Las Vegas Weekly

May 3, 2009 · 1 PM

Photo Gallery: Pacquiao vs. Hatton: The fight, celebrities and celebrations

By Robin Leach

Manny Pacquiao delivers a crushing blow to Ricky Hatton.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik said: “These celebrities were all announced to the audience and were being photographed. These are not paparazzi photos, although they are far more candid than my typical shots.

“It’s sort of become a tradition for me now to scope out the crowd to see how many celebs I can find from the very back row of the arena where I shoot the ring action. I certainly didn’t have the best vantage point for the crowd, so there may be better shots.”

The familiar faces Erik captured from way in the back: Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Russell Brand, Sean “P.Diddy” Combs, Jay-Z, Robert Shapiro, Wolfgang Puck, Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, Chuck Zito and a group of Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton fans who take their flag very seriously.

Jay-Z’s post-fight party at Tao

After Ricky’s drubbing by Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao, hip-hop mogul Jay-Z hosted a party at Tao in The Venetian. He brought fellow music maker P.Diddy with him, and our contributing photographer Denise Truscello captured their arrival and the festivities.

Manny celebrates at Mandalay Bay

Contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was the only lens man invited to Manny’s post-fight celebration at Mandalay Bay Beach. In one photo, Manny is seen with wife Jinkee, her twin sister Janet and other sister Haydee.

Manny sang 12 national Filipino songs for his guests at the special event, as if he’d never even been in the ring for two rounds!

Ricky resurfaces at Wet Republic

Despite being officially KO’d in 2:59 of the second round, Ricky was back on his feet this afternoon, and he looked none the worse for wear when he hosted the Wet Republic pool party at MGM.

He even struck a pose for our contributing photographer Scott Harrison. Maybe he was all smiles because his payday from the six-minute beating he took from Manny earned him nearly $20 million! However, his parents and his girlfriend were devastated by the loss, according to British tabloids today.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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