and keeping my eye on the prize I’m gonna get the chance to fight the best fighter in the world again.”
After Pacquiao brutally dismantled one of the greatest fighters of this generation, Oscar De La Hoya, in Las Vegas this past December the Filipino will enter the May encounter as a heavy favourite but Hatton believes that Pacquaio’s latest victories, while brilliant, have been a little flattering.
“When he fought [David] Diaz it was an outstanding performance but Diaz is a very good opponent and I couldn’t say he’s an outstanding opponent and I like to think I’d have done much the same [to him as Pacquaio did]”
“As good as his performance was against Oscar De La Hoya, I think he boxed a shell of what Oscar should be.
“I’m filled to the brim with confidence that I’m winning this fight. A lot of people thought in the early days that I wouldn’t become a world champion. People said ‘he’s not bad but he’s not quite good enough.’ But I’ve won world titles at two different weights and the only thing left for me to achieve is to become the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
“I challenged for the last pound-for-pound title at welterweight [against Floyd Mayweather Jnr], which was obviously out of my division but I’ve always said at 10 stone I don’t believe anybody will beat me and I still believe that.”
To the media, fellow boxers and his family and friends that filled the room, he added: “I’m very grateful that I’ve got the opportunity to do it now and I promise I won’t you let you down. This time I’m gonna do it.”
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