LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has predicted an early knockout by the Filipino southpaw when he takes on Briton Ricky Hatton in their hotly anticipated light-welterweight title bout next month.
Hatton is the undisputed king of the 140 pounds division but Roach believes four-weight world champion Pacquiao will need only three rounds to win on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"It's going to be a short fight but it's going to be all action," Roach told Reuters of the contest dubbed 'The Battle of East and West'. "I think it's going to be the best three rounds you've ever seen.
"Ricky is going to force the action and Manny is going to respond to it. Manny is going to get to him early and I believe Manny will knock him out in the early rounds."
In his most recent bout, Pacquiao outclassed 10-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas in December to confirm his reputation as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
The 5 foot 6.5 Filipino boasts an impressive record of 48-3-2 with 36 knockouts and, according to Roach, he has never been in better shape.
"He is the complete pound-for-pound fighter," said Roach, who owns the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles where Pacquiao has been preparing for his clash with Hatton.
"Everything we have ever worked on has really come in to play. He has fought two perfect fights in a row. He's a much more intelligent, smarter fighter. He's using his head a lot more.
"Something happened, and it just clicked in for the Diaz fight and for the Oscar fight."
Pacquiao claimed the WBC lightweight championship in June last year by knocking out American David Diaz before moving up two weight classes to stun De La Hoya.
"The way Manny is sparring right now with his sparring partners, the same thing is happening now," said Roach, who has produced 22 world champions.
"He looks great. Nothing concerns me. When Manny Pacquiao gets ready for a fight, everything else goes away."
Asked if Pacquiao had anything to fear from Hatton, Roach replied: "The biggest fear for us is if Hatton gets us on the ropes and throws that left hook to the body and to the head.
"It's his best weapon and he uses it very well on the ropes but in the middle of the ring he'll never catch us. Or at least that's what my plan is," he added with a grin."
Hatton, (45-1, 32 KOs), is the world's top-ranked light-welterweight following his return to the division after losing to American Floyd Mayweather Jnr. in a WBC welterweight title fight in December 2007.
The Manchester boxer stopped American Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas in November to retain the IBO light-welterweight belt which he will be defending against Pacquiao.
Source: reuters.com
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