PACQUIAO AND HATTON RENDEZVOUS IN HOLLYWOOD (WITH PHOTOS)
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 31 Mar 2009
Hollywood, CA:- It was a presscon made for Hollywood complete with huge strobe lights that lit the sky, gorgeous models courtesy of RockStar Drinks and Tecate Beer and red carpet to boot.
Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino spitfire better known at the World?s Best pound-4-pound boxer and Ricky Hatton, the Brit they call the ?Hitman? met for the first and last time in the Southern California area to hype their big fight on May 2nd at the MGM in Las Vegas.
Thanks to the publicists of Top Rank and the Golden Boy Promotions, the event turned out just like they planned, Hollywood style to the max.
Fans lined the portion of Hollywood Boulevard fronting the fame Hollywood landmark, the Roosevelt Hotel as early as 5:00 PM for the event that was scheduled to happen at 7:30 PM and security guards struggled to keep them inside the barrier. Judging from the ?cheering? contest, there as many Hatton fans as Pacquiao fans.
There was a huge turn out from the media coming from England and parts in between. Even the Latino media was represented well, a testimony of the popularity of both fighters. Of course, not to be out done, a horde of the Filipinos from the media, both TV and print, came as well.
When the talking got going, nothing new was heard. Bob Arum stated that Pacquiao being the faster guy will beat the Brit. On the other hand, Richard Schaefer representing the Golden Boy Promotions as Hatton?s promoter indicated that size this time will matter.
Hatton, he said being naturally bigger will eventually outlast the Pacman.
Freddie Roach nonchalantly said that Pacquiao will flatten the Brit in three rounds, something that Floyd Mayweather Sr. vigorously denies. Hatton, according to Mayweather Sr. will win the fight because he is better and has the best trainer.
Pacquiao and Hatton of course left all the talking to their trainers. They were cordial to each other, a true indication of two classy gladiators. Pacquiao even hinted that he would like to meet Hatton after the fight for a game of darts. ?I want a re-match of the dart game played in England?, he said, eliciting a huge smile from Hatton.
Immediately after everyone has had their turn on the microphone, the fighters retired to two separate tables for interviews with the print media.
A huge trophy was presented to the media. It will go to the trainer of the winning fighter..
All in all, it was a very ?successful? event, if hype is used to gauge it. Kudos to Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions.
Top photo: Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao (L) and British superstar Ricky Hatton pose during their encounter in Hollywood.
L-R: Pacquiao, Roach, Mayweather Sr and Hatton pose during their presscon in Hollywood.
Photos by Dr. Ed de la Vega.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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