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Pacquiao to Hatton: Don't retire yet
Pacquiao to Hatton: Don't retire yet
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 05/05/2009 11:28 AM
What does the future hold for British boxer Ricky Hatton after his bone-crunching loss to the world's top pound-for-pound fighter?
Hatton’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., hinted at a post-fight conference that the British boxer should probably hang his gloves after his TKO loss to Manny Pacquiao. Several critics, sports scribes and boxing fans also echoed the call for Hatton’s retirement.
But the man who sent Ricky to the canvass thrice Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) thinks otherwise.
“Para sa akin, puwede pa naman siyang lumaban. Ganun talaga ang boxing, may panalo, may talo [For me, he can still box. That's the thing with boxing, sometimes you win, sometimes lose],” Pacquiao said in a phone interview on ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda.”
The IBO/Ring Magazine junior welterweight champion reasoned that Hatton is only 30 years old and still has what it takes to make it in the ring.
Pacquiao said he was prepared to go the distance in his fight with Hatton, not knowing that the Brit would go down so easily.
"I really expected -- it could have been easy or hard. If he adjusted quickly to my strategy, what we call my secret weapon, the fight would've gone longer...The problem was he couldn't adjust," he said.
Pacquiao also downplayed what observers are saying that his fight with Hatton was his easiest in his last five to ten matches.
"Not really. Maybe the results showed it was over quick but it was also hard. I was lucky I tagged him early and the strategy we used was really effective against his style," he said in Tagalog.
Asked who he would rather face next -- Juan Manuel Marquez or Floyd Mayweather, Jr. -- Pacquiao said he would wait for the results of the Marquez-Mayweather bout in July.
"It depends. Let's wait who will win in their bout. It depends on the results of the negotiations with my promoter," he said, referring to Top Rank boss Bob Arum.
If he will face Mayweather, Pacquiao said the fight weight could be at 140 lbs., 145 lbs. or 147 lbs "but not at 150 lbs."
Self-effacing as ever, Pacquiao refused to comment on Mayweather's statements that he is the better boxer.
"Mahirap talaga magsabi ng tapos. If you compare my record with Mayweather's, I have a better record. That said, I don't want to compare my abilities with Mayweather or any other boxer," he added.
Meanwhile, the Pacman refused to say if he is running for congressman next year especially after the forming of the People’s Champ Movement. The political party, which covers Sarangani province and General Santos City, is set to undergo accreditation at the Commission on Elections.
“Let's talk about that later when I get back,” Manny said with a chuckle.
as of 05/05/2009 11:28 AM
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 05/05/2009 11:28 AM
What does the future hold for British boxer Ricky Hatton after his bone-crunching loss to the world's top pound-for-pound fighter?
Hatton’s trainer, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., hinted at a post-fight conference that the British boxer should probably hang his gloves after his TKO loss to Manny Pacquiao. Several critics, sports scribes and boxing fans also echoed the call for Hatton’s retirement.
But the man who sent Ricky to the canvass thrice Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) thinks otherwise.
“Para sa akin, puwede pa naman siyang lumaban. Ganun talaga ang boxing, may panalo, may talo [For me, he can still box. That's the thing with boxing, sometimes you win, sometimes lose],” Pacquiao said in a phone interview on ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda.”
The IBO/Ring Magazine junior welterweight champion reasoned that Hatton is only 30 years old and still has what it takes to make it in the ring.
Pacquiao said he was prepared to go the distance in his fight with Hatton, not knowing that the Brit would go down so easily.
"I really expected -- it could have been easy or hard. If he adjusted quickly to my strategy, what we call my secret weapon, the fight would've gone longer...The problem was he couldn't adjust," he said.
Pacquiao also downplayed what observers are saying that his fight with Hatton was his easiest in his last five to ten matches.
"Not really. Maybe the results showed it was over quick but it was also hard. I was lucky I tagged him early and the strategy we used was really effective against his style," he said in Tagalog.
Asked who he would rather face next -- Juan Manuel Marquez or Floyd Mayweather, Jr. -- Pacquiao said he would wait for the results of the Marquez-Mayweather bout in July.
"It depends. Let's wait who will win in their bout. It depends on the results of the negotiations with my promoter," he said, referring to Top Rank boss Bob Arum.
If he will face Mayweather, Pacquiao said the fight weight could be at 140 lbs., 145 lbs. or 147 lbs "but not at 150 lbs."
Self-effacing as ever, Pacquiao refused to comment on Mayweather's statements that he is the better boxer.
"Mahirap talaga magsabi ng tapos. If you compare my record with Mayweather's, I have a better record. That said, I don't want to compare my abilities with Mayweather or any other boxer," he added.
Meanwhile, the Pacman refused to say if he is running for congressman next year especially after the forming of the People’s Champ Movement. The political party, which covers Sarangani province and General Santos City, is set to undergo accreditation at the Commission on Elections.
“Let's talk about that later when I get back,” Manny said with a chuckle.
as of 05/05/2009 11:28 AM
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