Boxing’s pound for pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and world junior welterweight champion Ricky “Hitman” Hatton invite their fans to the famous Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California on Monday (March 30) where they will walk the red carpet and speak to their fans before hosting their only U.S. news conference for their championship epic, “The Battle of East and West!” Fans are encouraged to arrive at the front entrance of the Roosevelt Hotel (7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Calif. 90028), which will feature search lights worthy of a Hollywood premiere, beginning at 7 p.m. Pacquiao, Hatton and their respective trainers Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather, Sr. will arrive in their limousines at 7:30 p.m. and will speak to the crowd over the public address system before heading inside to the news conference.
Joe Cortez, the New York-born Puerto Rican referee, is the one being eyed by Freddie Roach to referee the May 2 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, the celebrated trainer from Hollywood told Manila Bulletin on Wednesday. “Cortez is strict and he will not allow Hatton’s excessive holding,” Roach said. But since Hatton’s people and fans thought that Cortez’ penchant to break up fighters will not suit the Briton’s attacking style, he won’t be surprised if Cortez’s name will not be on a list that will be submitted for appointment. “They (Hatton’s people) blamed Cortez for that loss,” said Roach. The identity of the referee and the three judges won’t be known until the final two weeks of the fight but Roach has an option. “If Cortez is not appointed, there’s Jay Nady, who is also strict like Cortez and who won’t allow too much holding.” Roach has been widely quoted that Hatton’s does a lot of holding during in-fighting and he is working hard with Pacquiao to prevent that from taking place in the actual fight. Still, Roach can’t help but express his concern over the choice of the third man on the ring.
Photo by Tom Hogan /GBP