Who's Your Pick: Mayweather-Hatton

[Ja Dee]

THERES ONLY ONEEEE MAYWEATHER!!!!

Yes, he's THAT dude.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

Mayweather's not going to win many rounds stepping away and potshotting a few times with Hatton. That kind of thing works when his opponents are on the inactive side..ie..Oscar, Baldo, etc....

This is going to be about "Pace". Who sets it will probably win the fight. I think Hatton will set the pace and Floyd will be forced to exchange in situations that take him out of his comfort zone. The key to the whole fight is Hatton's stamina and to a lesser extent..the ref.

I see Hatton winning a UD or by TKO in the middle to late rounds.

HERE WAS DIOS' PREDICTION:

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 near/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.



1) Hatton DID come out and compete well in the early rounds.

2) Hatton DID find that mayweather was as strong as he was.

3) Floyd DID push off with the elbow and the ref DID warn him.

4) Floyd DID start to pull away in rounds 5/6/7.

5) Ricky's face DID open in round 4.

6) Cortez DID check in on Hatton's corner after round 8.

7) Round 9 was ugly/Gatti-esque as Ricki was buckled repeatedly with hard shots.

8) Hatton's corner DID throw in the towel. I knew Hatton would quit.

I was off by a minute and a half. I am now formulating my Tito-Roy prediction. I'm watching their fights.

[DIOS DOMINICANO]

hatton will get the knockout and december 9 will be a day of celebration for boxing fans all over the world.

How'd that work out for you?