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This Mayweather-Hatton welter title duel
between unbeaten welters of respective 38-0 with 24 KO vs. 43-0
with 31 by KO has been easy sell on paper - thus the PPV and HBO
24-7 reality BS.
The styles shout can’t miss with Mayweather
the more proven in technique - and Hatton of wham-bam thank you
ma’am in style - the latter approach popular at blue collar
Manchester, England venues of choice.
Rest of the story:
Respective resumes sort out the intangibles - not in some
relative knockouts to kept appointments ratio - doesn’t enter
into the picture when these two greet one another come the
opening bell.
Mayweather ~ (age 30) quickly graduated to
name scalps taken: year 2000 Emanuel Augustus TKO9; year 2001
Carlos Hernandez (UD), Jesus Chavez TKO9 s/feather title; year
2002 Jose Luis Castillo twice (WBC lightweight title).
Other victims had names, but were either shot or wounded when
facing the self proclaimed pretty boy. Gatti, Mitchell in 2005
and Zabba-Dabba Judah in 2006.
First caught my eye in the year 2001 when
meeting undefeated Diego Corrales - both age 24 - jr.
lightweight strap up for grabs. Corrales down five times before
corner tosses in the towel in stanza eleven. That one a
text-book boxer/puncher besting celebrated power puncher.
Hatton ~ (age 29) The sobriquet “The Hit Man”
is fair enough - no argument here Ricky comes to do battle.
Scalps you ask? Biggest name being recycled as career best to
date is past champion Kostya Tszyu. Little, if ever mentioned,
during pre-fight releases is Tszyu was age 36 and ripe for
plucking - corner retirement round 11. Biggest scalp Castillo,
age 33 in fight 65. The Hatton express near ran over Luis
Collazo in early rounds - but ran off the track late in winning
welter belt.
Final touches: Mayweather by unanimous
decision or late stoppage via cuts.
Hatton expected to make it interesting over
stanzas one thru six - but the slick, cool, calm, collected in
demeanor Mayweather, will pick and choose to victory.
Ugly possibilities: This natural could well become tainted by
the Nevada assigned third man in charge whoever he be - with the
visitors' single chance of bringing home the bacon he must take
it to the alley. The Vegas early rounds “first warning” could
well place the hack in charge in a corner - enough final last
“warnings” and we all go home early.
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