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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 rumble for Hatton’s World Junior Welterweight Championships Saturday, May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. These two boxing artists will have a 20 x 20 foot canvas to paint a black and blue masterpiece that the world has been waiting to see. 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.

Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) secured his claim as the 2008 Fighter of the Year, a year reminiscent of what Hall of Fame fighter Henry Armstrong did in 1937-1938, winning three fights in three different weight divisions, two of which were world titles. Armstrong is the only man to hold three world championships simultaneously, capturing world titles at featherweight, welterweight and lightweight (in that order) during a nine-month span between November 1937 and August 1938. Pacquiao, officially proclaimed a National Treasure by the Philippines, captured the WBC World Super Featherweight title last March by defeating Juan Manuel Marquez and the WBC World Lightweight title in June by knocking out defending champion David Diaz. He completed his personal trifecta by stopping Oscar de la Hoya in a welterweight battle on December 6. Pacquiao’s last two victories were in his debut fight in each weight division with the latter fight being two full divisions above his previous fight. Pacquiao, 30, has won 24 of his last 25 bouts, blitzing through boxing’s best fighters since 2003 including Erik Morales (TKO 10, KO 3,), Marco Antonio Barrera (TKO 11, W 12), Marquez (D 12, W 12,), Diaz (TKO 9) and De La Hoya (KO 8). Pacquiao was previously named the 2006 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America andRing Magazine.

The storied career of Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), an international superstar hailing from Manchester, England, began in 1997 and for the last 12 years he has been thrilling fight fans around the world with his aggressive style in the ring and down to earth attitude outside of the ring. Owner of victories over world champions Kostya Tszyu, Vince Phillips, Paulie Malignaggi, Luis Collazo, Jose Luis Castillo, Juan Urango and Carlos Maussa, Hatton is a two division world champion. He fell short of the pound-for-pound best fighter title and world welterweight championships in his 2007 super-fight against Floyd Mayweather. However, the 30-year-old bounced back impressively at his natural weight of 140 pounds last May when he scored a near shutout 12-round unanimous decision over Juan Lazcano. His most recent fight was a scintillating shutout performance against world champion Malignaggi last November, ending with an 11th round TKO for “The Hitman”. Hatton was honored as the 2005 Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

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STATS

Welterweight
43-1 | 31 KOs

Nickname
The Hitman

Hometown
Manchester, England

Date of Birth
October 6, 1978

Height
5′6″

At the age of 28, Ricky is a nine-year pro. The two-time IBF Jr. Welterweight world champion, and former WBA super lightweight and welterweight world champion, he has beaten defending world champions in four of his last five fights.

In his most recent fight in June, 2007, he defended the IBO Jr. Welterweight World title with a devastating 4-round stoppage against former Lightweight World Champion Jose Luis Castillo.

On January 1, Ricky was recognized by the Queen of England in the annual New Year’s honors list, and received the title MBE (Member of the British Empire). The ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace, and he will now be known as Ricky Hatton, MBE.

Ricky had a breakout year in 2005 – his accomplishments stood heads and shoulders above those of every other fighter in the world, and he was voted “Fighter of the Year’ by The Boxing Writers Association of America, and The Ring.

From TheRing-online.com, December 21, 2005: The Ring is pleased to announce that it has selected Ricky Hatton as 2005’s Fighter of the Year. Hatton is the first-ever British boxer to receive the award since its inception in 1928.

Hatton earned top honors by stopping long-reigning junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu at the end of the 11th round on June 4 in Manchester, England. In his second bout of the year on November 26, Hatton knocked out WBA Junior welterweight titleholder Carlos Maussa in the ninth round in Sheffield, England.

“Not only did Hatton take the title away from one of the greatest 140-pounders of all-time and make his first defense against a highly rated challenger, he did it in the sort of entertaining and definitive manner that attracts fans and fills venues,” said The Ring’s Editor-in-Chief Nigel Collins Hatton joins a long list of famous fighters to win The Ring’s Fighter of the Year award, starting with then- heavyweight champion Gene Tunney, Other past recipients include Muhammad Au (’63, ‘72, ‘74, ‘75, ‘78), Joe Louis (’36, ‘38, ‘39, ‘41), Rocky Marciano (’52, ‘54, ‘55), Ray Robinson (’42, ‘51), and Mike Tyson (’86, ‘88).

Ricky has been the biggest draw in Great Britain for several years, with a huge, fanatical following in his hometown of Manchester.

Regarding his nickname, Ricky said, “I’ve always been a fan of Tommy Hearns, and everybody associates that that’s where I got it from, but everybody’s a Tommy Hearns fan. I got the nickname the first day I walked in the gym. I was 10 years old and put a pair of gloves on and started walloping the bag, and my amateur coach said, ‘Look at him, look how evil he is. He’s a little Hitman.’”

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STATS

Super Featherweight
47-3-2 | 36 KOs

Nickname
Pac Man

Hometown
General Santos City, Philippines

Date of Birth
December 17, 1978

Height
5′6″

At the age of 26, Manny is a ten-year pro – he made his debut at the age of 16. A former two-time world champion, he won the WBC flyweight world title two weeks before his 20th birthday in December, 1998, and held the title for nearly a year. He held the IBF jr. featherweight world title from June, 2001, until he vacated it on January 15, 2004, to move up to the featherweight division.

An aggressive lefthanded slugger, Manny is recognized as one of the hardest punchers at any weight. He is 14-1-2 in his last 17 fights, with all 14 wins coming by knockout. In his last fight on September 10, he TKO’d Hector Velazquez in the sixth round.

Manny has been fighting at the top levels of competition, and has been in several of the most exciting fights of recent years.

Graham Houston wrote in Boxing Monthly, “Quite simply, Pacquiao is one of the hottest fighters in the business. There is a saying in American boxing: ‘Speed kills.’ When that speed is accompanied by power, it is truly a formidable combination – and Pacquiao has it.”

On March 19, he lost a very close decision in a tremendous battle against Erik Morales. Manny fought to a 12-round draw on May 8, 2004, against Juan Manuel Marquez in a fight many observers considered to be the “Fight of the Year.”

In November, 2003, he scored a devastating TKO win against former three-time world champion Marco Antonio Barrera. After the fight, HBO boxing analyst Larry Merchant said, “This is a fight that will shake up the boxing world. Long live the new king.”

Boxing columnist Michael Katz wrote, “He is on the cusp of becoming perhaps the greatest Asian fighter to conquer the West since Genghis Khan.”

Manny is a national hero in the Philippines – when he returns home after his fights, he is greeted by thousands of his cheering countrymen.

Among his fans is Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. She said, “The victory of Pacquiao is a victory of the more than 76 million Filipinos, and the entire nation joins him in celebrating.”

Manny’s webpage address is mannypacquiao.ph.

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LOS ANGELES, December 22 – In 2008, Mexican icon Juan Manuel Marquez solidified his place among boxing’s elite and became Mexico’s number one fighter by knocking out Joel Casamayor and winning a championship in a third weight class. As 2009 opens, Marquez will not be resting on his laurels, as he accepted the challenge to face former three-time lightweight champion Juan “The Baby Bull” Diaz on Saturday, February 28th in what promises to be an early Fight of The Year candidate.

“This fight between Marquez and Diaz will shake the lightweight division to its core and truly determine the best 135-pounder in the world,” said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. “As a fan, I can’t wait to see this fight.”

Marquez vs. Diaz, a 12 round bout for the Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and will be televised live on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT.

Mexico’s premier fighter and a future Hall of Famer, Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KO’s) has signified excellence for over 15 years and in three weight classes. A world champion at featherweight and junior lightweight, the 35-year-old Mexico City native made an immediate impact at 135 pounds when he won the Ring Magazine World Lightweight Championship by becoming the first man to stop Cuban great Joel Casamayor on September 13, 2008.

“Juan Diaz is a talented young fighter with a bright future,” said Marquez. “But this is still my time and I am not about to let Diaz take my belt away from me.”

Just nine years old when Marquez made his pro debut, 25-year old Juan Diaz (34-1, 17 KO’s) has roared through the pro ranks during his eight-year career and built a stellar reputation as one of the fight game’s most exciting young stars. The Former Three-Time World Lightweight Champion defended his crown seven times, beating the likes of fellow World Champions Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz along the way. In his last bout in September of 2008, “The Baby Bull” thrilled his hometown fans at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with a dominant 12 round decision win over Australian warrior Michael Katsidis.

“Juan Manuel is one of the greats in the game and it’s an honor to fight him, but I will be victorious on February 28th,” said Diaz.

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“Is he crazy? (Ricky) Hatton will beat the f**king socks off of (Manny) Pacquiao.” So opined the ever loquacious Floyd Mayweather Sr. in an interview Monday with Boxing Scene’s Rick Reeno.

Conventional thinking would agree with Sr.’s sentiment.

Convention though is the opposite of what a Hatton-Pacquiao bout would represent. At least convention as it is known in the 21st century. Elite fighters who started their careers thirty pounds apart, facing off while both are still near their physical prime, is something that boxing hasn’t seen much of in the last seventy years or so.

The original Joe Walcott, a Welterweight, knocking out future Hall of Famer Joe Choynski, a Light Heavyweight, in 1900? Sure why not.

Middleweight Sam Langford versus Heavyweight Harry Wills? Almost twenty times? Hey, what else were two permanently ducked black fighters to do from 1910-1920?

The former lineal World Flyweight and Featherweight king Pacquiao (45-3-2, 35 KO, Ring Magazine #1 at 130 lbs.) challenging reigning World Jr. Welterweight champ Ricky Hatton (43-1, 31 KO) in 2008? I’m pretty sure I agree with Sr. that it’s crazy…but sometimes crazy is a hell of a show.

If he retired today, Pacquiao already has his slice of history. He’s the first and only fighter in history to reign as champion at 112 and 126 lbs. Along the way, he’s knocked out two Hall of Fame titans in Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales and slain a slew of other competent-to-notable foes. He doesn’t need a Hatton fight.

That doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be worth a look to see him try. It’s an unlikely scenario for Manny Pacquaio to win a Hatton fight but not entirely inconceivable. If the marginally possible became the recently occurred, it would be the sort of achievement that could become truly transcendent; this generation’s Henry Armstrong triple-crown. Could this fight really happen?

While the talks with the HBO suits about this match have allegedly been serious thus far, there are of course two reasons not to pay much attention to the chatter. The first isn’t a reason but a man, one Juan Manuel Marquez (48-3-1, 25 KO, #2, WBC 130 lb. titlist). He and Pacquiao have the small issue of their rematch on March 15. Most will recognize the winner as the true, new World champion, replacing the long-reigning vacant at Jr. Lightweight, and there’s no telling who that winner will be. A Marquez victory will end the discussion of Hatton and send Pacquiao, hat in hand, looking for rubber match with Marquez.

There is another reason this fight may not come off and it’s all about Hatton. Specifically, the public should find this idea unacceptable for Hatton and I have a feeling that the backlash from the press and punditry would not be pretty. I’d expect something worse than the blow back to the once-rumored bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Cory Spinks.

While it is understandable that Hatton would want to maximize his likely increased earning potential with a more winnable fight than his last against the Welterweight champion Mayweather turned out to be, he is still the champion at 140 lbs. and should be held to those obligations or at least to fighting men near his natural size. Fellow Brit Junior Witter (36-1-2, 21 KO, WBC titlist) is far and away the most deserving contender in his weight class. Heck, Witter would have an argument as the most deserving contender to any champion in any weight class. Economics isn’t that big an argument either; Hatton-Witter would fill a soccer stadium overseas.

In other words, a lot of punches have yet to fly before we need to think too hard about whether Hatton would “beat the f**king socks off” of Manny.

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com

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I’ve noticed Eurosport are covering more live boxing last friday night after 12 they had a few fights on from america which were okay. I’ve noticed next friday they have the IBF light welterweight title fight between Ngoudjo – Urango.

Ive noticed they have quit abit of good quality boxing a few weeks after the fight has happened.

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Who are the best boxers of all time? I have compiled a list of boxer’s based on their boxing ability, what they achieved in the sport, and how they conducted themselves in and out of the ring. I have put why I rate them so highly also. It is so hard to because every time you think you have it right, you go down the list and pretty much every fighter in their prime – you think “ he could have beaten him” I have decided on this list, and that is that, and it is based on pound for pound credibility’s basically.

1) Sugar Ray Robinson – Had it all, could defend, could attack, and could do anything.
2) Muhammad Ali – Has to be right up there, could be below Robinson, or could be below Leonard, but I have him second.
3) Rocky Marciano, – I think to retire undefeated in an era that was so hard, especially as a 5”10 Heavyweight was amazing, what a KO percentage – 87.75.
4) Sugar ray Leonard – Some of you will think he should be higher, but I think I have him about right.
5) Oscar De La Hoya – I think he has to be there, he has fought the best, and is one of the best. Goes in for a battle comes out usually unmarked having won. In his day could have beat all of these above him. I could have had him higher. In fact looking at it, he could be as high as number 3 really.
6) Roy Jones Jnr – His record speaks for itself, multiple weight champions, still going today.
7) Floyd Mayweather – People will argue this one to the hilt. But I say this – he has beat De la Hoya, Hatton, Judah etc, he could have fought in any era, a top class fighter.
Jack Dempsey – Probably one of the most popular fighters of all, again KO’s were amazing.
9) Joe Frazier – beat Ali, says it all really, lost to only Foreman & Ali, and that speaks for itself.
10) Joe Louis – Held the heavy weight title for 11 years, before retiring after being KO by Rocky Marciano, which happened a lot to everyone else so.
11) Bernard Hopkins or Joe Calzaghe if can beat him, Joe calzaghe ranked alongside him. Hopkins because of his stature within the fighting world, and his ability to move up the weights and win world titles. But I think that if Calzaghe beats him then he can be here – has been champion for over 10 years. His actual ability is up there with Ali, his hand speed, tactical boxing brain and ability to take a punch. I believe he could have fought in any era, pitty he could not have fought with Leonard.
12) Evander Holyfield – A brilliant boxer, who had a brilliant career, wins over the likes of Tyson, Holmes & Foreman cement his position here amongst the greats.
13) Mike Tyson – To win the world heavy weight crown at 20 is one hell of an achievement, but outside influences destroyed what could have been the best of all time.
14) Jake La Motta – Some amongst us probably think he should not be here and those below that are mentioned should be, but I put him here for pure reputation inside and outside the boxing ring.
15) Jack Johnson – The first black heavyweight, in an era that was hard, very hard and known fro brutality inside the ring as well as outside on the streets. A top class boxer, with a good heart.

Honorable mentions for their ability and what they bought to the sport.

Tommy Hearn’s, Marvin Haggler, Jimmy Wilde, Ricky Hatton, George Foreman. Lennox Lewis, Henry Armstrong, Larry Holmes, Marco Antonio Barrera, Manny Pacquiao, Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Steve Collins, Barry McGuigan, Henry Cooper.

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