Tweet
Hatton beats proud and pensive Pacquiao - at darts
Hatton beats proud and pensive Pacquiao - at darts
Posted By: Gareth A. Davies at Feb 28, 2009 at 16:26:16 [General]
Posted in: Sport , Boxing and MMA
Tags:Manny Pacquiao, Old Trafford, Ricky Hatton, seb coe
Predictably, Ricky Hatton won the first round against Manny Pacquiao less than an hour ago, defeating the Filipino in a game of 501, darts that is, at his local pub.
The Rovers Return, the fictional public house on the long-running soap opera Coronation Street had been organised as the venue, but inexpicably it changed at the last moment. Hatton gained home advantage, winning in 15 darts, finishing with a double 2.
The rules also favoured Hatton with Pacquiao more familiar with a darts game known as 'cricket' which involves going around the board. All good fun, anyway, and Hatton presented Pacquiao with a Manchester City football shirt at the end of it.
Pacquiao looked the more tense of the two men in front of 4000 fans at the Trafford Centre, which also contained a sizeable contingent of Filipino supporters of Pacquiao.
If he had expected any kind of face-off with Hatton, it would only be smiles. Physically, height-wise, at first sight, they look very well matched.
The visiting fighter looked smart in a suit, Hatton more casual.
Pacquiao had left the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London in the early hours of this morning, heading for Euston Station, and the two-hour journey to Manchester Piccadilly.
Pacquiao is recognised everywhere. He had a few photographs with accidental well-wishers before boarding the train at 8.40am. Bob Arum, Jeng Gacal, Richard Schaefer, and Freddie Roach were all with him.
He spoke to his family on the train, had a calf massage, and joked with members of the team. They took in the English countryside from the ****** train, from their First Class cabin.
Manny prepared his speech for the press conference. Up close, he is very much the professional in all aspects. He wanted to be pinpoint accurate when he spoke, just as he affects with his punches.
He prepared his darts arrows for his darts match with Hatton. Once outside the train in Manchester, attention was one him. A cavalcade of four cars took him from the train station to Trafford Shopping Centre, 5 miles away, passing Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United.
Manny seems to soak everything up with interest, and returns to periods of introspection deep inside himself. It was fascinating to talk with Jeng Gacal about the way in which Manny is perceived by people in the Philippines, his generosity, and indee his ambitions to change the life of many people in his native land.
Britain has few sportsmen - perhaps except Seb Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Olympics - who have had the potential to enter the political arena with such success.
Manny told me: "My dream was to come here to England and it has come true. I also have the desire to take the light-welterweight title, and it's a big honour to be in another fight which the fans want to see. Hatton's style is very good, he's strong, and for me it will be a big fight, and a crowd pleaser."
"There is always pressure on me when I fight. I can handle it. Millions of people look to me to win. I have to go out and give everything."
That generosity, according to one insider from the camp, is a worry at times. "Manny believes his gift for boxing is God-given. He wants to earn money, give it away to people who he says need it more than him. He wants to change people's lives."
There can be no more laudable ambition in sport. Too many sportsmen have lost sight of sport playing a part in the greater good of mankind. Sounds like a sense of deep wisdom from Pacquiao from this observer's eyes. Hatton himself, although perceived as more frivolous, is not a money man either.
This promises to be one fascinating build-up to what is almost certain to be a classic fight.
Posted By: Gareth A. Davies at Feb 28, 2009 at 16:26:16 [General]
Posted in: Sport , Boxing and MMA
Tags:Manny Pacquiao, Old Trafford, Ricky Hatton, seb coe
Predictably, Ricky Hatton won the first round against Manny Pacquiao less than an hour ago, defeating the Filipino in a game of 501, darts that is, at his local pub.
The Rovers Return, the fictional public house on the long-running soap opera Coronation Street had been organised as the venue, but inexpicably it changed at the last moment. Hatton gained home advantage, winning in 15 darts, finishing with a double 2.
The rules also favoured Hatton with Pacquiao more familiar with a darts game known as 'cricket' which involves going around the board. All good fun, anyway, and Hatton presented Pacquiao with a Manchester City football shirt at the end of it.
Pacquiao looked the more tense of the two men in front of 4000 fans at the Trafford Centre, which also contained a sizeable contingent of Filipino supporters of Pacquiao.
If he had expected any kind of face-off with Hatton, it would only be smiles. Physically, height-wise, at first sight, they look very well matched.
The visiting fighter looked smart in a suit, Hatton more casual.
Pacquiao had left the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London in the early hours of this morning, heading for Euston Station, and the two-hour journey to Manchester Piccadilly.
Pacquiao is recognised everywhere. He had a few photographs with accidental well-wishers before boarding the train at 8.40am. Bob Arum, Jeng Gacal, Richard Schaefer, and Freddie Roach were all with him.
He spoke to his family on the train, had a calf massage, and joked with members of the team. They took in the English countryside from the ****** train, from their First Class cabin.
Manny prepared his speech for the press conference. Up close, he is very much the professional in all aspects. He wanted to be pinpoint accurate when he spoke, just as he affects with his punches.
He prepared his darts arrows for his darts match with Hatton. Once outside the train in Manchester, attention was one him. A cavalcade of four cars took him from the train station to Trafford Shopping Centre, 5 miles away, passing Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United.
Manny seems to soak everything up with interest, and returns to periods of introspection deep inside himself. It was fascinating to talk with Jeng Gacal about the way in which Manny is perceived by people in the Philippines, his generosity, and indee his ambitions to change the life of many people in his native land.
Britain has few sportsmen - perhaps except Seb Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Olympics - who have had the potential to enter the political arena with such success.
Manny told me: "My dream was to come here to England and it has come true. I also have the desire to take the light-welterweight title, and it's a big honour to be in another fight which the fans want to see. Hatton's style is very good, he's strong, and for me it will be a big fight, and a crowd pleaser."
"There is always pressure on me when I fight. I can handle it. Millions of people look to me to win. I have to go out and give everything."
That generosity, according to one insider from the camp, is a worry at times. "Manny believes his gift for boxing is God-given. He wants to earn money, give it away to people who he says need it more than him. He wants to change people's lives."
There can be no more laudable ambition in sport. Too many sportsmen have lost sight of sport playing a part in the greater good of mankind. Sounds like a sense of deep wisdom from Pacquiao from this observer's eyes. Hatton himself, although perceived as more frivolous, is not a money man either.
This promises to be one fascinating build-up to what is almost certain to be a classic fight.
Comment