Ricky Hatton’s battle for the pound-for-pound title with Manny Pacquiao will be shown exclusively live on Sky Box Office – and in HD.
The Hitman takes on the man recognised as the best boxer on the planet at the famous MGM Grand Casino, Las Vegas, on Saturday, May 2.
Click here for booking details
It means a return to the scene of Hatton’s unforgettable showdown – and only defeat – against Floyd Mayweather in December 2007 and his last outing, an impressive victory over Paulie Malignaggi in November 2008.
His IBO light-welterweight belt will be on the line, but Hatton will also be chasing the pound-for-pound title held by four-weight world champion and national icon of the Phillipines, Pacquiao. Pound-for-pound
“The ultimate goal is to become the world champion and I’ve been very fortunate to have done it four times at two different weights,” says Hatton.
“I beat Kostya Tszyu when he was the number two pound-for-pound and if I beat the number two the only way I can go further is number one – and that’s Manny Pacquiao.
“It’s going to be an honour to fight the best pound-for-pound champion in the world, but I think we’re going to do it.”
Hatton versus Pacquiao will top a bumper bill of boxing from both sides of the Atlantic, with some of Britain’s biggest names and best prospects appearing in Sunderland, on the UK leg of the double header.
European champions Jamie Moore and Rendall Munroe will defend their titles while Danny Williams puts his British heavyweight crown on the line in a risky rematch with John McDermott.
And all local eyes will be on former Olympic boxer Tony Jeffries as he has his second professional bout on the back of a barnstorming debut in February.
When the action in Sunderland is over, our coverage will switch to Vegas.
Over 30,000 British fans and the Sky Box Office cameras followed Hatton there for his fight against Mayweather, establishing him as one of the most popular boxers in the world.
Dismantling
In May last year Hatton fought in front of 55,000 at the City of Manchester Stadium, setting a record post-World War II attendance for a boxing match in Great Britain.
Pacquiao meanwhile, has won 48 of his 53 professional fights and is back in Vegas six months after dismantling the one and only Oscar de la Hoya.
He is trained by the highly-regarded Freddie Roach at the famous Wildcard Gym in Hollywood – where Amir Khan prepared for his recent victory over Marco Antonio Barrera, also live on Sky Box Office and in HD.
Sky has followed Hatton since he turned professional in 1997 and has shown many of his defining fights live including; his British title victory, the defeat of Kostya Tszyu for the IBF world title, becoming two-weight world champion with his win over Luis Collazo, and his biggest fight to date against Mayweather Jr.
As ever, you can follow the build-up to another blockbusting night here on skysports.com, with our dedicated Ricky Hatton microsite.
We will bring you big fight news, views and interviews, expert analysis from the Sky Sports team and an exclusive insight into the Hitman’s preparations with his Fight Diary – all at www.skysports.com/hatton.
Booking details
Ricky Hatton v Manny Pacquiao (IBO Light-Welterweight title), Steve Luevano v Bernabe Concepcion (WBO Featherweight Title) and undercard fights from MGM Grand, Las Vegas, plus Jamie Moore v Roman Dzuman (European Light-Middleweight title), Rendall Munroe v TBC (European super-bantamweight), Danny Williams v John McDermott (British heavyweight title), Tony Jeffries v TBC (Light-Heavyweight contest) plus undercard fights from the Crowtree Leisure Centre, Sunderland, is exclusively live on Sky Box Office and Sky Box Office HD on Saturday, May 2 from 9.00pm.
It will be repeated at 9.00am, 1.00pm, and 7.00pm on Sunday, November. Repeat shows will last four-and-a-half hours.
The event will be available to Sky digital customers on Sky Box Office channel 743 and Sky Box Office HD channel 752.
The event is priced at ?14.63for UK customers, ?21.48 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.
To order the event viewers can call: 08442 410888 (There may be an additional ?1 charge for telephone bookings).
You can also book via the box office function on your remote control.
Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
Sky Box Office terms and conditions apply.
