MANILA, Philippines - Bukod sa kanyang maigting na pagsasanay sa boxing gym, abala rin si Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao sa panonood ng mga boxing tapes ni Briton Ricky Hatton sa kanyang kuwarto.
Ito, ayon sa Filipino world four-division champion, ay bahagi ng kanyang preparasyon sa kanilang world light welterweight championship ni Hatton sa Mayo 2 sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Yes, I’ve watched his last few fights. I study every opponent I fight, and as I train for Hatton I look for certain techniques that I can apply to this fight,” ani Pacquiao sa panayam ng Funhouse.com.
Asam ng 30-anyos na si Pacquiao na maagaw ang suot na International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight crown ni Hatton bukod pa ang Ring Magazine title nito.
Subalit alam ni ‘Pacman’ na hindi magiging madali ang kanyang inaasahang panalo kay ‘Hitman’.
“Ricky Hatton is a strong fighter, a good fighter. He’s the top guy, and he’s never lost at 140 pounds,” sabi ni Pacquiao. “I would never underestimate Hatton. I consider this fight the toughest fight of my career. I’m not looking past this figh”
Ang tagumpay naman ng 30-anyos ring si Hatton ang magpapakilala sa kanya bilang bagong ‘best pound-for-pound boxer’.
Para sa kanyang amang si Ray Hatton, nasa hustong porma na si Hatton.
“I’ve not seen Ricky in this frame of mind since 2005, when he was preparing for the biggest step up in his life,” wika ni Ray.
Noong 2005, binugbog ni Hatton si Kostya Tszyu, dating ikinunsidera sa ‘top five pound for pound fighters’, kung saan siya umiskor ng isang 11th-round TKO.
“Yes, he was hyped up when he fought Floyd Mayweather 16 months ago, but without the controlled focus he is showing this time,” sabi ni Ray. (Russell Cadayona)