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There are reports of training camp friction in the Englishman's corner before fight with Pacquiao.
By Lance Pugmire
May 2, 2009
A day after Ricky Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. hinted there was some training camp friction in the Englishman's corner, the opposing veteran cornerman said the alibi-making has begun.
"I think it's just excuses," said Freddie Roach, who trained Manny Pacquiao for Saturday night's 140-pound main event against Hatton at MGM Grand. "Now, when Manny beats him, they've got an excuse."
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The fighters weighed in Friday, with Hatton stepping on the scales at the junior-welterweight limit 140 pounds while Pacquiao weighed 138.
England's Hatton (45-1, 32 knockouts) is expected to surge in weight before he steps into the ring and should easily surpass Oscar De La Hoya as the heaviest man Filipino icon Pacquiao (48-3-2, 35 KOs) has fought.
"Ricky genuinely believes he'll knock Manny out," Hatton attorney Gareth Williams said. "He's the naturally bigger guy, and Manny's victory over De La Hoya isn't impressive given the condition Oscar was in."
Yet, it was Hatton's camp left to defend the condition of their team unity.
On Thursday, Mayweather, training Hatton for the second bout after a previous impressive battering of Paulie Malignaggi, told reporters near the end of a round table conversation that the training camp had included some conflict.
"It doesn't mean it's not a good camp if we have a problem," Mayweather told 15rounds.com and Yahoo Sports. "Was there a problem? Yes."
The animated Mayweather reportedly had a personality conflict with Hatton's assistant trainer from England, Lee Beard, although Hatton's attorney was quick Friday to dismiss the reported tension. Thursday, Mayweather explained that it was "not just me and Lee, but you might be on the right track."
In one scene from the HBO reality series "24/7," Hatton was seen waiting in the gym for Mayweather to show up. A separate shot showed the trainer at a Taco Bell.
Friday, Williams talked about "some idiots stirring things up on the Internet," and addressed an issue that he describes as "absolute nonsense. Floyd's the man, and Ricky is happy with Floyd."
And Mayweather was hurrying to retract anything he said the day before. In a telephone conversation with The Times before the weigh-in, he said, "It's all lies, we had no dispute. Ricky will be good and Freddie can talk all he wants. What does a Roach know anyway? A Roach ain't got a brain. I'll let you all see how well the camp went tomorrow night.
"Whatever I said, let it be."
The Yahoo Sports story said Roach could emerge as a possible replacement trainer.
"I like guys like him, I think we would fit well because I like guys who work hard and fight hard, but right now I'm training my guy to knock him out," Roach told The Times. "The problem I have with [Mayweather] is that it's always about me, me, me, and he never talks about his fighter. I might be the best trainer, but it's only because I train Manny Pacquiao."
By Lance Pugmire
May 2, 2009
A day after Ricky Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. hinted there was some training camp friction in the Englishman's corner, the opposing veteran cornerman said the alibi-making has begun.
"I think it's just excuses," said Freddie Roach, who trained Manny Pacquiao for Saturday night's 140-pound main event against Hatton at MGM Grand. "Now, when Manny beats him, they've got an excuse."
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The fighters weighed in Friday, with Hatton stepping on the scales at the junior-welterweight limit 140 pounds while Pacquiao weighed 138.
England's Hatton (45-1, 32 knockouts) is expected to surge in weight before he steps into the ring and should easily surpass Oscar De La Hoya as the heaviest man Filipino icon Pacquiao (48-3-2, 35 KOs) has fought.
"Ricky genuinely believes he'll knock Manny out," Hatton attorney Gareth Williams said. "He's the naturally bigger guy, and Manny's victory over De La Hoya isn't impressive given the condition Oscar was in."
Yet, it was Hatton's camp left to defend the condition of their team unity.
On Thursday, Mayweather, training Hatton for the second bout after a previous impressive battering of Paulie Malignaggi, told reporters near the end of a round table conversation that the training camp had included some conflict.
"It doesn't mean it's not a good camp if we have a problem," Mayweather told 15rounds.com and Yahoo Sports. "Was there a problem? Yes."
The animated Mayweather reportedly had a personality conflict with Hatton's assistant trainer from England, Lee Beard, although Hatton's attorney was quick Friday to dismiss the reported tension. Thursday, Mayweather explained that it was "not just me and Lee, but you might be on the right track."
In one scene from the HBO reality series "24/7," Hatton was seen waiting in the gym for Mayweather to show up. A separate shot showed the trainer at a Taco Bell.
Friday, Williams talked about "some idiots stirring things up on the Internet," and addressed an issue that he describes as "absolute nonsense. Floyd's the man, and Ricky is happy with Floyd."
And Mayweather was hurrying to retract anything he said the day before. In a telephone conversation with The Times before the weigh-in, he said, "It's all lies, we had no dispute. Ricky will be good and Freddie can talk all he wants. What does a Roach know anyway? A Roach ain't got a brain. I'll let you all see how well the camp went tomorrow night.
"Whatever I said, let it be."
The Yahoo Sports story said Roach could emerge as a possible replacement trainer.
"I like guys like him, I think we would fit well because I like guys who work hard and fight hard, but right now I'm training my guy to knock him out," Roach told The Times. "The problem I have with [Mayweather] is that it's always about me, me, me, and he never talks about his fighter. I might be the best trainer, but it's only because I train Manny Pacquiao."