Upset Special: Why Ricky Hatton Will Win

Upset Special: Why Ricky Will Win

Pacquiao just mopped the floor with Oscar De La Hoya last December in a fight he wasn’t given much of a chance to win by the same pundits now touting his pound for pound credentials. He looked faster, stronger and better rounded than ever.

Long gone is that one handed bandit that handed Marco Antonio Barrera a brutal defeat in 2003, they proclaim.

They also declare that the straight left loving, no head-movement having fighter that dropped Juan Manuel Marquez thrice in the first round of their 2004 fight, but had to settle for a draw when the Mexican warrior picked himself up and went on to win the majority of the rounds is no more.

I agree, but only to some extent. What I definitely do not agree on is that this weekend’s fight against Ricky Hatton will be one-sided in Manny Pacquiao’s favor.

It goes without saying that the majority of experts and fans are picking Manny Pacquiao to win—some are even going as far as saying the Pacman will annihilate The Hitman in the super fight billed as East vs. West. Not so fast, says I. Who am I, you ask? A beer swirling fight fan who knows his sh*t. 

I commend Manny for doing what he had to do in the Oscar fight, but we cannot put too much stock into a win over a badly weight-drained, 36 year old Golden Boy. Even Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said Oscar couldn’t pull the trigger anymore. On fight night, Pacman actually weighed more than Oscar did. 

The best in-his-prime fighter Pacman has defeated remains Juan Manuel Marquez in their second fight, and that fight was as close as they come. The decision could’ve gone either way but more importantly, the fight was at Jr Lightweight (130lbs) whereas this Hatton fight is at 140 lbs. 

Believe me people, The Hitman is a bona fide Jr Welter—one who has never lost at that weight. His only loss came against “Money” Mayweather, the reigning pound for pound king at the time, and that was at seven pounds north at welterweight. Bottom line Pacquiao has not fought anyone as big as The Hitman.

How about Pacquiao’s power? According to some people, even boxing insiders (Larry Merchant, what??), Pacquiao is the hardest puncher in the game today. Same Pacquiao who couldn’t finish off Marquez when he dropped him, and who had to land hundreds of straight, clean punches on the very ordinary David Diaz over nine rounds before eventually earning the KO. 

I just don’t think the power is as great as imagined. Pacquiao definitely has more pop in his fists than the average pug but I don’t believe he has carried his power as he has gone up in weight.

Even in the extremely one-sided De La Hoya fight, Pacquiao never could seriously hurt the Golden Boy or take him off his feet. Speed is the one clear cut advantage the Pacman has over Hatton, but this can be negated by careful footwork, employing the jab and killing the body. 

Floyd Joy Mayweather, what can we say about the man, the self-proclaimed legend that hasn’t already been said. Hatton’s flamboyant trainer, in my opinion, has added a few wrinkles to The Hitman’s game.

Anyone who thinks Hatton can’t box needs to go back to watch tapes of the Ben Tackie, Vince Phillips and Carlos Wilfredo Vilches fights. Hatton was at his boxing, mauling best in those fights.

This is the fighter he needs to revert to - not the face first fighter that Floyd Jr handled quite easily. If he can avoid getting drawn into a brawl with Pacquiao while utilizing a stiff jab to get on the inside and pound the Filipino’s body to take away his legs (and diminish his power), Hatton has a great chance of winning. 

And for all who think Hatton cannot shine on the big stage, two words—Kostya Tszyu. In front of 22,000 drunk, rabid fans crammed into the MEN Arena in Manchester, Hatton scored an 11th Rd TKO over arguably the greatest Jr Welterweight ever in boxing.

This was the fight he was most expected to lose and remains his greatest win to date. I am going out on a limb as saying that will change on Saturday.

Hatton by decision.  One “expert’s” opinion.