Ricky Hatton will exploit Manny Pacquiao frailties, says trainer

Trainer Lee Beard insists that Ricky Hatton will exploit defensive frailties in Manny Pacquiao and knock him out in 'The Battle of the East and the West' in Las Vegas on May 2.

Beard is convinced, having seen Pacquiao up close in fights and in sparring, that Hatton's style is "made for Manny", and predicts a 6th round knockout. Conversely, Freddie Roach believes exactly the same.

Beard, assistant trainer with Floyd Mayweather Snr, told Telegraph Sport: "All I have said is my opinion, and all fighters make mistakes, and the key is for their opponents to capitalise on them. Ricky is really focused for this fight. Really focused and ready to go. For once, there hasn't been a long time between fights, so his conditioning has still been there. Rather than losing weight for this fight, it will be all about strategy, and the way we will stop Manny Pacquiao."

Beard added: "If Ricky does get his shots off when these mistakes are made this fight could be a lot easier for Ricky than people think. It could also be over quickly."

"Ricky is a big light-welter and Manny is in good shape for the weight but he is naturally smaller, in his fight with Marquez he was hit with a left hook that shook him, now I believe if Ricky were to land that same shot Manny would be knocked out."

"When Ricky hits Manny he is going to be shocked at the power, when Manny fought Oscar, Oscar was dead at the weight and never landed anything. If Ricky had of fought Oscar that night I think he would have stopped him earlier than Manny."

"Manny makes some massive errors and he is very repetitive in some of his movements and with certain punches and the way he throws them. I think that Ricky will stop Manny within 6 rounds. Manny won't know what has hit him."

Source: telegraph.co.uk