Hatton buildup for Pacman starts Feb. 1

MANILA, Philippines. British brawler Ricky Hatton will put in close to 13 weeks of training for his May 2 showdown with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Center.

In an interview with www.boxingscene.com, Hatton said he will start working out with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. on Feb. 1.

With the fight against Hatton close to being finalized, meanwhile, Pacquiao is reaping accolades following another banner year that was highlighted by a stunning eighth-round technical knockout victory over Oscar De La Hoya on Dec. 6.

Readers of the online edition of Ring Magazine, accessed through www.thering-online.com, voted Pacquiao’s pummeling of De La Hoya in their welterweight clash at the MGM Grand Arena as the Upset of the Year by giving him 68 percent of the votes.

Coming in a far second with 23 percent of the votes was 43-year-old Bernard Hopkins’ triumph over Kelly Pavlik, 26.

Reacting to the result of the poll, Ring Magazine associate editor Michael Rosenthal wrote: “Pacquiao was too small for De La Hoya. But never has a fighter prepared better or executed a game plan better than him (Pacquiao) that night. Simply put: He was magnificent.”

Steve Kim of www.maxboxing.com also selected Pacquiao as his Fighter of the Year and his American trainer, Freddie Roach, as Trainer of the Year.

Pacquiao became the first Asian to win titles in four divisions when he dethroned WBC lightweight champ David Diaz with a ninth-round knockout on June 28.

Hatton, who holds the IBO junior welterweight title, has reiterated his desire to fight Pacquiao.

“Manny has been at the top of my radar since he beat Oscar De La Hoya,” Hatton told Britain’s Sunday Mirror.

“I went in with the best fighter in the world in 2007 when I lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and I will do the same when I get in the ring with Manny. Every boxer wants to prove himself against the very best and that is what I have done again and again.” (By Cedelf P. Tupas;INQ.net)