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I have seen all the predictions by Pacquiao’s camp (“Hatton gets stopped in FOUR”) and on this board (“Hatton has almost no chance”). Those picks have really forced me to re-evaluate my analysis of this fight and wonder why I see it so differently.
Before I give my prediction, let me say that there are several factors that are being underplayed:
1) Pacquiao has beaten ONE top opponent over the past six years. And he has lost most of the rounds to that guy.
2) Hatton was being severely underserved by Graham. Have you ever seen Graham on the pads?
Let it also be known that Pacquiao is one of my very favourite fighters, and Ricky Hatton annoys the crap out of me. I think Hatton is fake, and a tool. So, in the spirit of the greatest poster P4P that NSB has ever known (God bless the dead), here is my prediction for the fight:
Round 1
Ricky is very concerned about establishing his advantages and dictating the fight right from the outset. Pacquiao is supremely confident and will wait for RH to engage, knowing that he will have counter-punching opportunities. As usual, Ricky is tough to time and throws Pac off balance. They stumble into the ropes as Ricky lurches forward. (Both Collazo and PBF were off-balance early vs RH). Pac wasn’t able to land anything meaningful, and Ricky is in his chest and busy as Kenny Bayless separates them. In the center of the ring, Pacquiao lands a couple of left hands that do not hurt Hatton. Ricky was able to land 2 or 3 body shots and several jabs that seemed to surprise Pacquiao.
Hatton takes the first round on activity.
Rounds 2/3
Ricky is able to press the action as Pacquiao tries to figure out the speed and timing. Pacquiao is having trouble landing the left hand, as Hatton takes a step to his left and moves in quickly with the right hand up top, followed by the left hooks to the body. The blueprint for the fight is being set as the first quarter of this bout has been fought largely inside so far. Bayless is very busy separating the fighters. Their feet have tangled. Hatton has been warned, and a bruise is forming on Pac’s face, but that is from Hatton’s head. When they are in close, Hatton is throwing more uppercuts than usual. Pac seems bothered by the rough play. Pac is realizing that this is a strong guy with bruising tactics inside. Round 3 ends with Pac landing several left hands.
Two rounds to 1, Hatton.
Between rounds, Roach tells Manny use his jab more, and to sometimes double jab. Floyd, Sr tells Hatton that he likes what he is doing. But finish off the exchanges with a right hand upstairs. “Set the traps for that right inside”.
Rounds 4/5/6
Hatton’s face is pink now, but he is undeterred. Manny hasn’t been able to land the body shots which will create openings for his work upstairs. While still not Winky-esque, Hatton is doing a bit better at not lunging. The biggest Mayweather correction seems to be that Ricky no longer drops the right hand when throwing the left hook. They concentrated on keeping the right glove up.
Pacquiao lands his a hard left that slows Ricky down. He comes forward to follow up and Hatton holds on. Ricky is again warned by Bayless. The fight has gotten a bit ugly, and this isn’t the sizzler the fans wanted to see. Pacquiao is often forced to fight with his back to the ropes. That blunts his power, and neutralizes his hand and footspeed advantage. When the fight is in the center of the ring, MP has the clear advantage, but those moments are too infrequent.
At the midway point, it’s 4-2 Hatton, in an affair that has become progressively slower.
Rounds 7/8/9
The die has been set. Manny has his moments, but the pace and style of the fight favors Hatton, and Pacquiao has likely fallen behind on the scorecards. Manny looks fatigued. Both fighters are cut and Hatton has an ugly bruise/cut on his right cheek. But it’s below his eye, and not affecting his vision. Manny’s best punch is actually the jab, but he just landed a straight left that shook Ricky. Floyd tells Ricky to keep his head moving. A tiring Ricky has been getting wider and wider, but Pac’s punches don’t seem to really hurt him.
Going into the championship rounds, it’s 6-3 Hatton. Bayless has considered taking a point from Hatton for holding Pac’s arm, and for hitting on the back of the head, but resisted.
An energized (initially) Pac comes out for 10/11 but is quickly overwhelmed by Hatton’s strength. It is clear that Pac’s dynamic punch power isn’t there when he’s forced to move back. Hatton is wearing down a frustrated Pac. Manny, without the tricks inside, and having taken some body shots early, looks done.
Going into the final round, Manny has only won 3 or 4 rounds. Roach isn’t sure if he should send MP out, but it’s more bruising punishment than clear headshots. Manny is game and knows he needs a KO. Floyd tells Hatton to box smart. Hatton reverts to jab-n-grab and the seconds tick away. The Brits in the crowd go crazy (er, crazier) as the clapper sounds. The fighters end the bout trading punches at center ring. Ding.
It was far from a classic, but Hatton takes it 116-112 or 115-113 in a clear decision.
Before I give my prediction, let me say that there are several factors that are being underplayed:
1) Pacquiao has beaten ONE top opponent over the past six years. And he has lost most of the rounds to that guy.
2) Hatton was being severely underserved by Graham. Have you ever seen Graham on the pads?
Let it also be known that Pacquiao is one of my very favourite fighters, and Ricky Hatton annoys the crap out of me. I think Hatton is fake, and a tool. So, in the spirit of the greatest poster P4P that NSB has ever known (God bless the dead), here is my prediction for the fight:
Round 1
Ricky is very concerned about establishing his advantages and dictating the fight right from the outset. Pacquiao is supremely confident and will wait for RH to engage, knowing that he will have counter-punching opportunities. As usual, Ricky is tough to time and throws Pac off balance. They stumble into the ropes as Ricky lurches forward. (Both Collazo and PBF were off-balance early vs RH). Pac wasn’t able to land anything meaningful, and Ricky is in his chest and busy as Kenny Bayless separates them. In the center of the ring, Pacquiao lands a couple of left hands that do not hurt Hatton. Ricky was able to land 2 or 3 body shots and several jabs that seemed to surprise Pacquiao.
Hatton takes the first round on activity.
Rounds 2/3
Ricky is able to press the action as Pacquiao tries to figure out the speed and timing. Pacquiao is having trouble landing the left hand, as Hatton takes a step to his left and moves in quickly with the right hand up top, followed by the left hooks to the body. The blueprint for the fight is being set as the first quarter of this bout has been fought largely inside so far. Bayless is very busy separating the fighters. Their feet have tangled. Hatton has been warned, and a bruise is forming on Pac’s face, but that is from Hatton’s head. When they are in close, Hatton is throwing more uppercuts than usual. Pac seems bothered by the rough play. Pac is realizing that this is a strong guy with bruising tactics inside. Round 3 ends with Pac landing several left hands.
Two rounds to 1, Hatton.
Between rounds, Roach tells Manny use his jab more, and to sometimes double jab. Floyd, Sr tells Hatton that he likes what he is doing. But finish off the exchanges with a right hand upstairs. “Set the traps for that right inside”.
Rounds 4/5/6
Hatton’s face is pink now, but he is undeterred. Manny hasn’t been able to land the body shots which will create openings for his work upstairs. While still not Winky-esque, Hatton is doing a bit better at not lunging. The biggest Mayweather correction seems to be that Ricky no longer drops the right hand when throwing the left hook. They concentrated on keeping the right glove up.
Pacquiao lands his a hard left that slows Ricky down. He comes forward to follow up and Hatton holds on. Ricky is again warned by Bayless. The fight has gotten a bit ugly, and this isn’t the sizzler the fans wanted to see. Pacquiao is often forced to fight with his back to the ropes. That blunts his power, and neutralizes his hand and footspeed advantage. When the fight is in the center of the ring, MP has the clear advantage, but those moments are too infrequent.
At the midway point, it’s 4-2 Hatton, in an affair that has become progressively slower.
Rounds 7/8/9
The die has been set. Manny has his moments, but the pace and style of the fight favors Hatton, and Pacquiao has likely fallen behind on the scorecards. Manny looks fatigued. Both fighters are cut and Hatton has an ugly bruise/cut on his right cheek. But it’s below his eye, and not affecting his vision. Manny’s best punch is actually the jab, but he just landed a straight left that shook Ricky. Floyd tells Ricky to keep his head moving. A tiring Ricky has been getting wider and wider, but Pac’s punches don’t seem to really hurt him.
Going into the championship rounds, it’s 6-3 Hatton. Bayless has considered taking a point from Hatton for holding Pac’s arm, and for hitting on the back of the head, but resisted.
An energized (initially) Pac comes out for 10/11 but is quickly overwhelmed by Hatton’s strength. It is clear that Pac’s dynamic punch power isn’t there when he’s forced to move back. Hatton is wearing down a frustrated Pac. Manny, without the tricks inside, and having taken some body shots early, looks done.
Going into the final round, Manny has only won 3 or 4 rounds. Roach isn’t sure if he should send MP out, but it’s more bruising punishment than clear headshots. Manny is game and knows he needs a KO. Floyd tells Hatton to box smart. Hatton reverts to jab-n-grab and the seconds tick away. The Brits in the crowd go crazy (er, crazier) as the clapper sounds. The fighters end the bout trading punches at center ring. Ding.
It was far from a classic, but Hatton takes it 116-112 or 115-113 in a clear decision.
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