Six-division world champion, No. 1 pound for pound kingpin, boxing's top attraction, the best fighter of his era...call him what you want, but one thing is certain, boxing finally has a super hero and his name is Manny Pacquiao!

Ricky "Hitman" Hatton, 45-2 (32), from Manchester, England, the junior welterweight champion who had never lost a fight at 140 pounds, learned that firsthand Saturday night, enduring two first-round knockdowns before being sent to sleep at 2:59 of round two courtesy of a picture-perfect Pacquiao left cross. More...

Last night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, Manny Pacquiao made a mockery of the lengthy pre-fight buildup with opponent Ricky Hatton, turning what had been promoted as a titanic battle of light welterweight warriors into a one-sided hammering that ended with Hatton KO'd before he even hit the canvas in the second round.

Hatton had started the contest strong, backing up southpaw Pacquiao and looking to make the bout into the kind of close quarters brawl in which he excels.

But once Pacquiao began to punch back, he had no difficulty in finding the target and soon Hatton was decked from a short counter right hook.

The Englishman didn't look hurt and beat the count with no problems and resumed his heavy pressure upon his rival
but shortly afterward was floored again when a left hand connected flush. More...

© Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Boxing's pound for pound best is always a subjective title. Who is the best fighter at any weight in any current era of boxing?

If you look at the history of the sport, certain matchups spring to mind. Leonard v Duran, Leonard v Hearns, Hagler v
Hearns, Chavez v Whitaker, Toney v Jones, De La Hoya v Whitaker, Morales v Barrera, De La Hoya v Mosley, De La Hoya v Mayweather Jr...the list could go on and on, but whatever your opinion, all these matchups created major interest amongst fight fans.

Another one takes place tonight at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada when Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton from Manchester, England takes on Manny "The Pacman" Pacquiao from Bukidnon, Philippines.

The first time I laid eyes on Pacquiao was when I laid in bed, bleary-eyed in June 2002, waiting for the Lennox Lewis v Mike Tyson superfight to take place in Memphis, Tennessee. On that night, on the undercard, Pacquiao successfully defended his super bantamweight title in two rounds against outgunned challenger Jorge Eliecer Julio. More...

© Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Tonight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas comes the much anticipated clash between Ricky Hatton of Manchester, England and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines as they fight for the IBO Light Welterweight title.

This week droves of British fans have once again traveled overseas to support ‘The Hitman’, but it seems they will be outnumbered by the thousands of Filipinos eager to support the man that has become their national hero - Manny Pacquiao.

Bookmakers have the 'Pac-Man' as favourite, but there’s no denying the confidence of both ‘camps’. More...

Click for larger image © Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Ahead of tonight's massive fight card at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, the principal boxers all weighed in.

12 rounds, IBO Light Welterweight title
Ricky Hatton: 140 lb
Manny Pacquiao: 138 lb More...

© Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Manny Pacquiao:
"I am ready for the fight on Saturday. I know Ricky Hatton has trained hard for this fight. I have seen it on 24/7.

"I respect Ricky Hatton. He is a good person. He is a nice guy and I would like to remind everyone that there is nothing personal for this fight and we are just doing our job to give a good fight to the people and make them happy. More...

One of boxing's hottest prospects and rising middleweight star, Daniel "The Golden Child" Jacobs, has been added to the much anticipated May 2nd pay-per-view undercard of Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton: "The Battle of East and West" at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The highly touted prospect will be featured in the third of four pay-per-view undercard bouts against former two-time world amateur champion Mike Walker. More...

Boxing’s No. 1 attraction and pound-for-pound fighter, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, and his opponent, IBO Junior Welterweight Champion Ricky “Hitman” Hatton, will kick-off fight week on tuesday with their official red carpet grand arrivals.

Both events are open to the public and fans are encouraged to come out and support their favorite fighter. More...

After capturing the world's attention, "The Battle of East and West", the mega-fight between Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao and Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton on May 2nd at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, has officially sold out.

For those not as fortunate as the thousands of fans who will be in the arena that night, there is still a chance to experience the action in Las Vegas as closed circuit tickets are still available at Mandalay Bay, Mirage, TI, Monte Carlo, Circus Circus, Luxor and New York-New York. More...

A world championship battle between north and south will highlight the May 2 pay-per-view undercard for Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton: "The Battle of East and West."

WBC Super Featherweight Champion Humberto Soto of Mexico will defend his title against Canadian contender Benoit Gaudet. The pay-per-view broadcast will also feature undefeated top-rated junior middleweight contender James Kirkland, risking his rating and record when he takes on Mike Walker. More...

By Gary Todd

When Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton walk out from their dressing rooms, Hatton's head draped in an oversized hood with trainer, Mayweather Sr ., right behind him, talking the talk as usual, and Pacquiao looking up, smiling to his beloved countrymen, both men will be enjoying the thunderous roar that they each demand .

Why not? They are fighting for the pound for pound, best of the best title, and it's all about them.

With a combined career of 101 fights and 68 knockouts between them along with close to 600 rounds boxed, they deserve it.

Over their career, neither man has been banged up too badly, despite each of them fighting in tough, hard fights, giving their all for their fans, the sport and themselves. More...

Richard Schaefer:?So it's Ricky Hatton versus Manny Pacquiao, two of the most exciting fighters of our generation, the best pound for pound fighter against the most popular fighter in the world, and the stage is set for a great showdown on May 2 live from the MGM Grand and live on HBO Pay-Per-View.

In 1889, exactly 120 years ago, one of the most famous poets, and no, I'm not talking about Floyd Mayweather, Sr. but Rudyard Kipling came up with the "Ballad of East and West," and let me just quote you quickly: But there is neither East nor West, border nor breed nor bird when two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of the earth." So the stage is set not for the Ballad of East and West, but for the Battle of East and West.

So I'd like to give you as well a quick summary for the media, we just concluded in England, a two-city media tour which started in Manchester with over 6,000 fans, including a large contingency of Filipinos, I would estimate about 1,500, cheering on their hero, and appreciating as well Floyd Mayweather, Sr.'s talent as a poet. More...

During a national conference call held today for members of the media, Ricky Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., all but ensured a Hatton victory over his next opponent Manny Pacquiao when the two meet in a world junior welterweight championship on Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and live on HBO Pay-Per-View. More...

© Chris Farina - Top Rank

During a blistering two-day UK media tour, superstars Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Ricky “Hitman” Hatton set the tone for their world junior welterweight “The Battle of East and West” championship set for Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View. More...

The anticipation is growing and the stage is now set for two of boxing's biggest stars, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and IBO Junior Welterweight Champion Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton to meet in "The Battle of East and West," Saturday, May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

These two boxing artists, who will rumble for Hatton's title, will have a 20 x 20 foot canvas to paint a black and blue masterpiece that the world is anxiously waiting to see. More...

© William Sheratt - Hoganphotos

Pound-for-pound boxing king and reigning Fighter of the Year, Manny Pacquiao, was in his hotel room throwing feathered darts onto a practice dart board on Friday night. More...

On June 28, 2008, Pacquiao defeated with ease the reigning WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz. It was a fight that most reporters saw as a clinic for Pacquiao, who dominated the entire bout.

Diaz was mangled and could not go on past the ninth round. And so, the question that many are asking is: what is next for Manny? And the answer lies with several possibilities.

Many reports have been saying that Hatton is targeting a future bout with the boxer from the Philippines. Before that happens however, Hatton still has to face Paulie Malignaggi later on this year.

If Hatton is victorious against Malignaggi, then his final fight could be against Pacquiao. Hatton has said that he wants to fight two more times before he retires from the sport.

According to the Associated Press, Hatton gave an interview in which he stated: "In the New Year, I'm hoping to fight either Manny Pacquiao or Oscar de la Hoya at Wembley Stadium in front of 100,000 people and after that I'll probably retire”. More...