Image via Wikipedia
As for the Yemeni airliner that crashed, the black box has been recovered. Read the story here.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=796a6113-70d4-4508-b355-70d17b99573d)
Filipino boxer wins bout with devastating KO of Britain’s Hatton
Here is another photo of how Pacquiao knocked down Hatton just at the 2nd round of their 12-round bout May 2/3...
DOWN AND OUT: An unconscious Ricky Hatton lying on the canvas after his knockout by Manny Pacquiao in their junior-welterweight title fight.
(PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE)
JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT BOXING Philippines hypnotised by a boxer with a rags-to-riches tale who is doing them proud ----- No matter how difficult your life is, how poor you are, you forget your problems for a while when he fights. That's the magic of Pac-Man. Manila taxi driver Christopher Piolo lauds his hero ----- MANILA — Manny Pacquiao was rushed past hundreds of passionate supporters while Ricky Hatton was able to joke with his backers as the two boxers arrived in Las Vegas yesterday morning (Singapore time), ahead of Saturday's boxing showdown. English star Hatton faces Filipino hero Pacquiao in a non-title fight in the junior welterweight division (63.5kg). Pacquiao, the 1.68m-tall pound-for-pound ring king, is looking to match a record by becoming a champion in a sixth different weight divisions. Thousands of kilometres away, cab driver Christopher Piolo wished he was in Vegas to greet his hero. But with little money, it is a far-fetched dream. Piolo plans to take his first Sunday off in four months this weekend, because like so many millions of Filipinos, he cannot miss watching Pacquiao fight. "Whenever he fights, the whole country stops," said Piolo, 32, who has driven every Sunday since the boxer known as Pac-Man last fought in December. "Nobody wants to go out on the streets. We're all glued to the TV." Pacquiao will slug it out in his 54th fight, and first since inflicting a final career defeat on 10-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya. The Philippines is set for a surge in power demand as millions tune in, while malls and churches are bracing for a quiet time as people stay home to watch the 30-year-old fighter. "He's a legend, an icon, a role model," said Father Stephen Jantuah, a priest whose church in Manila's business district empties whenever Pacquiao fights. "He represents the whole of the Philippines, someone fighting for our side." Saturday night bouts in Las Vegas are broadcast live from late Sunday morning in the Asean nation, meaning many businesses feel the pinch. Stores get 30 per cent fewer visitors before and during his bouts. Electricity demand in the nation of 96 million surges two per cent when Pacquiao is in the ring, said Carlito Claudio, vice-president for system operations of Philippines' National Grid Corp. Pacquiao's rise from poverty underscores his appeal in a nation where, according to the World Bank, a quarter of the population lives on less than US$1.25 ($1.86) a day. Growing up in the southern province of South Cotabato, he sold cigarettes to help his mother feed the family. She now lives beside Pacquiao's home, which has a boxing glove-shaped pool and gold-tinged rocking chairs. Pacquiao has amassed a fortune during a 14-year career that's brought him four world titles, 48 wins, three losses and two draws, setting him up for a cheque of at least US$12 million for the Hatton fight. He's aiming for a 37th knockout when he takes on the Briton. Winning would be "like Obama becoming president", claimed Father Jantuah. Bloomberg From TODAY, Sports – Thursday, 30-April-2009
From the record, here is the article from Yahoo! News
-----
AFP - Sunday, May 3
Pacquiao slammed a powerful left hand into Hatton's chin to buckle the Englishman's knees and send him down to the canvas on his back unconscious.
"Everybody is surprised. Me too. I didn't expect this would be so easy," Pacquiao said. "But I have worked hard in training camp. Nothing personal. I was just doing my job."
Hatton was awakened and walked back to the locker room but was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution without any public comments.
"Ricky is desperately sorry to all his fans. He got caught with a great shot," said Gareth Williams, Hatton's manager. "We want to congratulate Manny Pacquiao. He demonstrated why he is the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world today and maybe of all time."
Pacquiao, widely considered the world pound-for-pound champion, won his 10th fight in a row, improving to 49-3 with two drawn with his 37th early stoppage. Hatton fell to 45-2, losing at junior welterweight for the first time in his career.
Pacquiao was coming off a victory last December over Oscar de la Hoya that cemented his place as boxing's "pound-for-pound" champion, even though a newly unretired Floyd Mayweather Jnr might one day make him prove the point again.
"This was as big for me as the De la Hoya fight," Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao knocked Hatton down twice in an electrifying first round, the first time with a left to the chin 30 seconds into the fight and the next with a combination near the end of the round.
"It was open for the right hook," Pacquiao said. "I knew he would be looking for my left. That's what we worked on in training camp. We expected to knock him down with the right hand. I surprised him with that too."
In round two, Hatton caught Pacquiao with a left to the head but Pacquiao answered by pressing the attack, cornering Hatton before settling matters with a devastating punch in the center of the ring just ahead of the bell.
"This was no surprise," Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. "Hatton pops his hand before he throws a punch. He's a sucker for the right hook and that's what we worked on the whole camp. He fights the same way over and over."
According to computer statistics, "Pacman" landed 73 of 127 punches in just under six minutes, including 34 of 53 power punches in the second round, while "Hitman" Hatton connected on only 18 of 78.
"I really thought Ricky would get him," Hatton trainer Floyd Mayweather Snr said. "I dont want to get into it more than that."
Pacquiao secured his place among boxing's all-time greats, adding the junior welterweight crown to past world titles at lightweight, super featherweight, junior featherweight, featherweight and flyweight.
Hatton's only prior loss came in December of 2007 when he was stopped in the 10th round by Mayweather in a welterweight bout in the same ring where he was hammered again by the Asian superstar.
Both 30-year-old fighters had strong, vocal, flag-waving support from a celebrity-enhanced crowd of 15,000 at sold-out Grand Garden Arena.
Hatton's singing, chanting backers were challenged by screaming Pacquiao fans in an atmosphere more familiar to English football than boxing.
-----
The source article is here…
Their May 2 fight wasn’t a long battle… but their word exchanges were!
As a typical Brit, Hatton was always outspoken, even to the point of being arrogant. What would you expect? He’s a Brit!
On the other side of the globe, Pacquiao was also getting caught up in the controversy. I watched as he got embroiled over some technicality issues on who would air his upcoming fight, while he has a contract with one company, he said some things that became a legal issue. I waited.
As I told my wife, after that incident, Pacquiao quieted down. I figured, somebody was bold enough to tell Pacman to “shut up” and get on with his business – boxing. Taking isn’t his business, so he better quiet down and focus on his practices. He did.
And while that is happening, I watched while Hitman continued on with his bragging, even saying that he’ll knock out Mr Pacman on the first round, even his practice sessions they show him to be the aggressive boxer who is all pumped up and all ready to explode at the sound of the bell indicating “1st round!”
Well, came the fight, and you know what happened. Hitman got hit even just as it was only the first round of their 12-round bout. A big mouth indeed – all talk, then knock off!
Want to see the fight? Here is Pacquiao-Hatton May 2 boxing match link that works, and one that showed their 10-min or so fight, a short one indeed!
