Hatton vs Pacquiao: An early peek at this year's biggest showdown!

With a little less than three months remaining before showtime, fight fans around the globe eagerly anticipate what could go down as the best fight of the year. Scheduled for May 2, Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao will square off in a showdown that some thought would never happen, yet here we are talking about the fact that it's a done deal.
When you size up the two little 'big' men, there are so many thoughts and subplots surrounding this fight that will undoubtedly make for a burner come fight night.

The Hatton 'X-Factor'

Among those subplots would be the fact that Ricky Hatton has looked absolutely brilliant under the tutelage of famed trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. after only one fight. Many wondered what Hatton would look like if he ever took his training serious and actually learned that defense in the ring is not supposed to start with his forehead.

Absent is the overaggression that once made him famous; present is a well-devised strategy that allows him to pick his spots and land well-placed shots.

So much about Hatton looked good in his last fight, but one must quickly remember that the soft-hitting Malignaggi is no Pacquiao.

'Manny's Motive'

For Pacquiao, this is a fight that comes at a point where he realizes he is on the cusp of accomplishing something even more grand than his last outing. Oscar De la Hoya was a big name, but it was established from the beginning that he no longer had the ability to "pull the trigger," as cornerman Freddie Roach vehemently stated.

This time around, Pacquiao has a chance to defeat a fighter in his prime whose only loss came to the last man noted as the sport's pound-for-pound king, Floyd Mayweather jr.

Already the most accomplished Asian fighter in the history of the sport and currently viewed as the pound-for-pound king, Pacquiao relishes in the opportunity to solidify that position on the big stage.

The 'rib' buffet

Both men plan to do major damage and have styles to make it happen, but perhaps the biggest influence on the fight will come down to the vicious body attack -- mainly the rib section.

Never in the history of his career has Manny Pacquiao faced a fighter with the powerful body shots presented by Ricky Hatton, whose aggression to the ribs has sent many men to the showers early.

Pacquiao is clearly the better boxer, but as we saw in the early going with Floyd Mayweather jr., constant aggression is enough to confuse anyone in the ring, even if it is only for a few rounds.

In the end...

When it all boils down, both men will be in for a long night, and neither have been shy when asked. Can Pacquiao handle the aggressive power? Can Hatton stop the Pac-man from detonating first?

No one knows how things will end on the night of May 2, but I'd hate to be the guy who missed the fight and has to wait for the headlines to print on the morning of the third.


Source: examiner.com