HOLLYWOOD ? Manny Pacquiao prefers a head-on collision with Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton.
?Papasok at papasok ?yan. Mas gusto ko ?yun (He?ll come in and I prefer that),? said Pacquiao Wednesday as he enjoyed late lunch at the packed Thai restaurant which he normally visits after a hard day?s work at the nearby Wild Card Gym.
Pacquiao was asked what he foresees on May 2 at the MGM Grand when he tries to take away Hatton?s IBO junior-welterweight crown and shoots for his fifth championship in five different weight classes.
The Filipino pound-for-pound champion said he?s ready to get it on with Hatton.
?Mas gusto ko ?yung pinapasok ako eh. Hirap ako kapag tinatakbuhan ako (I like it more when my opponents walk in. I find it difficult when they run away),? he added in anticipation of an all-out brawl.
?Basta pag-bell, let?s get it on,? he told Pinoy scribes.
Pacquiao feels he?s already in top condition, and that his weight is in check. Currently at 146 pounds, he sees no problem making the weight at 140 on the eve of their May 2 showdown.
?Magiging 147 ako pagkatapos kumain (I?d be 147 after I eat). So, I?ll be 148 for the fight,? he said.
Pacquiao doesn?t mind that Hatton, who?s been undefeated in the 140-pound class, plans to climb the ring at around 154 pounds, and become the biggest fighter Pacquiao would ever face.
?Okay lang, hindi naman sa laki eh. Sa tama ng suntok yan. (It?s okay. It?s not the size but the way you land your punch),? he explained.
Pacquiao said Hatton is good, strong and fast, being the champion.
And the British superstar, who has lost only once in 47 fights, is ready to prove that.
?I think where I?m at now with my training camp is the ideal place that I would like to be 10 days out from the fight. I?ve got one last sparring session to do tomorrow afternoon and then it will be just a case of basically tapering down my training and easing back,? he told Wednesday?s tele-conference.
?As you can appreciate this is ? come fight night it would have been 12 weeks of training time. We?ve been working so hard for 11 of them I think you need that work to get it all back if you like and so and then ? so just occasionally only one more hard sparring session on Wednesday and sharpening up my tools and I couldn?t get them any sharper than where they are at the minute,? he said.
Hatton thinks he knows Pacquiao too well he?s got the Filipino icon all wrapped up.
?I do really believe he?s very effective at what he does, but I think he fights the same way all the time. He throws the same punches all the time. He throws a right jab, a one-two. He shuffles in and out with his feet, which obviously if you don?t get to ? if you don?t get adjusted to the style of his feet obviously it could cause you problems.
?But I think you get adjusted to this style ? I don?t see a versatile fight in Manny Pacquiao. So I think I will have more game plans in my favor,? added the reigning 140-pound champion.
