April 25, 2009 A screen shot shows www.pacmanhitman.com, an exclusively-built Web site for Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton’s upcoming fight.
The Associated Press Boxer Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, throws the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres in San Francisco, Tuesday, April 21, 2009. Any boxing promoter worth his soul, would likely sell it just as quick for a few more bucks in ticket revenue or a bit of extra publicity. Luckily for the head honchos at Golden Boy and Top Rank, next Saturday’s Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton megabout has already made quite the sales splash. But in these tough economic times, officials with both camps, and HBO felt they had to create an even bigger buzz and thus created a comprehensive multi-tiered marketing campaign.
The most glamorized build-up is taking place on HBO’s award-winning “24/7†series, a show that offers an all-access look into each fighter’s training camps, the escalating side bout between the two outspoken trainers (Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr.), and of course, the importance this match holds in Pacquiao’s native Philippines and Hatton’s home of Manchester, England.