Pacquaios Mom makes first U.S. visit to see her son fight

Manny Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia Pacquiao, squeezes her way through a large crowd gathered to see her son Tuesday afternoon at Mandalay Bay. Dionisia made her first-ever trip to the United State to watch her son’s megabout against Ricky Hatton Saturday night at the MGM

RICKY HATTON got the referee he wanted (Kenny Bayliss) against Manny Pacquiao

RICKY HATTON has already taken the first round against Manny Pacquiao by getting the referee he wanted.

Pacquiao's camp wanted Joe Cortez as the man in the middle and asked the Nevada State Athletic Commission to put him in charge.

Cortez was covered in controversy for the way he handled Hatton's clash against Floyd Mayweather junior who knocked out the Hitman in the 10th round.

But Kenny Bayliss, who handled Hatton's last win against Paulie Malignaggi, will officiate on Saturday night.

Meanwhile all tickets have been sold and promoters are now arranging venues up and down the Strip to screen the bout on closed circuit TV.

Hatton will be backed by thousands of his fans inside the MGM Garden Arena on Saturday night.

Dad Ray, his manager, revealed: "We've sold almost 10,000 tickets back home in Manchester and the travel agent has had to delay his arrival here to deal with everything.

"We've asked our agents in Las Vegas to organise CCTV sales until he gets here."

Hatton is good for Vegas business with around 20,000 tickets for CCTV coverage available from one end of the Strip to the other, generating around £7million alone

Pacqauio and Hatton arrives on Las Vegas pictures and video

Pacquiao arrives on Las Vegas onApril 28, 2009. The Four-time world champion pound-for-pound king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, from General Santos, Philippines steps off his custom Team Pacquiao bus as he arrives in Las Vegas for his upcoming "The Battle of East and West" World Jr. Welterweight championship fight against Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton, Manchester, England on Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas,Nevada. Pacquiao vs Hatton is presented by Top Rank and Golden Boy and will be available on HBO Pay Per View

MARTIN NIEVERA TO SING RP NATIONAL ANTHEM IN PACQUIAO-HATTON on May 2 2009 boxing match

Martin rehearses the Philippines National Anthem in front of an audience before the big fight




MARTIN NIEVERA TO SING RP NATIONAL ANTHEM IN PACQUIAO-HATTON BOUT

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao chose Martin Nieverra to sing the Philippine National Anthem in his upcoming fight against Ricky Hatton.

The Pacquiao-Hatton bout, dubbed “The Battle of East vs. West," is scheduled on May 2 (May 3 in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena is Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao personally named Nievera. World renowned artist Lea Salonga is the other artist eyed by Team Pacquiao to sing the Philippine National Anthem. Artists who previously sang in Pacquiao’s previous fights were Karylle (against Oscar de La Hoya), Ciara Sotto (versus Juan Manuel Marquez), Nicole Angela Judalena (against David Diaz), Kyla (versus Marco Antonio Barrera) and Geneva Cruz (against Jorge Solis)

BOXING EXPERTS FAVOR PACQUIAO OVER HATTON

BOXING EXPERTS FAVOR PACQUIAO OVER HATTON

GMANews.TV

MANILA, Philippines – Two boxing analysts believe Manny Pacquiao has enough in his arsenal to bring down Ricky Hatton in their May 2 superfight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s Top Rank coordinator, and Matchroom Sports Ltd. Managing director Eddie Hearn said in a 24 Oras report that they chose Pacquiao based on the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion’s skills. Koncz said Pacquiao’s speed would again be a factor in the match. "Manny’s hand speed is faster than Hatton, but more importantly, Manny’s ring presence is better. Hatton is a one-dimensional fighter, and he is going to come straight forward. And Manny is maturing as a boxer," Koncz said.

Hearn, meanwhile, believes Pacquiao will try to tire International Boxing Organization (IBO) welterweight title holder Hatton. "Hatton will come forward, come forward, and Manny will pick him off and soak him up. (By) eight, nine, 10 rounds when Ricky is tired that is when Manny’s strength really comes through," Hearn said. "That is when he’ll push him on the back ropes and I’m not sure Ricky will going to take more." Hearn expects an exciting match between the two fighters. "Both fighters have huge hearts, huge courage, and huge talent," he said. "They will both come forward and be aggressive. Both fighters will never give in." With the fight still three months away, Pacquiao is savoring his time with his family and friends before plunging into another eight weeks of hard training to prepare for his megabout against Hatton. Pacquiao is expected to begin training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Las Vegas in March

OSCAR DE LA HOYA RETIRES FROM BOXING AT AGE 36

LOS ANGELES, April 15 – Oscar De La Hoya called it quits in the ring Tuesday, ending a career in which he won 10 world titles in six divisions and became boxing's most popular fighter. He announced his decision at an outdoor plaza across the street from Staples Center, where a statue of the 36-year-old Golden Boy stands.He finished with a record of 39-6 and 30 knockouts.His recent years loses are to Felix Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquaio.