Tweet
Hatton to fall like De La Hoya – Roach
By Nick Giongco
Ricky Hatton will end up the way Oscar De La Hoya looked after his shocking defeat to Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in Las Vegas, Freddie Roach, Filipino’s taskmaster, told the Bulletin yesterday.
"Manny’s going to catch him late in the fight," said Roach noting that "speed and footwork" will be crucial in dealing with a rugged puncher like Hatton.
Told about Hatton’s knack for holding and hitting during a clinch, Roach wasn’t that bothered although he admitted that the British slugger is a livewire foe, far more dangerous that the Golden Boy who Pacquiao easily toppled with a dazzling display of punching prowess in eight rounds late last year.
"Ricky is strong and tough but I don’t see anything that we can’t handle," said Roach, who remains busy as a bee even while Pacquiao is not training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Hatton has a win-loss record of 45-1 with 32 knockouts with his lone defeat — a 10th-round knockout to Floyd Mayweather Jr. — taking place at welterweight (147 lbs).
"Hatton is undefeated at 140 lbs)" said Roach, whose own stock as trainer rose further following Pacquiao’s victory over De La Hoya.
"I am still doing lots of interviews and training fighters like (Belarusian mixed martial arts star) Andrei Arlovski and (British lightweight) Amir Khan will be here next week to start training for a fight."
Roach expects Pacquiao to show up for training camp eight weeks before the Hatton bout.
"We will begin training on March 1," said Roach, who will accompany Pacquiao to the United Kingdom (late this month) and three key US cities (late-February) for some promotional stuff.
Even though March looks like years from now, Roach has already thought about the choice of sparring partners for Pacquiao.
"I already have some guys in mind, guys who would come straight at you like Hatton," added Roach.
The British press has reported that Pacquiao is a 2-1 favorite over Hatton possibly because his destruction of De La Hoya remains fresh in everybody’s mind.
Like Pacquiao, Hatton is coming off a win — an 11th-round demolition of the usually durable Paul Malignaggi of the US — last Nov. 22.
By Nick Giongco
Ricky Hatton will end up the way Oscar De La Hoya looked after his shocking defeat to Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in Las Vegas, Freddie Roach, Filipino’s taskmaster, told the Bulletin yesterday.
"Manny’s going to catch him late in the fight," said Roach noting that "speed and footwork" will be crucial in dealing with a rugged puncher like Hatton.
Told about Hatton’s knack for holding and hitting during a clinch, Roach wasn’t that bothered although he admitted that the British slugger is a livewire foe, far more dangerous that the Golden Boy who Pacquiao easily toppled with a dazzling display of punching prowess in eight rounds late last year.
"Ricky is strong and tough but I don’t see anything that we can’t handle," said Roach, who remains busy as a bee even while Pacquiao is not training at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.
Hatton has a win-loss record of 45-1 with 32 knockouts with his lone defeat — a 10th-round knockout to Floyd Mayweather Jr. — taking place at welterweight (147 lbs).
"Hatton is undefeated at 140 lbs)" said Roach, whose own stock as trainer rose further following Pacquiao’s victory over De La Hoya.
"I am still doing lots of interviews and training fighters like (Belarusian mixed martial arts star) Andrei Arlovski and (British lightweight) Amir Khan will be here next week to start training for a fight."
Roach expects Pacquiao to show up for training camp eight weeks before the Hatton bout.
"We will begin training on March 1," said Roach, who will accompany Pacquiao to the United Kingdom (late this month) and three key US cities (late-February) for some promotional stuff.
Even though March looks like years from now, Roach has already thought about the choice of sparring partners for Pacquiao.
"I already have some guys in mind, guys who would come straight at you like Hatton," added Roach.
The British press has reported that Pacquiao is a 2-1 favorite over Hatton possibly because his destruction of De La Hoya remains fresh in everybody’s mind.
Like Pacquiao, Hatton is coming off a win — an 11th-round demolition of the usually durable Paul Malignaggi of the US — last Nov. 22.
Comment