Philippine Sports News and Updates

Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, the iconic prized fighters set to collide on May 2 in the “Battle of East and West”, have always been pictured to be worlds apart as far as the fight is concerned.

But outside the ring, it’s virtually "East meets West” for the two boxers because they both actually share a lot of similarities, as revealed by their Wikipedia entries.

Firstly, Hatton and Pacquiao are of the same age, 30.

Hatton was born Richard John Hatton on Oct. 6, 1978 in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England while Pacquiao was born Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao in Kibawe, Bukidnon, Mindanao on Dec. 17, 1978.

Hatton is the Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight Champion, whereas Ring Magazine currently rated Pacquiao as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Hatton and Pacquiao have already raked in millions of earnings from the high-profile matches they headlined.

But both of them know how to return the favor to their respective communities.

“The Pacman” has the Manny Pacquiao Foundation. He also gives away cash and grocery bags to the less fortunate. He even cites his desire to help the poor as his reason for aspiring to join the political arena.

Hatton, meantime, supports “The Village News,” a local children's newspaper made by children in aid of charity. In addition, he has helped in fundraising events by appearing at charity auctions. Hatton also became a guest speaker for The Toby Henderson Trust, a center for Autism Development.

He helped raise money for the center by donating and being part of its successful auction.

• ABS-CBN News
• Philippine Sports Central