Pinoys make Pacquiao at home in faraway Manchester

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao hardly felt like a visitor from a faraway land when he came face-to-face with his next foe, Ricky Hatton during their promotional tour in the latter’s hometown. This as around 5,000 Filipinos living all around the UK flocked to the Trafford Square on the outskirts of Manchester to rally behind the Pac Man, GMA’s 24 Oras reported. Pacquiao, the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, received the same rock-star treatment he gets at home when he was introduced to the public in Manchester. There were chants of Manny’s name, posters professing love for Manny and thunderous applause from the large Filipino gallery, who tried their best to out-shout Hatton’s legion of fans. Pacquiao is in the UK to kick off promotions for his anticipated IBO lightwelterweight championship fight with defending titlist Hatton on May 2 in Las Vegas. "This fight will be a great challenge because Ricky is a great fighter. It will be a once-in-a-lifetime fight," Pacquiao said amid cheers from the large crowd. For his part, Hatton said: “I’m very excited on May 2nd. I think the winner will be the fans. I think me and Manny are the most followed fighters in the world." With their flock of supporters still in tow, the two protagonists engaged in a friendly darts game, which Hatton eventually won. –GMANews.TV