By Mark Vester
Trainer Freddie Roach views junior welterweight Ricky Hatton as a very tough opponent for Manny Pacquiao. The two fighters are scheduled to meet on May 2 in Las Vegas. The biggest piece of the massive hype that came with Pacquiao's December fight against Oscar De La Hoya, was Roach telling reporters over and over that Oscar was no longer capable of "pulling the trigger." Roach's statement had more truth than many expected as Pacquiao dominated De La Hoya for eight rounds before the fight was stopped.
Roach says that Hatton is no De La Hoya. He knows the Manchester superstar is very capable of pulling the trigger. Roach is especially concerned with Hatton's vicious punches to the body. He wants Pacquiao to use his footwork to overcome Hatton's charge.
"Hatton’s a very good body puncher and is very dangerous. Hatton likes to go to the body and the key for Manny [to win] is his footwork. Manny should stay away from the ropes when he fights Hatton," Roach told the Manila Bulletin.
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