Pacquiao game plan: Think of Hatton 24/7

MANILA, Philippines – Well aware how dangerous an opponent Ricky Hatton is, Manny Pacquiao vows to adopt a new approach in training for his coming May 2 bout with the “Hitman" from Manchester. “I will be eating, breathing and living Ricky Hatton from the day I start my training camp," Pacquiao said before boarding the Cathay Pacific flight that will take him to London for the start of his promotional tour of his Las Vegas fight with Hatton. “Once I report for training camp at the Wild Card Gym under my very capable trainer Freddie Roach, my sole focus will be training," he added. Along with legal counsel Jing Gacal, close adviser Michael Konz and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao left the country early Friday morning for the English capital he is visiting for the very first time. After a brief stop over in Hong Kong, the group proceeded to London where Top Rank Promotion head Bob Arum and Roach will join them on their way to Manchester. The tour for the 12-round title fight set at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada kicks off at the Great Hall of the Trafford Centre in Manchester, home to the Hattons. Pacquiao said he doesn’t mind getting a hostile reception in his first ever visit to London, where Hatton is immensely popular as the queen herself. “I know that I will enjoy every minute of my brief stay there as I have heard a lot of great things about England, its notable people, its amazing culture and its proud history." Following the fan rally Saturday (UK time), Pacquiao and Hatton will reportedly engage in a friendly darts competition the following day, before facing the London media in a press conference on Monday. Then it’s off to the US for both fighters where a similar promotional tour will be held in the cities of Las Vegas, New York and San Francisco. The start of the rigorous eight-month training begins by next week. Pacquiao has great respect for the 30-year old Hatton, a former light-welterweight and welterweight champion of the world, whom the Filipino described as one of the `world’s most exciting fighters.’ “Hatton is a very dangerous opponent as I have seen most of his high-caliber fight on video and you cannot take somebody like him lightly," said Pacquiao. Up against an opponent who like him is still at the peak of his career, the Filipino southpaw vowed to even train hard than the way he did against Oscar De La Hoya, whom he demolished in eight rounds during their welterweight fight last December in Las Vegas. “This is going to be a big challenge for me. This early, I am confident in saying that I will train harder for Hatton and I won’t be surprised if I end up in a much better shape than when I fought the legendary Oscar De La Hoya last December." Pacquiao added. – GMANews.TV