Pacquiao: KO not my game plan

[Titing Kabayo]

No idiot would tell what is his game plan before the fight... What both fighters are saying - it will be totally different come fight night... they are tricking each other...

[them_apples]

Pacquiao: KO not my game plan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
by Romina S. Austria
MANILA, Philippines - Don't expect Manny Pacquiao to win by knockout over Ricky Hatton in their May 2 showdown in Las Vegas for the Briton’s WBO light welterweight title.

No, the pound-for-pound king has not lost his killer instinct. He just wants to concentrate on the fight and exploit Hatton’s weaknesses, which the Filipino said are aplenty.

“I expect him to be coming forward and fight toe-to-toe, and I like that,” Pacquiao told www.mirror.co.uk. “I’m not looking for a knockout.”

“I don’t want any distractions in my mind,” the Filipino superstar added.

Pacquiao expects Hatton to “walk into his shots because of his aggressive, come-forward style.

“We see a lot of weakness in Hatton,” Pacquiao claimed.

Hatton, in a conference call with reporters as reported by www.fighthype.com, points to two key factors for the fight: Technical skills and the fighter who goes backwards.

“Both of us don’t go backwards and that is the key to the fight,” Hatton said. “Whoever ends up going backwards is going to lose.”

He does fight toe-to-toe, Hatton said, but he also punches hard and has more technical know-how than the four-division champion.

“I’m showing technical ability that he didn’t think I had at first,” Hatton claimed. “That’s going to shock Manny more than the size and power aspect.”

Hatton credits Floyd Mayweather Sr., who replaced his long-time trainer Billy Graham, for his new strength.

“Floyd has given me a new lease on life,” said Hatton, adding that his win over Paulie Malignaggi last November showed his vast improvement under his new trainer.

“I proved in my last fight that I have a much better jab, a stronger punch and speed, too.”

that's funny how Hatton thinks floyd sr has turned him into a new fighter. He would have beat Paulie anyways, it's not like Paulie was an atg or a p4p champ. People only thought Paulie might win because Hatton looked bad against Lazcano. If the fight had happened before the Mayweather fight who honestly would have picked Malignaggi like Hatton claims everyone did.

Pacquiao will kill Hatton and make it look easy. Mallignaggi, the feather fisted puncher swelled Hattons face up, Lazcano almost knocked him out. How is Hatton going to take Pacquiao's punches and speed.

[Pullcounter]

lol didnt roach say he'll be very disapointed if he doesnt take him out inside 5

its all part of the promotion

[mic573]

if by letting hatton fight his fight do you mean wrestle and clinch rather then box and punch? I'm paying for a boxing match not a amateur wrestling competition.

Hatton has been fighting that way for a very long time and the only ref that doesn't let him fight his fight is Joe Cortez and Roach is already calling for Cortez to be the ref.

I say if you want to fight Hatton then why let a ref take away his advantages in size and strength let your fighter do that himself.

Hatton can wrestle and smother his opponents a little too much at times but it seems like once he gets inside and begins to throw a punch Cortez stops him and breaks them apart and he must reset everything. People act like thats the only thing he does. He can really let some combinations go inside if he is allowed to.

He didn't beat Tszyu and countless others by just grabbing and holding. It's not like he's John Ruiz. Ruiz was just one punch and then hold on until broken up. Hatton gets inside and starts working those hooks and uppercuts.

[street bully]

Put a good ref in the ring and let them fight. This could be a really great war if the ref just lets the fight play out and doesn't get involved.

Let Hatton fight his fight and let Pacquiao fight his fight.

Translation: Let Hatton cheat.

[mic573]

Translation: Let Hatton cheat.

I'm looking to see a great war. So that's why I said let them fight it out and decide the outcome themselves.

[cuzfozzy]

"hugging man" hatton ...