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HATTON THE PICK...
IF THEY LET HIM FIGHT... by George Elsasser
I’ll pass on the hype that arrived long before the big Vegas
shootout - right or wrong the choice is Ricky Hatton -
supporting my pick is his recovering from the Mayweather
TKO12 loss, with wins over Malignaggi and Lazcano. Hints of
smoldering flames still in the Manchester hit-man body.
Pacquiao will engage early on - but the change from
successful power, sling-shot artist with the left hand, will
not hold up over a likely grueling battle of attrition with
Hatton over the long run.
ALADDIN FREEMAN: Poor Ricky Hatton is an after thought at this fight,
if you also consider that Manny Pacquiao is being vastly overrated in this
fight after beating up an old Oscar de la Hoya you can understand why.
It's true that Manny has the speed advantage,
probably the confidence as well and maybe even the overall skills. Still, I
think 140 lbs. is Hatton's best weight and he's naturally the bigger man.
I don't think he has Marquez's overall
skills who gave Pacquiao fits but I'm going to go against the grain and pick
Hatton to win by late stoppage. I think/hope that because Hatton fought a
faster fighter in Floyd Mayweather Jr., that will help him stay in this
fight vs. Pacquiao.
So, for all of the above reasons, I say put
me down for Hatton KO 11.
CHRIS ROBINSON: I have to go with Pacquiao on this
one, just because he has a lot of momentum going and it sounds like he's in
great shape. Hatton brings some things to the table that Pac hasn't seen,
but Ricky hasn't impressed in a performance in a long time. Definitely looking
forward to this one but I have to give Pac an edge...
STEPHEN JONES: I am struggling with
this one , the facts are that Hatton has only ever failed to deliver at
Welterweight.. and this is at his ideal division. Pac is very strong at this
weight too, his speed was not effected at all against Oscar de la Hoya after a
weight jump and he was amazing even if Oscar was slightly damaged goods.
Pac has been hurt in fights before , more
often than not to the body which if allowed to do so , is Hatton's game.. If
Ricky plays out a very solid game plan and puts massive pressure on Pac to the
body throughout a long fight, he could break Pac down, but Pac is one of the
greatest fighters I have ever seen lace on gloves, nothing in this fight is
simple, and my decision has become hard for me to conclude.. Manny has
strengths and weaknesses that can play into Hatton's hands and if Ricky can have
one final great night that can supersede the Mayweather bout I see no reason why
Hatton can't come through victorious, Both men are in absolutely unbelievable
condition and it takes me to those Leonard v Benitez type fights where they both
compliment each other... I am lost for words...
Hatton by a late stoppage via body
shots... Or Pacquiao decision in a brutal fight with high drama.. It's a hung
verdict here..
I am getting splinters on my ass for sitting on the fence...
RICKY RAY TAYLOR: OUT ON A LIMB ~
As always, Hatton's intensity will be feverish & straight-forward, Pacquiao will
immediately roll into COUNTER-PUNCH mode and remain there throughout the fight.
Hatton will win the early rounds with his in-your-face aggression & primarily
due to sheer strength, Pacquiao will land the cleaner shots in the early half of
the fight - yet they will be fewer as the bout progresses and as Hatton closes
the "hard-earned" distance which Pacman needs to land them, in the second half
of the fight, as each guy closes in on the other. The ref will finally earn his
money as he works to separate the two from clinching, Pac will win a few of the
middle rounds & consistently land the cleaner shots as Hatton bullies him around
the ring with strength, by round 10 Pacman fades quickly, Hatton turns it up and
stops him in the championship rounds.
MARK URBAN: Being a Brit I am
tempted to sway towards a Ricky Hatton victory however one thing concerns me.
Anyone who has watched Ricky Hatton's older fights will notice that his face has
a tendency to cut up quite badly, and with the sheer amounts of punches that
Pacquaio will be throwing, this is a genuine concern. Hatton let the occasion
get the better of him during the Mayweather fight and abandoned his game plan
for sheer brute force and emotion and subsequently paid the price. I have a
feeling he will be much better prepared this time around and will test Pacquiao
with some serious body blows and aggression. Hatton has always suggested that
Light Welterweight is his preferred weight and don't forget he is still
undefeated at this weight class. This has the making of a hall of fame fight
with both going at it from the first bell and throw into the mix two of the best
trainers in the sport today and this is a must see fight. I will go Hatton by KO
in round 8.
MARTIN WADE:
I heard that
Floyd “Joy” Mayweather Sr. thinks that the Pacman delivers his punches like an
amateur. And? That Ali guy pulled his head back, Roy Jones couldn’t spell jab,
and Joe Calzaghe slaps when he flurries. What Manny Pacquiao will prove to Ricky
Hatton is what his trainer's son proved, when you're gifted there ain't much
anybody can do about your “flaws.” I see Big Floyd being comfortable enough to
crack the whip and keep Ricky from jumping in with no jab early. Ricky’s
pressure and rough house tactics will keep it interesting early but Manny’s
“late speed” will turn the tide. Manny’s straight lefts will remain blistering
fast long after Ricky has slowed down and it will lead to a late stoppage on
cuts. Pacquiao by late round TKO.
LUIS RAMOS:
Hatton by 9th round KO or TKO
BILL
STEPHENS:
The pride of the Philippines meets the people's champion in Vegas style. The
bright lights of Sin City will bring out the finest for this battle of
supremacy between countries. Two nations collide in a fast and furious rage
between champions. A Hitman never stops until the mission is completed. The
fighting pride of the Philippines has become a fan favorite after the heavily
hyped De la Hoya match in December. Hatton brings his own fans, equipped with a
horn section to cheer the slugger on as he bangs away at his opponent.
The Hitman is rugged and tough, Manchester style. Pacquiao should continue his
aggressive style of fighting which will not be enough for a knockdown. The two
champions will be bangen and clangen until the final bell rings at the end of
the twelfth. Both fighters will be ready to go fifteen or all night with it
being Vegas. Pacquiao will ultimately get the nod at the end of this great
match up of Champions. The ultimate winner in the end will be Oscar de la Hoya
and Golden Boy Promotions.
DARREN YATES: Manny Pacquiao
certainly seems to be everyone’s favourite going into this fight based on the
sheer dominance he displayed in defeating Oscar de la Hoya. I believe that
whilst the Pacman put on an excellent showing, he defeated a weight-drained De
la Hoya who seemed to be a shadow of his former self. The strength of
Pacquiao’s win over Oscar needs to be kept in perspective as Oscar took the Pacman's punches quite well, in his prime Oscar would have avoided at least
half of the punches landed and landed significantly more. Oscar didn’t have
the reflexes or legs to do so this time. Ricky Hatton will be a different
story as he is in his prime, very fit and believe it or not, can take a very
good punch and fire back.
I see Hatton
taking a few good shots from the Pacman and then working his way on the inside
where he will smother the Pacman and use his greater strength to wrestle and
work in close, to physically drain Manny down. I believe this will be Manny
Pacquiao’s toughest opponent since Juan Manuel Marquez, but in a different
style. I’m going out on a limb here and predict that Freddie Roach will retire
the Pacman at the start of the 11th round after a tough, in the
trenches battle that will not be as exciting as everyone is expecting.
GARY TODD: I like Pacquiao to wear down Hatton , to finally
take him out with uppercuts , late in the fight. Pacquiao will need to weather
an aggressive and highly charged Hatton for the first 7 rounds. if
Pacquiao can
box using his tremendous lateral southpaw stance, doubling up on the jab,
quickly following with fast, accurate combinations, he should take Hatton's heart and
mind, to win by TKO in the 10th round.
My only concern for the fight is the high
possibility of either fighter being cut. head clashes could well be a major
influence in this mega fight. let's hope not.
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JEFF MAYWEATHER: I pick Hatton because I
think he is the bigger and more rugged fighter. I feel that the Pacquiao victory
over Oscar de la Hoya is a little tainted, even by his own trainer's admission Freddie Roach.
During his interview for the HBO 24/7 series,
when Roach saw the fresh blood coming from the tracks of De la Hoya's arms
he realized that Oscar's team was trying to re-hydrate him through an I.V.,
(intravenously), letting the boxing world know that Oscar was just a shell of his
former self and came into the ring as a dead man walking.
I don't think
Ricky Hatton will come in drained and flat. Hatton comes from as high as 170
and has mastered making this weight throughout his career, having suffered only loss and that was at welterweight, and even in that fight through five
rounds, Ricky gave Floyd Mayweather Jr. all he could handle and then some. Floyd is
a great fighter and was able to make the necessary adjustments to emerge
victorious. Manny is a hell of a fighter but he's not a Floyd Mayweather Jr.,
style wise nor talent wise. Still I think it will be an extremely tough
fight from both sides. Yet, I give the edge to Hatton...
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SCOTT SANDERS: Everyone will correctly point
out that De La Hoya was a shell of himself when Manny beat him last December.
While this is true, Pacquaio didn't just beat him, he owned him. It was
an impressive performance in any context. No doubt that a well trained
Hatton will be a much tougher test. My thinking is that Pacquiao's blazing
hand speed will end up being too much for Ricky.
I'm predicting that a
competitive fight becomes more and more one sided until the brave Hatton is
stopped on cuts or by his own corner in the late rounds.
FRANK GONZALEZ JR. : Hatton vs Pacquaio will pit the naturally smaller
Pacman against the naturally larger Hatton. Unlike Oscar de la Hoya, Hatton is not
past his prime and ready for the glue factory. How Pacman is suddenly labeled
"the best pound for pound" fighter in boxing seems to have been borne out of his
win over a washed up Oscar. Many intelligent fans know that the whole p4p thing
is little more than a marketing ploy to sell Pay-Per-Views.
Hatton always enters the ring in top condition and has legendary stamina. Hatton
has built his career with a smothering style of fighting, punching like a
windmill and then holding often after releasing his offense. With his new
trainer Floyd Mayweather Senior, who is a great defensive minded trainer, expect
Hatton to surprise people with a smoother version of his old self.
Pacquaio is trained by Freddy Roach, a legend in his own league. Pacman is
always in great shape and as he's aged, his boxing techniques are more refined.
Having fought the great Juan Manuel Marquez twice, Pacman has tremendous
experience in dealing with adversity. (Friendly Judges help too) Pacman is a
bigger puncher and if Ricky is careless, Manny is capable of knocking him out.
Not because he's so big a puncher at 140 but because his technique is compatible
with his speed, which in itself generates big power.
Both guys are warriors and both will come to win. Both men have surely watched
enough tape on the other to have an idea of what will work best in the scenarios
that will present themselves during the battle. Pacquaio doesn't like to be
swarmed, and Ricky is all about smothering his opponents. Hatton has a poor
history against good technical boxers, like Mayweather Jr. and Collazo. Pacquaio
is the sharper puncher.
My prediction: A great fight.
ED
LUDWIG: Manny Pacquiao by TKO in round nine. I see the first three or four
rounds to be somewhat back and forth with both fighters looking to get
an idea of what the other has to offer. As the
rounds progress I see Pacquiao turning it up a notch and after a couple of
knockdowns in round nine Ricky Hatton will be saved by the referee and Pacman
will have his arms raised.
HILARIO
FLORES: Manny Pacquiao by decision. Too fast & too many punches for Hatton.
ELISA HARRISON: I am almost afraid
to get hyped up about what should be an exciting and action packed encounter,
because so often in our sport we expect a lot and end up getting very little. It
is hard to imagine that two proven warriors like Hatton and Pacquiao would
disappoint the fans; however, there are others who can influence the outcome of
fights and they don't always do their jobs properly. I still haven't figured out
how a fighter can knock out his opponent and still lose the fight, or how a
referee can stop a fight and re-start it two minutes later, just to mention two
of the most blatant examples that come to mind.
Doom and gloom aside, I know Ricky and
Manny will go at it from the opening bell and I can't imagine the fight going
the distance. It's going to boil down to stamina and conditioning, and even in
those departments the respective coaches have prepared their men to go the
distance and then some. So, who wins? I am going to give the edge to Hatton, who
judging by what I've seen on HBO's 24/7 segments, seems to be relaxed, enjoying
his camp, and improved in many aspects. Hatton, under the tutelage of Floyd Joy
Mayweather can prove to be to a bit more than Pacquiao can chew. Then again....
Questions? Comments? Post them in BRC's new Message Board...
4-23-2009
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