by Jim Slater
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - The swine flu outbreak that has caused seven deaths and worldwide concern is not a worry for Saturday's boxing showdown between England's Ricky Hatton and Filipino Manny Pacquiao.
"There's no concern about it here now," retired Mexican-American boxing star and fight co-promoter Oscar De la Hoya said on Wednesday. "All signs are we're going to have a successful promotion."
Nevada's first confirmed swine flu infection was detected on Wednesday, making 10 states in all where the outbreak which has been presumed to cause more than 150 deaths in Mexico has been identified.
"Swine flu is a huge concern," De la Hoya said. "It's a health issue and nobody wants to catch it. It's in the back of people's minds.
"I think we're going to provide some great entertainment on Saturday. That's what boxing is all about. I don't think people for that hour are going to be thinking about the swine flu."
A potential pandemic is especially troubling in an entertainment mecca like Las Vegas and there do figure to be fans from Mexico in the sellout crowd of more than 15,000 as well as global visitors for the junior welterweight fight.
Mexico's Humberto Soto, 47-7 with two drawn and 30 knockouts, will defend his World Boxing Council super featherweight crown on the Hatton-Pacquiao undercard against Canada's Benoit Gaudet, 20-1 with seven knockouts.
Two other Mexican fighters are in undercard bouts and Mexicans are typically part of the fan base for major fights in Las Vegas. Two top Mexican fighters will sign autographs on Thursday at a fan session for a Mexican beer sponsor.
Pacquiao, a Filipino hero, seeks a title in his sixth different weight class to match a boxing record while Hatton wants the pound-for-pound greatest tag now carried by Pacquiao after a victory over De la Hoya.
"Every Mexican, Mexican-American and Hispanic person I talk to said they have to watch this fight because of what Manny did to me," De la Hoya said.
Philippines health officials reportedly advised some not to attend the fight because of uncertainty about the swine flu and claimed Pacquiao must be checked for signs of the flu after he flies home to Manila on Sunday.
Whether or not Hatton might use the flu as an excuse is already a topic on Filipino boxing web sites.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) - The swine flu outbreak that has caused seven deaths and worldwide concern is not a worry for Saturday's boxing showdown between England's Ricky Hatton and Filipino Manny Pacquiao.
"There's no concern about it here now," retired Mexican-American boxing star and fight co-promoter Oscar De la Hoya said on Wednesday. "All signs are we're going to have a successful promotion."
Nevada's first confirmed swine flu infection was detected on Wednesday, making 10 states in all where the outbreak which has been presumed to cause more than 150 deaths in Mexico has been identified.
"Swine flu is a huge concern," De la Hoya said. "It's a health issue and nobody wants to catch it. It's in the back of people's minds.
"I think we're going to provide some great entertainment on Saturday. That's what boxing is all about. I don't think people for that hour are going to be thinking about the swine flu."A potential pandemic is especially troubling in an entertainment mecca like Las Vegas and there do figure to be fans from Mexico in the sellout crowd of more than 15,000 as well as global visitors for the junior welterweight fight.
Mexico's Humberto Soto, 47-7 with two drawn and 30 knockouts, will defend his World Boxing Council super featherweight crown on the Hatton-Pacquiao undercard against Canada's Benoit Gaudet, 20-1 with seven knockouts.
Two other Mexican fighters are in undercard bouts and Mexicans are typically part of the fan base for major fights in Las Vegas. Two top Mexican fighters will sign autographs on Thursday at a fan session for a Mexican beer sponsor.
Pacquiao, a Filipino hero, seeks a title in his sixth different weight class to match a boxing record while Hatton wants the pound-for-pound greatest tag now carried by Pacquiao after a victory over De la Hoya.
"Every Mexican, Mexican-American and Hispanic person I talk to said they have to watch this fight because of what Manny did to me," De la Hoya said.
Philippines health officials reportedly advised some not to attend the fight because of uncertainty about the swine flu and claimed Pacquiao must be checked for signs of the flu after he flies home to Manila on Sunday.
Whether or not Hatton might use the flu as an excuse is already a topic on Filipino boxing web sites.
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