Manny Pacquiao destroys Ricky Hatton in two brutal rounds

The brutal end to Ricky Hatton’s dream of defeating Manny Pacquiao came with the British fighter in hospital here in Sin City, after he was floored three times by devastating power punches.

he last of the three knockdowns left Hatton listless on the canvas.
There will be some serious thinking about Hatton’s future after what had been a far-reaching build-up to this contest.

Only Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s astute trainer, had predicted the outcome, having said that his charge would “stop Ricky Hatton in the first three rounds”. His man went one better than that.

Roach said he had studied Hatton fight tapes for two months. “Ricky is wide open for the right because he goes back before he throws. He fights the same way over and over again. I’ve studied all of Ricky’s tapes for over two months. I knew him as well as my own fighter.”

Roach was not wrong. Hatton was floored in the final minute of the round by a Pacquiao right hook.

The scene was set with a thrilling atmosphere. Attended by 16,262 spectators, the MGM Grand Garden Arena was sold out, bringing a gate of $8.85 million. And the expectation was finally sated. A huge entourage enjoyed Pacquiao's success in the United States, with the now ubiquitous presence on these occasions celebrity A-listers, including Russell Brand, Jack Nicholson, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, and even Oscar De La Hoya in a Ricky Hatton mask.
Tom Jones sang "God Save the Queen." News from dressing rooms of both fighters revealed that Pacquiao had eventually weighed 148lbs, with Hatton 152lbs.

Hatton, whose record now stands at 45-2, had been poker-faced as he entered the ring while Pacquiao, now 49-3-2 (37 KOs), walked into the arena with a wide grin on his face, before reaching his corner and kneeling to pray. It was ominous.

Pacquiao might have smiled even more as he took his stool after a first round in which he had launched an all-out assault midway into the stanza, twice sending the Englishman to the canvas.

Hatton had started brightly, Pacquiao seemingly getting into the fight slowly, landing his jab as he had planned to do, but in the final minute of the round, a rapid right hook caught Hatton on the chin and sent him to the canvas.

Hatton took the count from referee Kenny Bayliss on one knee, but was soon in trouble again, as a straight left floored him in front of his corner. Hatton’s confusion was only saved by the bell.

After the minute’s respite, Hatton looked composed again for the second round, beginning it with some success and vim, knocking Pacquiao back, but was then warned by Bayliss not to hold and hit. Hatton was attempting to turn the contest into a roughhouse brawl, which at first unsettled Pacquiao.

The Filipino backed off, ducked out of exchanges, landing on Hatton with two left hooks. Yet, as the round ended, Pacquiao ended all thoughts of Hatton coming back with a punch of clinical brutality, a crunching left hook, which at first, drained the arena of energy and stunned Hatton's travelling army, before Pacquiao’s fans burst into shouts of celebration.

There was one second left in the round. It was as definitive a finish as could have been imagined. Pity Hatton. For he will see this knockout time and again as it gets replayed on KO reels. It was one of those that takes the breath away.
"In the first round, I expected my right hook was going to be dangerous for him because he's open when he's coming towards me," Pacquiao said. "He was very surprised because I have a new right hook."

It was, however, Pacquiao's trademark left hook that eventually felled Hatton, and there was initial concern as Hatton lay flattened in the centre of the ring.
Pacquiao gave his post-fight interview with medical treatment still being offered to Hatton. "I'm always doing my job in the ring, doing my best to make people happy," he said. "It's nothing personal for me, I'm just doing my job."
Roach added: “They say I’m the best trainer in the world. That’s only because I’ve got the best fighter in the world training with me. Manny is incredible. He just gets better and better, and when we prepare for fights now, we discuss how we will beat his opponents, and we also work on what is comfortable for him, too.”

Earlier yesterday morning, Floyd Mayweather Jr had announced he would be returning from retirement to take on Juan Manuel Marquez in July. If he had waited a few hours longer, he could have potentially mentioned that he would fight Pacquiao.

After seeing his destruction of Hatton, Mayweather may not be keen on a contest with the Filipino fighter. Yet Pacquiao-Mayweather could be a barnstormer of a promotion.
Hatton, who was taken to hospital immediately afterwards, on precautionary grounds, said: “I really didn’t see the punch coming, but I’ll be OK. It’s a hard loss but I’m OK.”

Hatton, when his head clears, will have some serious, serious thinking to do. The prospect of retirement will be pushed towards him, and only he will know whether it is time.

On this showing, it looks like that time may have come, as his dreams of beating the world’s No 1 pound for pound fighter were like the sands being blown away in the Mojave desert. Let’s hope Hatton is not too brave for his own good.

Source: telegraph.co.uk