While Manny Pacquiao?s days are filled with various commitments in showbiz and business, his rival, Ricky Hatton, is reportedly burning sweat in England getting ready for the big night.
Two of Hatton?s closest advisers told the Bulletin yesterday that the British bomber has started training in anticipation of his showdown with the Filipino on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Ricky is back (in Manchester) and in training,” Hatton?s PR man and agent adviser Paul Speak said in an e-mail.
This was also the news relayed by Gareth Williams, Hatton?s lawyer and Chief Operating Officer of Hatton Promotions.
While news of Hatton?s training doesn?t necessarily mean that he is back in the gym, it is likely that the 30-year-old native of Manchester has began flexing his muscles.
Hatton said in his autobiography (Ricky Hatton: The Hitman ? My Story) that he bloats during vacation time owing to his love for nocturnal pursuits but makes it up by living “like a monk” once he reports for training camp.
Hatton and his loved ones spent two weeks on a Caribbean cruise but are back in Manchester as Hatton revs up for weeks of training under defensive whiz Floyd Mayweather Sr. and assistant Lee Beard.
As Hatton works out a sweat, Pacquiao remains busy trying his best to make everybody happy with his presence.
Yesterday, Pacquiao was in Cebu for the conferment of a doctorate degree but should be in Manila tomorrow night to accept the highest award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA).
Pacquiao is set to leave for the US on Feb. 24 and will fly to London with Top Rank president Bob Arum after two days for a promotional tour.
Trainer Freddie Roach hopes to meet Pacquiao at the Wild Card either on March 2 or March 3.
