According to unnamed sources who spied on Hatton's camp, the following strategies will be deployed by the Hitman on May 2:
THE OBVIOUS "HOLD & RELEASE":
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Whenever he is close, Hatton will throw body combinations and uppercuts to Pacquiao and HOLD him BEFORE Pacquiao can counter or run away to maintain distance. The Hatton camp is aware that referee Kenny Bayless will watch out for Ricky's excessive holding. Therefore, they have deviced a plan where Ricky will throw his combinations and QUICKLY hold Pacquiao (to prevent him from retaliating) and then instantly LET GO off the grab before the referee warns Hatton of his holding tactics. According to Mayweather Sr., a quick "HOLD AND RELEASE" will be effective enough to slow down Pacquiao and make him stationary even for a little bit where "Hatton can pummel him". This same exact strategy effective worked in Shane Mosley's favor when he defeated Antonio Margarito earlier this year.
Most referees (ESPECIALLY BAYLESS) allow some type of holding during the fight, especially when fighters get tired. Therefore, Ricky will try to capitalize on this holding technique whenever he sees Pacman slow down and try to tie him up. Once Pacquiao is held, Hatton will throw shots to the body at different angles (especially to the kidney) as soon as Pacquiao gets tangled up.
TRAP THE PACMAN:
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Hitman's sparring partners have been working methodically to emulate Pacquiao during sparring. This means the sparring partners have been throwing several Pacquiao-like combinations and then sliding quickly to the side to prevent Hatton retaliating immediately (kind of like what Pacquiao did to De La Hoya in their fight). Mayweather Sr. has been working diligently with Hatton to prepare for this type of move by immediately cutting the angle of his sparring partners so that they do not get away from Hatton right away.
Hatton has been perfecting this move by cornering his sparring partners with ease or even putting them in the ropes by grabbing and pushing them to a place where Hatton can comfortably trap his opponent and throw his signature body combinations.
PATIENCE FIRST, ALL-OUT AGGRESSION SECOND WHEN MANNY IS OFF BALANCE!:
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Mayweather Sr. preaches to Hatton to be patient first before throwing his usual aggression during the fight. Team Hatton is well aware of Pacquiao's tendency to get off balance whenever the P4P king misses throwing his lead straight left or hooks. That is because Pacquiao lunges forward with so much power from his legs that when he misses, he ends up in an awkward off-balance position where he becomes an "open, defenseless target" according to Mayweather Sr. During this instance, Hatton will be patiently waiting to attack Pacquiao furiously to keep Manny off balance and putting him in the canvas for a knockdown. A Pacquiao knockdown is in the plans for Team Hatton to psychologically disrupt and throw off Pacquiao's strategy..."a knockdown that will eventually lead to a knockout!" according to Mayweather Sr. "NOT IF, but WHEN Manny gets off balance, he's a sitting duck...Here we come!"
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