Posturing starts over for Pacquiao-Mayweather battle

Manny Pacquiao's devastating fists sent a powerful message to Floyd Mayweather Jnr about his comeback - the path to deciding boxing's pound-for-pound king goes through the Filipino superstar.

Unbeaten American Mayweather, the former undisputed welterweight champion, tried to upstage Pacquiao's junior welterweight showdown with Ricky Hatton by announcing his return from a 17-month layoff just hours before the fight.

Mayweather, who will face Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 in his return to the ring, dismissed the idea of fighting the Pacquiao-Hatton winner, saying he was taking his daughter bowling rather than watching the fight.

"I'm not worried about that," Mayweather said. "I don't have to call fighters out. They are all calling me out."

But it's safe to say Mayweather heard about Pacquiao's domination of English hero Hatton and the punishing left cross that knocked out Hatton one second before the end of round two to bring the Phillipines star a historic win.

Moments after the fight, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum told the Filipino southpaw "You are going to be the greatest fighter who ever lived" and said he might be the best fighter he has promoted, a list that includes Muhammad Ali.

"If Mayweather wants a piece of the 'little Filipino', just be my guest," Arum said.

Pacquiao won the International Boxing Organization junior welterweight title to match a boxing record by claiming a crown in a sixth career weight class and back up his claim as boxing's pound-for-pound king.

Hatton was hospitalized as a precaution after lying unconscious on his back in the center of the ring, but doctors found no lasting physical injuries.

The top fight boxing fans hunger to see now is Pacquiao against Mayweather. It's the only mega-fight that will bring huge pay-per-view profits for both men and decide which is the true pound-for-pound king.

Posturing from both camps began with Mayweather's decision to book his first fight before Pacquiao's victory. Arum, who has the task of negotiating a deal, and Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach fired the next verbal volleys.
"Mayweather, he just had to wait one day and he could have fought Manny. I think he's afraid of Manny. He made the fight maybe not happen," Roach said before predicting "Pacman" would beat Mayweather if they do fight.

"He doesn't like to engage in the ring. He's going to run from us."

While there is hope Mayweather-Pacquiao can happen by the end of the year, Mayweather must first handle Marquez in July and Arum says Pacquiao will wait until Miguel Cotto fights in July before deciding upon a next opponent.

A potential foe for both men before they meet is US veteran Shane Mosley.

"He knows he is at the end of his career and he wants to make some big money off me," Mayweather said.

Roach had a considerably higher opinion of Mosley.

"The most dangerous guy put there for Manny right now is probably Shane Mosley," Roach said. "They both like to fight and his pace is dangerous."

Another issue will be weight. Marquez, a star at 135 pounds, and Mayweather, a force at 147, have yet to settle on a catch weight for their fight, likely to be at 144 pounds.

A similar size issue will come into play during Pacquiao-Mayweather talks.

"At the right weight? No problem. At 147? Forget it," Roach said. "Manny doesn't need it. Manny's best weight is 140."

Dividing the money will also be troublesome, with both men likely to want the lion's share of the profits from the rich pay-per-view spectacle. Pacquiao made 12 million dollars against Hatton, who made eight million.

Mayweather played the loudmouth to lure a record 2.4 million purchases against Oscar de la Hoya and one million more against Hatton, saying he pushed the numbers even though his rival's fan base drove creation of the fight.

With Pacquiao as Asia's super fighter, a new untapped market could test Mayweather's moneyspinner skills.

Another factor will be pay-per-view numbers for Mayweather's comeback and the Pacquaio victory. Should tough economic times hold down the profits, it could push organizers to delay a showdown for financial conditions to improve.

AFP

After Hatton ... Pacquiao VS Mayweather

On May 1, 2009, it was confirmed that Mayweather is coming out of a 16-month retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on HBO PPV.^[40] The fight will be a Catchweight of 143 lbs. HBO will also be bring back the 24/7 Series prior to the fight.

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Brilliant Pacquiao cements legacy with win

Pacquiao VS Hatton highlights

After Manny "PACMAN" Pacquiao's tremendous win over Ricky "Hitman" Hatton, Mayweather is next if ever he wins or loose to Marquez scheduled fight soon.

Pacquiao VS Mayweather will be the biggest fight soon, and it will be Pacmans last fight to prove his supremacy..

LAS VEGAS – It took just 359 seconds to add the latest devastating chapter to a legacy that will last for decades.

Manny Pacquiao’s flurried fists made short work of Ricky Hatton on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and delivered the most emphatic proof yet that boxing has a superstar for the ages operating at his peak.

Pacquiao sent the Englishman crashing to the canvas twice in a frenetic first round, then sealed the contest with a brutal left hook that had Hatton out cold on his back with one tick remaining in the second round.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have announced his comeback from a brief and scarcely-believable retirement on Saturday morning. But there can be no doubt that Pacquiao is boxing’s undisputed king as he continues to ride a remarkable wave of momentum.

“Our strategy was the one punch,” Pacquiao said. “Left hook. Right hook. That was going to be the key to this fight.”

The Filipino fighter is a quiet and reserved man out of the ring, but between the ropes he morphs into an electrifying machine – and Hatton felt his full force.

The Hatton camp had hoped their man’s power would be telling, yet he simply had no response to Pacquiao’s pace and precision. A right hook put Hatton down with 54 seconds remaining in round one and proved to be the beginning of the end.

“I knew it was over,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer. “Ricky fights the same way over and over. He doesn’t have the ability to adjust.”

As Pacquiao moved in for the finish in the second round, Hatton tried to cling on only to be sent down again with a fierce straight left. Doctors immediately rushed to the aid of Hatton, who eventually and thankfully was able to walk from the ring under his own steam.

“I am surprised this fight was so easy,” said Pacquiao. “I did work hard in my training camp and it paid off. This is as big a victory for me as when I beat Oscar De La Hoya.”

That December triumph over De La Hoya did not convince the entire boxing fraternity of Pacquiao’s ability, primarily as the Golden Boy’s powers had so clearly dimmed from his prime. Now there is no speculation. Pacquiao is the top dog, until someone proves otherwise in the ring.

Floyd Mayweather Sr. was a no-show at the postfight news conference, leaving Hatton’s co-trainer, Lee Beard, to explain the mauling by Pacquiao.

“We knew about Manny’s speed and that it could play a factor in the fight,” Beard said. “What you saw was two rounds of action and Ricky got caught.”

Roach’s status as a trainer grows in line with each victory his top fighter posts and it became clear his game plan was perfect. Hatton could not avoid Pacquiao, who landed with 73 of his 127 punches. The Brit could only land 18 of 78.

“This is no shock at all,“ Roach said. “Hatton pumps his hands before he throws a punch, and it makes him a sucker for the right hook.

“Manny is a monster. He is the best fighter ever. There is no surprise here.”

Defeat was a bitter blow to the thousands of Hatton fans among the 16,262 in attendance who had journeyed across the Atlantic but saw their dreams dashed within a few brutal minutes.

The typical symphony of chanting carried on even after their man had been sparked out, but it may not strike up again. Hatton, who was alert in his locker room before being taken to the hospital, is one of the most popular boxers ever with an incredible fan base, but his fighting future is now in serious doubt.

For Pacquiao, the future is brighter than ever, and his legend continues to grow.

Said Pacquiao: “I can fight anybody.”

By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports