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Originally posted by Black Jesus
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Round 1: Floyd comes out and stands in the middle of the ring. Fairly flat-footed. He is trying to gauge Hatton's strength and speed, and is tuning up his defense. Ricky is catious and throws less than usual. He has a good measure of respect for PBF's speed and counter-punching. He won't get reckless. Ricky was busier. Round 1 Hatton.
Rd 2: Ricky picks up the pace, and so does Floyd. Mayweather still isn't in form, and they fight a fairly busy but close round. Hatton eats some uppercuts and counter-rights. But RH is determined because he knows that he has to establish his fight. They may end up on the ropes. It is becoming clear now to Rick that he is not the stronger man in the ring. Close round. Either way. Probably Hatton on activity.
Rds 3/4: Mayweather is busier than in the first coupla rounds. He is landing consistently hard shots now, and blocking Hatton's increasingly wide shots. On some occasions, RH comes inside, clinches and tries to maul. PBF is retaliating by pushing off with the elbow/forearm, and the ref warns him. The first signs of wear appear on Rick's face. Rds 3/4 are Mayweather.
Rds 5/6/7: It is starting to get a bit ugly, and the outcome of the fight is clear now. Hatton, unable to muscle Floyd, and with a considerable skill/speed disadvantage, is getting hit too much. Ricky, being a gamer, rallies. But his face is starting to open badly, and he hasn't solved the puzzle of how to get to Floyd consistently. Perhaps RH takes one of these rounds, but this middle part of the fight is where FMJ really pulls away.
Rds 8/9: Very ugly. Very. At times, it looks "sixth-round-of-the-Gatti-fight-esque". Ricky, uncharacteristically, is fatiguing and his face is a mess. The ref and/or ring doctor has already taken a good look. Floyd puts his foot on the gas. He stays on the perimeter but is launching hard, straight stuff.
Hatton's corner, in a smart decision to preserve their fighter's health and psyche, elects not to send him out for round 10.
Mayweather TKO 9 Hatton.
Mayweather is up 6-3 at the time of stoppage.
I was off by 90 seconds.
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