Ricky Hatton says vs Pacquiao He Will, "Attack, Attack And Attack Again,"

Ever since the fight was announced, was then in doubt and was then back on for good, the fans have been talking about the May 2nd battle between 140-pound stars Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao as being just that, a battle. The paying public, the majority of them anyway, are expecting a real, hard war in Las Vegas, and judging by what Ring magazine light-welterweight champ Hatton had to say to Sky Sports recently, the fight will indeed be fought in a way that will make it an affair to carry an adults-only certificate..

For though he says there will be plenty of speed on his part and not just power, Hatton has laid out his-game-plan for the big fight, and he says he plans to be ultra-aggressive against the Filipino southpaw dynamo.

"Attack, attack and attack again," was "The Hitman's" answer when he was asked how he will approach the May fight. "If you beat the pound-for-pound number one that is a statement. We are both very aggressive and both like to go forward but ultimately my size and power will be a factor. But it's not just a power thing, I'm working on my speed. I think they [Team-Pacquiao] see me as a slow fighter and they will get a shock on the night [at] just how fast I am."

With Pacquiao also likely to come out fast and aggressive at the first bell, the fight cannot fail to be fan-friendly. However, Ricky has a feeling Manny may try to out-box him as he did Oscar De La Hoya back in December of last year - as he explained.

"I'll be keeping the same ferocity I've always had and when he feels my strength I don't think Manny will stand about," Hatton said. "I think he will think he can out-box me like he did Oscar De La Hoya. He might come and have a go early on but with the greatest respect I don't think it would have been hard to out-box Oscar that night.

"If Manny thinks he can do the same to me I think he will come unstuck."

Hatton clearly goes along with all those who feel Pacquiao had nothing too formidable in front of him last December, when the formerly great "Golden Boy" was both old and very weak at the weight. This, as Hatton says, will not be the case with him on May 2nd. So far, the 30-year-old Manchester man has been delighted with the way his training has gone.

"We are only half way through training camp, and I think a lot of fighters would be happy with my speed, sharpness and timing come fight night," Ricky said. "I'm happy with the stage I am at but I just know my boxing ability, combination punches, jabbing and head movement is going to get so much better. I have a nice balance now and the fight can't come quick enough."

In what is likely to be a fight of the year candidate, Hatton Vs. Pacquaio - "The Hitman" Vs. "Pac-Man" - sure can't come quick enough!

Ricky Hatton "In great shape"

by James Slater - There is still well over two months to go until fight time, but Ring magazine light-welterweight champion Ricky Hatton is already, in the words of his assistant trainer Lee Beard, "in great shape" for his hugely intriguing May 2nd battle with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao. Training for the biggest fight of his life, and for his second chance to topple a fighter currently seen as the best pound-for-pound in the world, the 30-year-old Manchester warrior is leaving nothing at all to chance.

Hatton, well known for ballooning up in weight between fights, has done no such thing on this occasion - indeed, "Ricky Fatton" has been nowhere to be seen. Hatton knows he is in for a rough and unimaginably tough war with the great Manny Pacquiao, and he has more or less left the beers and the junk food alone since his fine win over Paulie Malignaggi last November.

Speaking to inside sports. ph, Beard said he has not yet had his fighter's weight checked, but that due to the shortness in time that has passed since the win over Malignaggi there's not been time for Hatton to put on a ton of excess poundage, and that presently Hatton's body looks good.

Beard said they will weigh Ricky this coming Friday, but that he looks pretty solid and ripped right now anyway.

"Ho took his shirt off, and his six-pack abs are there already," Beard said. "He's in really good shape and his fitness is very, very good too."

This is a very good sign for Hatton fans. With less time needed to rid himself of excess fat and weight, "The Hitman" can use his time in camp to work on his game-plan and his overall tactics for the May shootout. And Beard says there will be lots of hard sparring for his man when he gets to Las Vegas.

"Once we get to Vegas that's when all his hard sparring will start," Beard confirmed. "There's nobody in England that can get anywhere near to what Manny does so it's a bit of a lost cause [sparring in the UK]. We will get sparring partners who can emulate the speed [of Pacquiao] and things but in the end it's the level of experience and the level that Manny's at as the best fighter in the world. You are not going to get anyone like that."

In going to America, Beard, said, there will be "a lot more options" for who to work with in sparring. And once again lightweight puncher Edwin Valero's name has come up. It will be the unbeaten banger who will be sought out for main sparring partner duties.

"Valero doesn't fight like Manny, but he's got similarities in other ways," Beard said.

And although there are doubts as to whether or not Valero's services will be available, the KO-artist is definitely being considered.

As Beard explained:

"We would have to get somebody with the hand-speed of Manny and someone who could bang because Manny is not just fast, he's very heavy-handed too."

With Hatton's early preparations going well, he and Manny will be headed to Manchester and London for the pre-fight publicity tour this weekend. Then it will be back to hard training for the two exciting warriors.

Manny PACQUIAO vs Ricky HATTON is On!

Golden Boy Promotions formally announced the date that many suspected all along: Manny Paquiao will fight Ricky Hatton, for Hatton's junior welterweight title, on May 2, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"We are very excited that this fight has been made, as it is the fight fans wanted and the one I look forward to seeing myself," said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. "This fight has all the makings of a "Fight of the Year" candidate and I think Hatton will de-throne Pacquiao and become boxing's pound-for-pound king."

Interesting that Oscar is picking Hatton. I wonder why?

"I always like new challenges which is the reason I am anxious to fight Ricky Hatton," said Pacquiao. "My trainer Freddie Roach will put together a new game plan which will be much different than the one we used against Oscar (De la Hoya). There are concerns because Hatton is a very strong puncher so I must deal with that in the ring. I promise I will be completely prepared and will do my best for all of my fans in The Philippines."

Here is the release:

LAS VEGAS, (January 28, 2009) - Two of boxing's biggest stars will meet in the ring in what could be the year's biggest pay-per-view event. Five-division world champion MANNY "Pac Man" PACQUIAO and Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight champion RICKY "The Hitman" HATTON will fight for Hatton's World Junior Welterweight Championships Saturday, May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and Hatton boast a combined record of 93-4-2 (68 KOs), a winning percentage of 94% and a victory by knockout ratio of 73%.

Pacquiao vs. Hatton, a 12-round bout for Hatton's Ring Magazine and IBO World Junior Welterweight titles, is promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions in association with MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions.