JAKARTA – WBA featherweight champion and Indonesian icon Chris John cautioned the other day Manny Pacquiao not to take Ricky Hatton lightly when they face off in Las Vegas on May 2.
“This is a difficult fight for Pacquiao,” said John who left here yesterday for the US where he is set to stake his crown against Rocky Juarez on Feb. 28. “I’m a Pacquiao fan and I want him to win. But I don’t think he’s ever fought anyone like Hatton before.”
John hesitated to predict the outcome, safely saying it’s a 50-50 proposition, but if Pacquiao fights like he did against Oscar de la Hoya last December, the unbeaten titleholder is convinced the Filipino will beat Hatton.
John’s Australian manager and trainer Craig Christian, however, boldly picked Hatton to stop Pacquiao.
“Hatton is one of the dirtiest fighters out there,” said Christian who took over John’s stewardship from Sutan Rambing before his third defense against Derrick Gainer four years ago. “He’ll rough up Pacquiao or try to for sure. He’ll use the same brawling tactics that led to the knockout over Kostya Tzsyu. I think Hatton is too strong for Pacquiao at junior welterweight. It’ll be an action-packed fight because I don’t expect Pacquiao to back off.”
Christian advised Pacquiao’s handlers to expose Hatton’s dirty tactics before the fight to put the referee – whomever he is – on alert.
Source: philstar.com
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