The last time Manny Pacquiao fought, the consensus pound-for-pound best boxer in the world punched so hard and so well he knocked Oscar De La Hoya straight into retirement.
The last time Ricky Hatton was on the big stage, his legion of fans chanted his name in adoring shouts, even as he lay flat on his back after a knockout by Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Herein is the backdrop for Saturday’s junior welterweight world title fight between Pacquiao and Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the most recent entry in the 2009 schedule of megafights.
Pacquiao, a national hero in his home nation, the Philippines, has already won world titles in four weight divisions, starting at 112 pounds. He TKO’d De La Hoya at 147 pounds in December after dominating the fight. If he can beat Hatton at 140 pounds, Pacquiao (48-3-2) will have won world championships in five divisions, an amazing feat.
England’s Hatton (43-1), though, brings an impressive record, having lost only to Mayweather in late 2007.
“People say (I’m) overhyped, overprotected, a fat, beer-drinking Englishman,” Hatton said this week. “Well, I’m going to shock the world again.”
Denver connection
Trainers for the diminutive Pacquiao — he stands 5-feet-6, started his career at 106 pounds and is now somewhere south of 135 — knew they needed to get their fighter prepped for the brawnier Hatton. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s coach, wanted to spar with a seasoned strongman, a boxer with heavy punches and a thick frame.
They found Denver’s Mike Alvarado. Alvarado (25-0, 18 KOs), a junior welterweight who has won eight of his past nine fights by knockout and is ranked No. 14 in the world, was working in Los Angeles in the weeks leading up to Saturday’s fights as one of Pacquiao’s sparring partners.
Alvarado will also be fighting Saturday, on the MGM Grand undercard, against Juaquin Gallardo (18-7-1, five KOs) of Oakland, Calif.
“Alvarado is gonna be a champion,” Top Rank chief Bob Arum said, adding that Alvarado likely will fight Brooklyn’s Paulie Malignaggi.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
Pacman and Hitman
Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton
For Hatton’s IBO junior welterweight title. At the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Saturday, 7 p.m., HBO pay-per-view
Junior welterweight undercard
Denver’s Mike Alvarado (25-0, 18 KOs) vs. Juaquin Gallardo (18-7-1, 5 KOs), Oakland, Calif.
AROUND TOWN
Eagles, Brahmas tangle on ice.
When the Colorado Eagles and the Texas Brahmas met last season in the Central Hockey League conference finals, the Eagles needed seven games to dispense of the Brahmas en route to the President’s Cup finals.
A year later, with the league championship on the line between the two teams, don’t be surprised if the series goes the distance again. Texas on Wednesday used two goals in a 12-second span of the third period to win Game 1 in Loveland 5-3. Colorado hosts Game 2 tonight at the Budweiser Events Center.
The two-time CHL champion Eagles are playing in their fourth CHL finals in the past six seasons. Tonight’s Game 2 airs live at 7 p.m. on Altitude. The network will also broadcast Game 6, if necessary.
STAY ON THE COUCH
No TV for Mammoth.
Colorado Mammoth fans will be left in the figurative cold this weekend, after their team eked into the National Lacrosse League playoffs and are being forced to play an opening-round game on the road Sunday against the Calgary Roughnecks.
The 3 p.m. game in Canada will not be televised in the Denver area — Altitude, the Mammoth’s regular TV home, is airing “Championship Kickboxing” that afternoon.
But all is not lost for Mammoth fans. The game will air live through a webcast at and . You’ll have to drag your couch in front of the computer screen, but it just might be worth it.
The Mammoth-Roughnecks rivalry is one of the best in the NLL. Colorado has a 10-8 edge in the series all time, but the teams are 5-5 in Calgary. The Roughnecks knocked the Mammoth from the first round last season, but Colorado took out Calgary in 2006 en route to the Champion’s Cup.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Run event to benefit homeless.
Always a highlight on the spring schedule of casual running events, the Colorado Rockies Home Run for the Homeless returns Sunday in Denver.
The 5K competitive run, casual run/walk and kids’ fun run will go through lower downtown with a flurry of a finish. The home stretch takes one lap around the Coors Field warning track.
Sign up on race day before the 8:15 a.m. start. And find more information at .
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Old soccer rivalry renewed.
In Major League Soccer, there might not be a matchup with more animosity than the one between the Rapids and Real Salt Lake.
There have been near-fights, chippy games, trash-talking and a notorious face-to-face scuffle between the Rapids’ Pablo Mastroeni, above, and Salt Lake front office chairman Dave Checketts in 2006.
The teams renew their rivalry Saturday at DSG Park in Commerce City, when the Rapids host RSL for a 7:30 p.m. game, airing on Altitude.
The winner of the three-game season series is awarded the Rocky Mountain Cup, which may not be decided until the final game on the schedule, Oct. 24 in Sandy, Utah.
