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NAME
Manny Pacquiao -- Ricky Hatton
NICKNAME
Pac-Man -- The Hitman
AGE
30 -- 30
HOMETOWN
General Santos City, Philippines -- Manchester, England
STATISTICS
48(36) - 3(2) - 2 -- 45 (32) - 1(1) - 0
SIZE
5'6" 1/2, 135-147 -- 5'7" 1/2, 140
STANCE
Southpaw -- Orthodox
ABILITY/TECHNIQUE
Manny Pacquiao: Manny is a tricky fighter to figure out. He's an aggressive southpaw fighter who rarely takes a backstep. From early on in his career, you could see the hand speed was there, being a fighter born with it and he's been able to time his shots better while being under the guidance of trainer Freddy Roach. When the pair first got together, Manny was somewhat of a one-trick pony. Fortunately for the two, the trick worked wonders for the most part. However, as they've grown as a team, he's added other tricks to the arsenal. His footwork and balance have gotten significantly better, however the straight one-two down the middle is still his bread and butter. Impressive combination puncher and has added a better body attack. Great stamina with rapid upper-body movement. Solid chin.
Ricky Hatton: Ricky Hatton is a very agressive fighter, with one of the better body attacks in the business. When he uses the jab, he can work behind it well. He has shown instances when he can move and box, mainly due to his impressive foot speed and decent lateral movement. His hooks to the body are his weapon of choice, but he can dig in the upper cuts as well. He has above average hand speed and his head movement works well when he's fresh. His chin has been dented, but he's generally shown the ability to adapt and clinch when needed, in order to weather the storm. Generally, he has a solid beard. Has somewhat of a mauling style and will come in and attack, pressing you along the ropes and tear away at you with solid single and combination shots. Generally has shown a solid level, in terms of stamina.
WEAKNESSES:
Manny Pacquiao: He can be hit, that's the first thing to come to mind. When he's facing a fresh, bigger, young, virtually prime Ricky Hatton, he will be hit. As Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales have shown he can be wobbled. Though he does show the ability to recover rather quickly, it's something to worry about. When you take away the straight one-two, he relies on punches that he's not AS comfortable with. He's prone to cuts and as seen in the second Marquez fight during the ninth round, they can bother him. Early in his career, he was stopped from a body blow.
Ricky Hatton: Hatton, like Manny Pacquiao, can he hit. He's shown less of an ability to recover recently, but that was generally against guys 7 pounds north. He loves to go to the body, but against a quicker handed guy like Manny, that could leave him open for Manny's best weapon. After a long career of hard, rough fights, he may be slowing a step or two. This might be the reason for the trainer switch from Billy Graham to Floyd Mayweather Sr. He has overall defensive lapses that CAN be exposed by quicker guys who are able to weather his aggressive storms.
OPPOSITION/CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Manny Pacquiao: Pacquiao has faced a who's who of 126-130 pounds. Gaining him wins over Erik Morales (twice), Juan Manuel Marquez (one win, one draw), and Marco Antonio Barrera (twice). Else where in his career, he's faced Agapito Sanchez, David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya. Against the group mentioned, he's 7(5) - 1(0) - 2. These fights have helped propel him to the top of most credible pound for pound lists and he's currently ranked number 5 at Welterweight. He's won TRUE world titles at 126 pounds and 130 pounds. Beating Hatton would earn him his third world title. H'es 3(2) - 0(0) - 1.
Ricky Hatton: Hatton has essentially fought all of his career at 140 pounds. He's strayed north early in his career and for the chance to make bigger bucks at 147 and history with Floyd Mayweather Jr. His only defeat. Other than that sole loss, he's fought and beaten Vince Phillips, Ben Tackie, Luis Collazo, Jose Luis Castillo, Juan Lazcano, Luis Collazo and Paulie Malignaggi. This all being overshadowed by his genuine champion win over Kostya Tszyu. Record with that group stands at 8(3) - 1(1) - 0. He's currently within the bottom half of the top 10 pound for pound rankings. Since winning the title, he's made 5 title defenses. Beating Pacquiao would be his 6th successful defense. The Jr. Welterweight championship is his only true world title. He's 6-1 in world title fights.
THE QUESTIONS: Who's footwork will be better in this fight? Can Manny carry his power up to 140 against a prime 140 pound fighter? Can Hatton take hard, powerful punches from a guy who will be there to fight all night? Will Hatton be the type of fighter that draws Manny in and makes him make mistakes? Will cuts come into play for either man? Will Ricky attempt to try too much under the supervision of Mayeather Sr? If this fight goes the distance and it's close, which fighter will be favored? Has Manny really strengthened his ability to take a sustained body attack? Can Ricky deal with the speed and angles of a guy who's not used to losing? Who will have the support of the fans?
THE OUTCOME: The fight will start out a bit more calm then some might expect with Manny doing more in the first couple of rounds and most likely taking them. Things will pick up, however, around the 3rd or 4th when Hatton becomes more aggressive not being immediately hurt by Pac-Mans attack and coming in roughing him up. The action will be intense in the middle round, with the fight still in Manny's favor, when he'll finally crack Hattons chin in the 5th round or so, but Hatton won't go down. In the 6th to 8th rounds, Manny will begin to cut Hatton up and land more frequently as he feeds on the results he's getting. Towards the 9th or 10th rounds, Hatton will be looking for that one big punch and will be letting himself get hit when he's wide open. Though the body attack he hits Manny with might slow him down during portions of the fight, Pacquiao will be able to counter off them well and towards the end of the fight, he will wear Hatton down and stop him in one of the championship rounds. Likely the 11th.
Winner, Manny Pacquiao 11TKO.
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