Manchester, England (March 4, 2009). During a national conference call held today for members of the media, Ricky Hatton’s trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr.. all but ensured a Hatton victory over his next opponent Manny Pacquiao when the two meet in a world junior welterweight championship on Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and live on HBO Pay-Per-View. Here is what Mayweather, who is currently training Hatton in Manchester, England, had to say:
Why he thinks Hatton will beat and most likely knock-out Manny Pacquiao:
“Because first of all I’ve got the best fighter and I am the best trainer. That’s the reason right there. I am the best and he is the best..
“Everything is mapped out. Ricky is trying to be nice, but it’s a simple fact that we gonna bust his ass up. Simple as that. . .. we gonna whup his ass.
“I am going to be honest with you. I think Ricky has a very very good chance of knocking Pacquiao out. I think a knockout is going to be more likely than anything. Ricky’s chances are very great at that.
“This ain’t no dehydrated Oscar de la Hoya Pacquiao is fighting now. He is fighting with a man that has real strength. A guy that can keep pressure on him, smart pressure, head movement, jabbing on the way in, banging through the body, banging through the head and smothering him at the same time. It’s going to be hard for him to deal with.”
On Freddie Roach:
“Trust me, Freddie (Roach) is a joke Coach Roach wouldn’t dare to approach. Believe me you will find that out.
“I will be honest with you that’s a bunch of nonsense. They’ve got him in the Hall of Fame, he should be in the Hall of Shame. Let’s tell the truth like it is. You see Freddie Roach train, and you see me train, it’s night and day. It doesn’t even compare. Doesn’t even come close. I mean let’s be real. Tell the truth. Freddie Roach is a joke. And that’s what I say. That’s why his name is Freddie the joke Coach Roach.”
*******************************************
Pacquiao vs. Hatton “The Battle of East and West,” presented by Rockstar Energy Drink and promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, in association with MP Promotions and Hatton Promotions is a 12-round bout for Hatton’s IBO and Ring Magazine World Junior Welterweight titles. The fight is also sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines. Remaining tickets, priced at $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150, can be purchased through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also available online at www.mgmgrand.com.
The Pacquiao vs. Hatton pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao vs. Hatton fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.
Please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, www.toprank.com or www.rickyhitmanhatton.com for upcoming announcements.