By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr predicts that Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao faces “a very tough fight” when he takes on IBO light welterweight champion Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.
In an exclusive interview with BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Lennon Jr said Hatton is “a compact, strong fighter with great body shots and a great uppercut although Manny Pacquiao should be favored to win.”
Describing Hatton as a legitimate challenger to Pacquiao’s pound-for-pound title, Lennon said Hatton is fighting at a weight that he is comfortable at. However, Lennon expressed some his doubts about “the different element” introduced by Hatton’s new trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. He said “will that help him (Hatton) or will that confuse him at the last moment?”
On the other hand Lennon pointed out that Pacquiao has his “longtime great trainer Freddie Roach are working well as always. This is a very interesting fight.”
He said there appeared to be “an unusual relationship” between Hatton and Mayweather Sr but we don’t know how that will translate in the ring but it should be a competitive fight with both great fighters at the top of their game . It’s a can’t miss great fight. Let’s see that unfold.”
Lennon said that from the point of view of a fight fan, the Pacquiao-Hatton “Battle of East and West” on Sunday, May 3 Manila Time which will be telecast nationwide and in theaters, restaurants and other similar outlets by Solar Sport “can’t be beat.”
Noting that Pacquiao “is so popular in the Philippines and Hatton is tremendously popular in England and nobody sells out in England like he does. So we have a meeting of two of the very best fighters and it’s going to one that we’ll remember.”
Lennon praised Pacquiao saying “he has held on to his humility despite being the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world . In the United States we look at his fame in the Philippines and our jaws drop . We’ve never seen anybody so popular in his own country as Manny Pacquiao. What a great example.. a great man and a great fighter.”
