Khan in Shape, Pacquiao Receives Honor; Abregu Eyeing Berto – Boxing News

By Boxing News - 03/06/2009 - Comments

pac453443Boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter and 2008 Fighter of the Year MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO will be honored and celebrated by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the southern California Filipino community Tomorrow! Saturday, March 7 in Historic Filipino Town (3200 Temple Street, Los Angeles, Calif. 90026 – at Temple and Robinson Streets). Mayor Villaraigosa is scheduled to honor Pacquiao at 10 a.m. PT.

Pacquiao, the first Asian fighter to win four sanctioned world titles, will be honored as “The People’s Champion” for his historic achievements inside the ring and for his philanthropic contributions outside the ring. Pacquiao and Mayor Villaraigosa will also be planting a tree as part of the “Day of Service” where hundreds of volunteers will be on hand working to beautify and improve Historic Filipinotown. The day-long “Day of Service” festivities begin at 8 a.m. PT.

Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs), from General Santos City, Philippines, is training with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, for his fight against junior welterweight champion Ricky “Hitman” Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs), from Manchester, England. The Pacquiao-Hatton 12-round world title fight will take place Saturday, May 2 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

KHAN IN GREAT SHAPE

Amir Khan showed all the benefits of a lengthy training camp in California today as he wowed the press during a media work out in Bolton.

Looking in the shape of his life, Khan vowed to set up a world title opportunity when he faces Marco Antonio Barrera at the weekend.

The 22-year-old will meet the legendary Mexican at the M.E.N Arena in a fight that will effectively double as a WBO lightweight world title eliminator.

Khan has spent the last six weeks in LA working with acclaimed trainer Freddie Roach.

It follows an initial two-month spell on the west coast of America following his loss to Breidis Prescott.

That training camp resulted in Khan beating Oisin Fagan at the ExCeL Arena in December, and he’s hoping for another victory under Roach on March 14.

The American will join Khan over the weekend.

“I can’t wait for the fight on Saturday,” said Khan. “I’ve still got to prove a few people wrong and hopefully I can do that against Barrera.

“He’s a great fighter but I think his style is made for mine.

“This is the right fight at the right time for me.

“I’ve had a fantastic training camp in the States, and everything has gone brilliantly.

“Freddie is such a knowledgeable trainer and so is everyone around him.

“We’ve worked out a good game plan for Barrera, and now it’s a case of putting it into action.”

As he was ahead of the Fagan fight, Khan hasn’t bulked up in the States, suggesting, unsurprisingly, that he will be relying on his speed against Barrrea.

“We’ve worked on my body shape and I’m happy with the way things have gone,” said Khan. “I felt so good against Fagan, we’ve done the same kind of things in camp fitness wise this time around.”

“I HAVE WORKED UP AN APPETITE FOR MY DINNER WITH ANDRE!”

– Luis Carlos Abregu,

Undefeated Top-Rated Welterweight Contender

Undefeated top-rated welterweight contender LUIS CARLOS ABREGU has worked up an appetite for the world title.

“Call it my dinner with Andre,” said Abregu. “If I get [World Boxing Council welterweight champion] Andre Berto on my plate I’m going to cut him up into little pieces, chew him up and spit him out. I saw what he’s all about when he barley escaped with his title when he fought Luis Collazo. I’m going to go “Firpo” all over him and knock that bum out of the ring.”

Argentinean Luis Firpo, “The Wild Bull of the Pampas,” and a distant relative of Abregu, is known for knocking World Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey out of the ring during their exciting world title fight at the Polo Grounds in 1923, ultimately won by Dempsey.

“I have no doubt that Luis Carlos will knock Berto on the seat of his Pampas,” added Abregu’s promoter Gary Shaw. “I know what Luis Carlos will be serving for his dinner with Andre and I can assure you there will be no need for seconds…except to bring smelling salts, and I don’t mean for seasoning!”

Abregu (25-0, 21 KOs), from Salta, Argentina, is currently world-rated No. 3 by the WBC. The South American welterweight champion has only gone the distance once in his last 18 bouts dating back to 2005.



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