NEW YORK -- When you think of a fight between Britain’s Ricky Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) and Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) of the Philippines, it sends exciting chills and nervous goose bumps throughout you body. Hatton vs. Pacquiao equals a great all-action fight.
“Hatton vs. Pacquiao: The Battle of East and West” will commence on Saturday, May 2, from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be distributed on HBO Pay-Per-View in the United States and Sky Box Office in the United Kingdom.
A lot of people are expecting a war between two aggressive, all-action fighters. However, Hatton sees his fight with Pacquiao slightly differently.
“I think it will be a tactical fight,” Hatton told members of the press during a national conference call earlier this week. “When you fight at this level, it’s always a tactical fight.”
Hatton doesn’t expect to be the same reckless fighter that amassed an impressive 43–0 record before suffering his first loss -- a TKO loss -- to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in December 2007.
Instead, Hatton believes that he will capitalize on the improved patience, discipline, and boxing skills he displayed against Paulie Malignaggi in November under new trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr.
“After working only seven weeks with Floyd Mayweather, Sr. you see a difference in my boxing and hand speed,” Hatton said. “Every though that Paulie Malignaggi would out box Ricky Hatton. I always go for the KO.”
Working cohesively with Mayweather in their first fight together, Hatton systematically picked Malignaggi part with jabs uppercuts, and a sustained attack. The fight was so one-sided, Malignaggi’s trainer and former world welterweight champion Buddy McGirt stopped the fight.
“Mayweather and I worked together seven weeks for the first fight,” Hatton added. “For this fight [with Pacquiao], we have two more weeks. When we did the pads it was way quicker. It was like we never went away.”
Although Pacquiao appeared freakishly fast and strong during his shocking destruction of Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds in December, Hatton feels that he can match speed with Pacquiao.
“I strongly believe that I’ll be as fast as Manny,” Hatton stated. “If I’m not as fast As Manny, I will only be marginally behind him. I’m better defensively.
As far as in-ring strategy, Mayweather, Sr. stated: “everything is pretty much in place. We’re going top whip his ass.”
Source: blackathlete.net
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