FIGHT WEEK: PRESS CONFERENCE
HBO writer Chuck Johnson reports from the front row during fight week.
March 31, 2009 - by Chuck Johnson
LAS VEGAS - A sellout crowd and overflow anticipation for Saturday night's junior welterweight showdown at the MGM Grand makes the point that boxing, at its best, is bigger than any border.
"All indications are that we're headed to a very successful promotion," said Oscar De La Hoya, co-promoter for the scheduled 12-round HBO Pay-Per-View bout ($49.95, 9 PM ET/7PM PT) between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and 140-pound champion Ricky Hatton of England.
"I'm always waiting for that next guy to emerge,'' says De La Hoya. "I always understood what it took, and that was to take care of myself and to just be myself. It's going to be tough for anybody to have that kind of popularity. But these guys both have a chance."
Boxing fans in the U.S. have grown accustomed to having American fighters featured in the fights they care about. But Pacquiao vs. Hatton, billed as "The Battle of East and West," could have been contested anywhere and would still have attracted heavy worldwide attention.
"When people are in the arena or sitting at home watching this fight on pay-per- view, I don't think anybody's going to be thinking that neither of these guys are Americans,'' De La Hoya said. "It shows that boxing is a global sport.
"When you have two warriors inside the ring, boxing has no nationality. Judging by the excitement of the fans I've talked with, I think you're going to see some record numbers."
De La Hoya, of course, knows something about successful promotions. As a pro fighter, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist generated all-time records with 14 million pay-per-view buys and $700 million in PPV revenue.
And, since recently retiring from the ring after being stopped on his stool by Pacquiao in December, De La Hoya continues be a mover and shaker for many of boxing's biggest events as the president of Golden Boy Promotions.
"I'm content with what I've done,'' De La Hoya said. " I can still sign autographs and take pictures with the fans, but things aren't crazy any more. I can do other things and I don't have to be the one in the spotlight. So Manny and Ricky, take the stage. It's my pleasure."
Bob Arum, the head of Top Rank, Inc. and Pacquiao's long-time promoter, said he never believed the naysayers who doubted that two non-Americans, even as good as these two fighters are, could generate vast interest among U.S. fans.
"Yeah, we really got hurt, and that's why there's not one ticket left for the fight and it's why we're going to do such great business on pay-per-view,'' Arum said.
"Americans are not xenophobic. Americans will go see an event when they believe they'll be entertained by two great fighters. This is more than just a prize fight. It's the pride of the Philippines vs. the pride of England fighting in the showplace of the world, Las Vegas."
Arum says Pacquiao's appeal around the world has blossomed as people have come to know him beyond the ring.
"It's not how fast and explosive he is, but what kind of person he is,'' Arum said. " Manny Pacquiao was born in abject poverty. For some of his life, he lived in a cardboard shack. But through hard work, determination and ability, he became a prominent athlete and was able to earn what once was unimaginable for him tremendous amounts of money.
"He's not all that unique in that regard. But the difference is Manny Pacquiao hasn't forgotten where he came from. Some forget where they came from. They spend their money on cars and they feel they're entitled. But, with Manny, a tremendous percentage of what he's earned goes back to poor people in the Philippines. I told a reporter that the Philippines has the best social welfare system in the world, and it's called Manny Pacquiao."
Pacquiao's mother made the trip to be with her son for Saturday's fight. It's her first visit to the States and, like all of her son's other fights, she doesn't plan to watch the fight live. "I'll stay at the hotel and pray,'' she said.
"Some forget where they came from. They spend their money on cars and they feel they're entitled. But, with Manny, a tremendous percentage of what he's earned goes back to poor people in the Philippines. I told a reporter that the Philippines has the best social welfare system in the world, and it's called Manny Pacquiao."
-- Bob Arum
Notably absent from Hatton's entourage Wednesday was the brass band that accompanied him the first time he fought in the States, in December, 2007, when he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Nonetheless, Hatton expects to have his share of fans Saturday night, as both fighters know that a victory will further strengthen their crossover appeal to fans around the world.
"I'm always waiting for that next guy to emerge,'' says De La Hoya. "I always understood what it took, and that was to take care of myself and to just be myself. It's going to be tough for anybody to have that kind of popularity. But these guys both have a chance."
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