Don’t look past Hatton

LATEST report is that the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight is finally, officially, unequivocally on and will be held on May 2 at the MGA Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.

Pacquiao fights a dangerous opponent in Hatton, who has won 45 of 46 bouts, 32 by knockout. Hatton’s only loss came at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who knocked out the British champion on Dec. 8, 2007, coincidentally also at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.

Pacquiao-Hatton is actually a better match than the much-ballyhooed, but ultimately disappointing Pacquiao versus Oscar de la Hoya bout. Pacquiao and Hatton are both 5 feet 6 inches tall. Both are 30 years old. And most importantly, both are in the absolute peak of their careers.

Despite all the hype and hoopla, De la Hoya was probably just an empty shell of the legendary boxer he was by the time he fought Pacquiao.

After his demolition of De la Hoya, Pacquiao is rightfully considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He is idolized in his home country, where everything comes to a standstill when he fights.

After his destruction of Paulie Malignaggi, Hatton is just as highly regarded in boxing circles. He is also just as popular in his home country in England, where he boasts that he could bring 100,000 people to watch him fight at Wembley Stadium.

Hatton’s nickname is “The Hitman.” But if you’ve seen him fight, the more apt moniker would be “British Bulldog.”

This guy is a pitbull, who comes forward relentlessly, throwing multiple punches while doing so. His only defeat was at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. who knocked him out in the 10th round. But even in that fight, up until that knockout, Hatton certainly gave Mayweather Jr. all he could handle and more.

Pacquiao can absolutely beat Hatton. But only if he listens to his trainer Freddie Roach; prepares as hard as he could against Hatton and fights a smart fight like he fought against David Diaz and against De la Hoya.

In both fights, Pacquiao kept his opponent at bay with a constant barrage of stinging jabs, straights and hooks; moved not only backward and forward but also side-to-side to reduce the punching power of his opponents with the angles he presented them; and most importantly kept his hands up to defend against counter-punches.

Pacquiao was patient throughout, kept to his game plan and won convincingly. Most importantly, he banished all distractions before fighting De la Hoya and just focused on preparing to beat him. If he listens to Roach again, doesn’t lose his cool and prepares just as hard, then he could beat Hatton.

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The worst thing that Pacquiao could do is to look past Hatton and think of future bouts perhaps against Sugar Shane Mosley, who essayed the sweetest victory of his career when he scored a ninth-round knockout over Antonio Margarito of Mexico to win the World Boxing Association welterweight title before nearly 29,000 fans at the famed Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Welterweight is already within Pacquiao’s weight range and how difficult would it be for Pacquiao to put on just a few more pounds to challenge Mosley? In fact, boxing promoters, pundits and boxing fans in general are already salivating at the prospect of a Mosley-Pacquiao bout.

But again a word of caution for Pacquiao. He will be fighting a fighter in the prime of his career in Hatton. He won’t be fighting someone already well on the sunset of his career like De la Hoya was in their bout. It would do well for Pacquiao not to look past Hatton and just focus on preparing for what may well be the fight of his life.

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Source: manilastandardtoday.com