Roach plan solution to Hatton's brawler style

MANILA, Philippines – Following Freddie Roach’s game plan to the letter allowed Manny Pacquiao to score one of boxing’s most spectacular knockout wins when he flattened Ricky Hatton in just two rounds of their junior welterweight slugfest over the weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Filipino, now universally regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, knocked the tough Briton twice in a furious action during the first three minutes of the 12-round bout.

A crushing left hook at the 2:59 mark of the second round ended it all, sending Hatton sprawling motionless on the floor as Pacquiao and his supporters celebrate at his corner.

“Ang strategy talaga naming ‘yung right hook, left hook," said Pacquiao, recalling the moments of the fight while traveling on the custom-made bus on its way from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.

In particular, he said those two kind of shots had been Hatton’s weak points in most of his fights.

“Kung maaalala ninyo, yung kay Mayweather tinamaan siya ng left hook," he said, referring to Hatton’s first career loss against Floyd Mayweather Jr., a 10th round knockout loss during their 2007 duel for the world welterweight title.

“Tapos yung ibang kalaban niya, ang nakapag-painda sa kanya ‘yung right at left hook din," he added.

Trainer Freddie Roach said it’s the only way to beat a strong brawler like Hatton.

“Every time (Hatton) throws the left hook and cocks it, he is wide open for the right hook from the southpaw stance. We worked on that every day in the gym and it just worked beautifully," he said.

“I watched the tapes over and over the last few months. I know him pretty well."

It didn’t surprise many that a right hook by Pacquiao proved to be the fight’s first significant punch 30 seconds into the first round. A minute and a half later, Hatton was down on both knees also by a Pacman right hook.

“Yung unang pasok pa lang ng right hook ko, alam kong pasok na yung strategy na ginawa naming secret weapon," said Pacquiao."Kaya nung tinamaan ko siya ng solid nung first round na unang bagsak niya, pumasok na agad sa isip ko na hindi na magtatagal ‘yung fight."

The 30-year old Filipino, who now adds the light-welterweight title to his championship collection that also includes crowns in the flyweight, super-bantamweight, super-featherweight and lightweight, said Hatton’s lack of defensive stance also caused his downfall.

“Kapag sumusugod siya, bukas talaga ang depensa niya kaya tinatamaan ko siya," he stressed.

And the moment that lethal left of his found its target, Pacquiao knew the fight was over.

“Nung last na tinamaan ko siya ng kaliwa, ramdam ko na hindi na siya makakatayo pa dahil solid na solid talaga. Nalalaman ko naman kapag malakas e," he added.

Pacquiao didn’t retreat in the comfort of his room until 3 a.m. of Sunday after attending the post-fight party arranged for him at ‘The Beach’ of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

He only had a chance to personally watched the replay of the fight shortly after the morning mass the day after held at his suite at the 60th floor of The Hotel.

Baring the soft spot in him, Pacquiao pitied Hatton a bit.

“Nung nakita ko nga sa replay naawa ako e, dahil yung mata niya nag-roll. Nakakaawa rin syempre," he said.

But as what he told his opponent from Manchester, England shortly after the bout, “it was a good fight, nothing personal." – GMANews.TV

Source: gmanews.tv