Hatton two pounds above Pacquiao
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Ricky Hatton weighed in two pounds heavier than challenger Manny Pacquiao as the Briton was roared on by cheering fans on the eve of Saturday's IBO light-welterweight fight.
Englishman Hatton, 45-1 (32 KOs), tipped the scales right on the 140-pound limit in front of a boisterous crowd of about 4,500 at the MGM Grand Hotel.
Pacquiao, 48-3-2 (36 KOs) and widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, weighed 138 pounds.
It will be the Filipino southpaw's first fight as a light-welterweight.
The soccer-style atmosphere in the MGM Grand's Garden Arena was electric as the two fighters made their way on to a raised stage for the televised weigh-in.
Hatton's supporters repeatedly sang "Rule Britannia" and "There's only one Ricky Hatton" while Pacquiao's fans, slightly smaller in number, chanted "Manny, Manny, Manny."
Ten times world champion Oscar De La Hoya, who lost the final fight of his illustrious career to Pacquiao in December, was astounded by the energy displayed by the crowd.
"When you have the Brits coming over here for Ricky Hatton, this is the biggest and best (weigh-in) I've ever seen," the 36-year-old 'Golden Boy' said. Continued...
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