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Pacquiao: Negotiations for Hatton fight taught me a lot
Written by staff   
Thursday, 29 January 2009 00:39

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao said he has learned a lot from the long and arduous negotiation for his “superfight” with Britain’s boxing favorite Ricky Hatton.

He said the negotiating process that eventually ended to a signed fight contract with Hatton put Team Pacquiao to the test.

“Itong huling linggong nagdaan ay naging isang malaking pagsubok sa mga miyembro ng aking koponan (This last week has tested members of my team),” Pacquiao said in his PhilBoxing.com column “Kumbinasyon”.

Pacquiao also said the negotiations made him learn more about the people around him and his career.

The world's pound-for-pound king said he could not blame some quarters for refusing to recognize and respect his achievements in boxing.

He cited the outburst made by Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), during the middle of the Hatton negotiations.

Schaefer was earlier reported to have been "disgusted" over Pacquiao’s refusal to agree with their 52-48 offer to fight Hatton. He also described the Filipino boxer as "a spoiled young kid who doesn't know how to behave."

“Hindi rin natin siya masisisi. Dalawang beses kong tinalo si Marco Antonio Barrera, tinalo ko rin si Juan Manuel Marquez… At higit sa lahat, si [Oscar] de la Hoya ay natalo natin noong isang taon,” said Pacquiao.

(I can’t blame him. I beat Marco Antonio Barrera twice, I also defeated Juan Manuel Marquez… Most of all I also beat de la Hoya).

Pacquiao said that the boxers he mentioned are among GBP’s best talents.

He, however, said Schaefer’s outburst has no place on the negotiating table.

“Naging personal ang kanyang galit at dinadala niya ito sa gitna ng negosasyon, isang bagay na hindi dapat humantong sa ganoong mga usapin (His anger has become personal and he has brought this at the middle of the negotiations, which is improper in such talks),” he said.

Water under the bridge
Now that the contract has been settled, Pacquiao said Schaefer’s statement is already “water under the bridge.”

“Gusto ko na ring tapusin ang hidwaan na iyan dahil walang maidudulot na mabuti ang pag-aalitan (I’d like to end that dispute because it will only lead to nowhere),” he said.

He said he can’t wait to go back to training again to prepare against Hatton.

Pacquiao said he will start training with boxing Hall-of-Famer coach Freddie Roach in March after the fight’s scheduled press tour.

“Hindi ako pwedeng magkumpiyansa kay Hatton, suntok siya ng suntok (I can’t underestimate Hatton, he throws a lot of punches),” he said.

Fight fans are expecting the Hatton camp to confirm the fight in the United Kingdom Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Last Updated on Thursday, 29 January 2009 00:56
 
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