Dart match muna bago boxing kina Pacquiao at Hatton

MANILA, Philippines - Bumato ng ilang darts sa kanyang tinuluyang kuwarto sa Grosvenor House Hotel sa London, England, pinaghahandaan ni Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao ang kanilang dart match ni Briton Ricky Hatton bukas sa isang restaurant sa Manchester.

“Just want to sharpen up little,” sambit ni Pacquiao, kasama nina American trainer Freddie Roach at Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions para sa promotional tour ng kanilang world light welterweight championship fight ni Hatton.

Mula sa Euston Station sa London, bibiyahe ang Team Pacquiao patungong Piccadilly Station sa Manchester para sa isang press conference nila ng kampo ni Hatton sa Trafford Centre - Great Hall.

“Everyone knows my fans are the best in the world and this is the perfect chance to Manny what he is up against,” ani Hatton sa inaasahan niyang suporta mula sa mga kapwa niya Briton.”I know thousands are still going to come over to Vegas and cheer me on. And it would be great to see as many as possible down there on Saturday.”

Inamin naman ni Roach na mas magiging mahirap kalaban ang 30-anyos na si Hatton kumpara sa 36-anyos na si Oscar Dela Hoya na tinalo ni Pacquiao via eight-round TKO sa kanilang non-title welterweight fight noong Disyembre 6 sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Hatton is younger, fresher, believes in himself,” ani Roach. “He’s a great body puncher. But we’re still going to knock him out. We will have a much different game plan than the one we used to beat Dela Hoya.”

Nakatakda ang banggaan nina Pacquiao at Hatton sa Mayo 2 sa MGM Grand Garden.

Sa kabila nito, hindi naman nag-aalala si Roach kaugnay sa ikikilos ni Pacquiao, ang tanging Asian fighter na naghari sa flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight at lightweight divisions, pagdating ng laban nila ni Hatton.

“Manny is a quick learner. He did everything we trained to do against Dela Hoya,” wika ni Roach sa tubong General Santos City. “When we return to Los Angeles on Tuesday I will present the how-to-beat Hatton game plan to Manny.” (Russell Cadayona)