Bigger Hatton an advantage for Pacquiao, says Roach

Bigger Hatton an advantage for Pacquiao, says Roach 04/22/2009 | 07:27 PM - Solar Sports MANILA, Philippines – The bigger Ricky Hatton climbs the ring on fight night, the better for Manny Pacquiao. “The more weight Ricky puts on, the happy I am coz too much weight is not good for a fighter," said trainer par excellence Freddie Roach “Food makes you sluggish and dulls your senses. If they think they’ll gonna be stronger because they are a little heavier, they can be sadly mistaken." Hatton said he plans to come in at around 150 to 154 pounds on the day of his fight against Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Roach thinks that suits fine to his fight plan against the “Hitman" from Manchester. “Ten pounds, that’s my level. Anything more than 10 pounds is bad, I think. If he wants to be bigger and weigh more, that doesn’t make one stronger." In contrast, Pacquiao comes in at least seven or eight pounds over the 140-pound limit, according to Roach. The added weight won’t be a problem for the Filipino southpaw especially now that he’s starting to settle down as a light-welterweight. “He’s (Pacquiao’s) getting used to the weight. His strength is much better now. 140 is a perfect weight for Manny." Proof that Pacquiao is now warming up as a light-welterweight, Roach said the Filipino southpaw has already knocked four of the seven sparring partners he had in his training camp. His sparring partners the past seven weeks in training were Urbano Antillon, Alisher Rahimov, David Rodella, Raymund Serrano, Mike Alvarado, Gary Young and Art Hovhannesyan. “I thought we’ll get a new one each day," said Roach, smiling. When Pacquaio fought Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight in December, the pride of General Santos City weighed in at 142 pounds, five below the limit. Roach said they decided to weigh less than the welterweight limit against De La Hoya since he believes, coming in at 147 pounds “is too big" for Manny opposite the “Golden Boy." But not against Hatton. “They think Manny is a small guy. Wait till he gets there. He’s not a small guy, he’s gonna push Ricky around," said Roach. Besides, Roach added, Pacquiao is head above Hatton as a fighter. “I’m confident of my fighter. I just have a better fighter in this fight. Ricky is a tough guy and Floyd may be the best trainer in the world and so he says, but I have the better fighter," Roach stressed.