PACQUIAO vs HATTON Boxing Updates: THE ARRIVALS Photos

Fans at the MGM Grand that greeted Ricky Hatton might not have been as large as the one at Mandalay Bay, that came to see Manny Pacquiao, but it was made up of fans who were just as rowdy. Manchester’s “Hitman” arrived on the scene at 1:30 today, for his PPV-televised showdown with the "PacMan" Saturday night.


“The greatest ring entrance in the history of Las Vegas.” Manny Pacquiao arrived in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay today at 12:30 before a mob of fans, for his Saturday showdown against Ricky Hatton, to be held at the MGM Grand.

The plans to sign autographs and greet the crowd were quickly changed due to the size of the pushing, pulling mob, and Pacquiao had to be escorted through the casino to his hotel room.

Pacquiao vs Hatton Boxing Updates: WATCH LIVE STREAM RED CARPET GRAND ARRIVALS

MANNY "THE PACMAN" PACQUIAO: Current Ring Magazine No. 1 Pound-for-Pound Champion.

RICKY "THE HITMAN" HATTON: Current IBO and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight World Champion.

The main cat of this Saturday's Biggest, Grandest, and MOST Anticipated Boxing event: THE Battle of the EAST vs WEST. War of the Worlds.

Pacquiao and Hatton along with their esteemed trainers Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr. make their grand arrivals to the MANDALAY BAY and MGM GRAND respectively. Interviews and photo-ops are also available.

Here is the schedule for TUESDAY, APRIL 28 Arrival events:

12 Noon- Pacquiao arrival at Mandalay Bay Main Entrance

1:00pm- Transportation departs from Mandalay

Bay for Hatton arrival

1:30pm - Hatton arrival at MGM Grand Main Entrance

Pacquiao vs Hatton Boxing Updates: James Kirkland OFF

James Kirkland Off Pacquiao-Hatton Card (Battle of the East and West) Due To Incarceration.

One of the most promising and exciting up-and-coming boxing contenders today, unbeaten light-middleweight contender James Kirkland of Austin, Texas may be looking at the end of his career. He is now currently held in prison due to a federal gun charge, the 25-year-old is definitely not now fighting on the big May 2nd Manny Pacquaiao Vs. Ricky Hatton bill in Las Vegas.

Kirkland was arrested in Austin this past Sunday, when police allegedly found a loaded gun in his car. Kirkland was arrested and charged with being a convicted felon who was illegally holding a gun and ammunition. Kirkland was previously convicted of a 2003 armed robbery.

Reports say the maximum sentence for this crime is ten years. Kirkland, who will be detained in prison until an as yet unknown date, will appeal in court.

The 25-0(22) contender was scheduled to face Michael Walker on May 2nd, and then, providing he won, Kirkland was in line to fight WBO light-middleweight champ Sergiy Dzinziruk later in the year. Now, if the worst come to the worst, Kirkland will see all this go up in smoke and boxing will see one of its most thrilling talents go to waste.

Pacquiao vs Hatton Boxing Updates: Undercards

Rising middleweight star and one of boxing’s hottest prospects, Daniel “The Golden Child” Jacobs, has been added to the much anticipated May 2nd pay-per-view undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton: “The Battle of East and West” at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The highly touted prospect will be featured in the third of four pay-per-view undercard bouts against former two-time world amateur champion Mike Walker.

“I’m very excited that I have the opportunity to fight again this week,” said Jacobs. “I’m in shape and coming off a big knockout win, so I’m ready for the fight with Walker. It’s an honor for me to get this type of exposure on the undercard of the year’s biggest card. I promise that no one will be disappointed with my performance on May 2nd.”

Brooklyn native Daniel Jacobs, (15-0, 14 KO’s) against Mike Walker's (19-1-2, 12 KO’s) from Chicago.

Walker returns to the ring after defeating two-time world title challenger Antwun Echols on October 3, 2008 in an 8 round bout. Walker was originally scheduled to fight highly rated junior middleweight contender James Kirkland who was forced to withdraw from the bout.

The rest of the pay-per-view undercard features: World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Featherweight Champion Humberto Soto of Mexico who will defend his title against Canadian contender Benoit Gaudet;

Former two-time world amateur champion and Russian Olympian Matt Korobov facing Rodrigo Aguiar of Las Vegas in a middleweight bout;

Former world amateur champion, Cuban southpaw Erislandy Lara against Chris Gray of Baton Rouge, Louisiana in a junior middleweight bout.

Pacquiao-Hatton Updates: Ricky Hatton Media Work-Out

IBO and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight World Champion Ricky Hatton (Left) hits the mitts with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. on April 16, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada during a media workout in preparation for his May 2, 2009 world title defense against Five Division World Champion and Ring Magazine Number One Ranked Pound For Pound Fighter Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada which will be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View in the United States and Sky Box Office in the United Kingdom.




Ricky Hatton doing some of the shadow-boxing sessions. One of his routine in this Media Workout still in line on his workout program for the day.

Pacquiao-Hatton Updates: Wild Card Gym OFF-LIMITS

The Wild Card Gym is now off-limits to those with no business being around as Manny Pacquiao trains.

This was emphasize by the newest member of the Team Pacquiao and trainer Michael Moorer; “If you don’t belong here, it’s time to go”.

This new rule is now strictly being imposed, with the approval of the boxer (Manny) himself, as the fight with Ricky Hatton moved just three weeks away. Manny Pacquiao is in the final phase of his training, the final push. Sparring sessions get longer and tougher, and nothing comes easy each day.

The goal of this "Off-Limits" was to insure Manny of no distraction while in a rigid training inside the Wild Card Gym. Still Pacquiao loves to train when there are fans around him, and he loves to put on a show. Roach must have felt that the practice had to stop.

“There will be no more fan interaction with Manny Pacquiao until the fight is over on May 2. Under the new rule, no one outside of official Team Pacquiao members is allowed in the gym before, during and after the training.

Except on Wednesday, of course, when Pacquiao holds a media workout in the Hollywood sweatshop. The doors are closed when Hatton trains at the IBA gym in Las Vegas.

Source: philstar.com