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It's been a few weeks since Manny Pacquiao dislodged Hatton's
noggin from his torso. Although it's business as usual for the
Filipino sensation as he rides a ten fight win-streak into
(hopefully) an upcoming bout vs Floyd Mayweather, Jr., for
Britain's boy-wonder life should never be the same. Pacquiao's
shot was as deliberate as it was brutal; unfortunately, it was
also as intentional as it was terminal.
Hey, for some folks it'd be safe to assume that Hatton just
got caught with a lucky hay-maker and he'll live to fight
another day. Yet, historically speaking ~ we may have
witnessed Hatton's "Final Blow."
Why do I assume this? you ask.
Here is why... When fighters take a
shot to the head like that, they never recover. If only from a psychological
drain on one's own invincibility - vicious one-punch-knockouts to the cranium
are often times cloaked in welcome mats to new careers. The mere fact that a
shot with so much roar behind it finally made its way to the newly formed
Achilles heel of a fighter is usually a sad precursor of what's to come. *This
is especially true for rumble-tumble, in-your-face type fighters like Ricky
Hatton.
Few cases in point: Michael Spinks spiraled from being a World Champion all the
way down to baby-sitting his brother during weekend visitations in just one
fight with Tyson. Who can forget Ken North eating a series of Gerry Cooney
head-shots while relaxing on the bottom rope before becoming relegated to
spectator status? Although Joe Frazier did fight once more (to a draw) after Big
George Foreman nearly decapitated him in the 5th round of their Kingston,
Jamaica match for the WBC and WBA titles, he should've remained at home after
the hammering. The list goes on ....
Bottom line is this - sometimes- not always - but sometimes when hard-hitting
bangers get put in their tracks with a single shot to the head, it means their
time is up. Something usually weakens in their mannerism, their arsenal, their
game. Fighters have huge egos and there is nothing more real-life than a
one-punch-knockout to send a strong warrior plummeting down to earth with us
mere mortals.
The climb back to hero status is impossible for most. In turn, their sought out
ascension from the ground is always a far cry from being welcomed by the boxing
public, who is usually too busy kicking them to the curb.
Ricky Ray Taylor
www.BoxerDRILLZ.com
917-758-0058
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5-24-2009 |
