::Pacquiao lets his fists do the talking

:: PACQUIAO LETS HIS FISTS DO THE TALKING

By Roy Luarca - Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Manny Pacquiao, as always, refuses to be drawn into a war of words with Ricky Hatton.

The Filipino ring superstar would rather let his fighting do the talking when he faces Hatton for the British icon’s IBO light welterweight title on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Let’s just see what happens in the ring,” said Pacquiao, when asked by Filipino sportswriters for comment on Hatton’s boast on Thursday in Manchester, England, that he’s unbeatable at 140 lb.

“He can say what he wants, I’ll just give it my best,” said the Filipino, who is coming off an eight-round demolition of Oscar De La Hoya.

Admitting that Hatton will be a tougher foe, Pacquiao bared Friday night that he’ll be leaving on Feb. 24 for the United States to begin training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

Pacquiao added he’ll attend the christening of his daughter, Queen Elizabeth, on Feb. 22 in Gen. Santos City before beginning his preparations for the megabuck bout that will include a promotional tour of key cities in Britain and the United States.

Hatton, whose only loss was dealt by Floyd Mayweather Jr. at 147 lb in May, 2007, intends to begin training two weeks earlier after taking his family to a Caribbean cruise.

According to Hatton, he won’t let his countrymen down a second time by beating Pacquiao and claiming the Filipino’s world’s best pound-for-pound fighter label.