Does Hatton Really Stand a Chance?
By Juan Angel Zurita (April 30, 2009) - Over the past few months, I’ve spoken with many people about this fight. It didn’t matter whether they were Filipino, Mexican, African-American, White, etc. 8 out of 10 of them typically predicted a resounding Pacquiao victory. I found their perception quite intriguing considering the fact that the sportsbooks see it as a much closer fight as do many boxing insiders.
That brings us to the question. Does Ricky Hatton really stand a chance?
On paper he does stand ‘a’ chance, but based on recent performances, one would have to agree with the general public’s perception that Pacquiao will just be too fast and powerful.
That said, the general public’s perception doesn’t always accurately forecast the correct result. Remember not too long ago when Pacquiao was the overwhelming underdog against De La Hoya?
So what does this really all mean? It means that Hatton does stand more of a chance than most of the public is giving him credit for. Pacquiao isn’t unbeatable as Morales and Marquez have shown, and too much emphasis has been placed on Hatton’s heartbreaking TKO loss to Floyd Mayweather.
Below are some points I keep in mind when analzying this bout.
1. Like many great fighters, Pacquiao will eventually hit the wall at some point and this may very well be the bout where it happens. Would anyone really be surprised if it turns out Pacquiao isn’t the same fighter at 140 that he was at 126-135?
2. Manny Pacquiao isn’t Floyd Mayweather Jr. Don’t get me wrong. Pacquiao is a great fighter in his own right, but Mayweather is the type of guy who has at least proven he can defeat a welterweight contender, albeit the lower tier contenders. Pacquiao’s best and lone victory at 147 came against the corpse of De La Hoya. Does anyone recall De La Hoya even having the strength to throw a combination in that bout? Further, Mayweather defeated Hatton at 147, a weight class Hatton had no business in. Want further proof? Refer to Hatton’s other welterweight bout against Luis Collazo, a close bout that could’ve arguably gone either way. Hatton is simply at his best at 140 and should provide quite the test this Saturday night.
I’m definitely in the minority on this one, and I’ll probably get tons of “eat your crow” type emails after this fight. Believe me, a part of me wants to jump on the bandwagon and support Pacquiao. However, something in my gut tells me that Hatton will somehow pull it off. Despite what we saw in the De La Hoya fight, I know what I saw when he fought guys that actually fought back.
At this very moment, I envision Pacquiao being handily ahead after 5-6 rounds before getting caught with a body shot that sends him tumbling to the canvas. I see him rising but getting halted several seconds later.
Like both of these great fighters, I’m putting it all on the line for this one. Enjoy the fight.
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see, eh? LOL I can’t wait for this weekend! I just hope that it’s a slugfest and worth the $$$.
I’ve really enjoyed following the lead up to this fight on HBO’s 24/7 sports. Seeing Manny from a behind the scenes perspective makes me that much more confident in his abilities. This past week was a great episode. I thought it was hilarious when they showed Floyd Sr. drinking the Kool-Aid, because he’s definitely gotta be doing that if he thinks Hatton can beat Pacquiao. I’m also glad they used the song “The Goin’s Great” by Sammy Davis, Jr. to offset this scene….such a great mood setter – makes me think of Las Vegas, which of course makes me think boxing.
Anyway, I hope Pacquiao puts on a show, to prove he’s the toughest pound-for-pound fighter there is, and also just to shut up Meriweather…. Check out the opening clip at http://displacedbrett.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/pacquiaohatton-madness/
dela hoya could not pull the trigger coz he couldnt find pac he said it was bettr for him to get knocked out i guess he felt like he was in swamp full of pirannhas
I am not basing it on Pacman’s fight against Delahoya. I am basing it on Hatton’s performance against Eamonn Magee when Magee floored Hatton in the first round with a light right hook. Hatton against Lazcano where he was wobbled then saved by the referee. Hatton against Collazo. These fighters he fought were way too slow and not punchers. if he struggled against slower and weaker opposition, how can he deal with Pacquiao’s speed and power?
how can hatton catch pacquiao in the 5th or 6th round when pacquiao finishes him off in the 3rd round?why do you say that mayweather is better than pacquiao when as you said he fights guys smaller than him? anyway as what you have said you will surely eat your words come may 2!!!
You also have to agree that he first started at 108 lbs unlike PBF who starts at 130lbs. one thing Hatton is an easy target to make for Manny if Paulie can hit him with pamper shots well wait when he gets the taste of the PACMAN’s claws.
so much has been said and written about odlh being old and spent when he was stopped by the pacman and how hitman will sneak in a big one that would end the fight by surprise , pacman absorbed a thunderous right on the cheek at the opening of 4th round that made him shift to attacking mode where he is most feared when he starts crackling and its a very bad plan to hurt pacman cause he will come back with cluster bombs.
Who has Mayweather fought? Can’t believe the media is still enamored by someone who cherry picked his opponents to keep an undefeated record. Hatton had him in trouble in the first round, too bad he didn’t follow up.
The writer has his point. And it’s a very valid point.
He also puts forth his argument without becoming argumentative.
Manny is no Superman, although as a Filipino, I’d like to think he could be one come fight night! But even with that, the Mancunian could very well turn out to be kryptonite! Dang!
okay, ‘eat your crow’ then
you will eat your word for the second time around…and for the mayweather jr bout i guess you will have no more word to say because you were fired off! peace!
I bet you’re one of those guys who always bets against Pacquiao and lose their shirts! What you’re mouthing of is the same hogwash about how Manny’s not big enough, not good enough and so on and on and on that Pacquiao Haters froth forth before every Pacquiao fight only to be terribly disappointed afterwards. Well prepare your self to experience that sinking feeling in your chest again as Pacman annihilates Hatton this Saturday. You’re still delusional about Marquez winning those fights even after stumbling around like a drunk whenever Pac was able to nail him. You just can’t let that go. You feel so cheated, right? If I were you Zurita, I’d wager my house on Hatton just as he has suggested to his fans. Maybe all the other Pachaters should too!
Its obvious you’re a pacfan but you are taking chance for Ricky which he’ll never have. You think of a pull off maybe by a hard dig on Manny’ abdomen but have you not heard of a moral lessons in Manny’s previoius fights? This is it – don’t ever hit Manny or else you’ll get in trouble. After being hit hard, Manny gets mad – clinches /bangs his “Philippine national fists”, makes the sign of the cross, repositions.. and unleashes his cluster bombs 90pct of which hit its target. . the London bridge is falling down.
Juan Zurita, you will eat your words. Odlh was beaten because he was slow and Manny was too fast. The same will happen to Hatton. And this time Hatton will be knocked out much less than the nine rounds it took Mayweather. Then you compare Mayweather to Pacman…Mayweather unable to knockout Odlh and Pacman knocked out Hatton in less than nine rounds. Manny is one of a kind fighter 1) he has no fear, 2) he is so quick, 3) he carries his strength to his new weight, 4) he does not get tired, and 5) his commitment to winning is always 100%.
BTW all boxers that Manny beat have excuses, except for David Diaz.
Paulie was able to get clean shots on Hatton and stumble him he is a soft fisted fighter but yet Hatton is made to be god cause he beat him up but then they say Mannys last fight is over rated. Does everyone forget after third fight Morales left boxing after 3rd fight Berrera temporarily left after 1st fight David Diaz has not fought after 1st fight ODLH retired Out of the last 5 fighters 4 quit boxing after feeling Mannys fists the 5th JMM in last fight got rattled quite a bit by a less fighter than Manny After this 1st fight Hatton retires being a great English boxer but short of p4p champ making 5 of last 6 fighters quit boxing and MWJR becomes next victim to fall
Mr. Cezpel is absolutely right. Mr Zurita, If you will bet all your fortunes and your House and Lot on Hatton, I will admire you and hail you as a brave hero with Principles. Come on, do the betting for your Hitman so that we will know who really is the GUY on Saturday night!!!!! Bravo…….!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Limbarok
i guess and believed that hatton will be knocked-out on the 5th round with manny’s left hand strike…pacquiao’s left hand is more powerful than hatton’s left and right…which’s slow and has no direction…he can hit his opponent only through bullying….in this fight he can’t do that trick!
why is it that people makes excuses for other people when in fact the person really affected admits he has been beaten by the better guy?this is pure nonsense i believe.
The article is telling a part of a whole big picture,reality speaks for itself and a general acceptance is now established.Pacuiao didn’t disappoint his team his people more of himself therefore his tribe increases.History will reveal who ,what,and why a diminutive brown boxer from the Philippines
is destined to be a world boxing superstar in an amazing course.Just a pointer to highlight my
comment the first time manny fought in Las Vegas against Lebwahda it was almost no preparation
ten days only Hisname was hard to pronounce correctly ,then that’s the start…..
I don’t know why these so washed up thing exist everytime MP fight!
so if MP beat fatton the same way he beat ODLH then fatton is washed up too!
in boxing there should no excuses, that is why there is training. And these BULL**** writers/haters still not convince about oscars doesn’t have anymore to beat Manny.
well I guess you cannot please everyone even in convincing way of victory, there is always excuses to make!!!
PACMAN TKO FATTON in #6 round
We’ve read a lot about the comparison between the past fights that Pacquiao and Hatton has in their belts. Surely we cannot compare Mayweather jr to Pacquiao since Mayweather jr is so boring to watch. If they are in the same 135 lbs, I would still bet for Pacquiao than Mayweather for the sake of watching his warrior like fight compared to Mayweather jr’s “running afraid to get hit” fighting style. Everybody knows Pacquiao was the underdog during his De la Hoya fight. Now that he dismantled him, everybody is saying it was De la Hoya’s ghost that he dismantled. Quite true, since he got beat and it looks painful to watch him get beat like that. What if he beat up Hatton, and then we’ll talk about like these because Hatton is the old ghost of himself just like De la Hoya before their fight as said to be in the best shape of his life. Ridiculous! Finding reasons to justify an outcome that is unsatisfactory and short of what we expect is natural, thus we are having these threads and discussions. What if it is Pacquiao who would be bullying Hatton in the ring come May 2nd? Are you ready to concede and admit that Pacquiao is really made for this weight class? Everybody would reject this idea since we’re used to be basing our opinions on the standards and what the “observers” suggests. You should think about the 135 lbs little guys in the Philippine seaports hauling away stuff thrice their body weights. Talk about strength! Manny is one of them and I would’nt be surprised if he comes out stronger than Hatton come fight night. Hatton the bigger guy? I’ve heard that before and I’ve also heard a smaller guy beat up a bigger guy and it was awesome! That’s why I am eager to watch this fight and hope to prove once and for all that the standards are just standards and we are humans capable of exceeding our limits when we are called upon to do so during special occasions. May 2nd is that perfect time. Forget all their past fights, it would matter this time since now is different than yesterday LOL! I am not even talking about weaknesses and fighting styles yet for the fight. I dont know but its gonna be a good fight with a smaller guy beating up a bigger guy sort of story. AGAIN! next fight please …….
Pacquiao has been at odds in his career many times, pacquiao was a heavy underdog when he fought barrera 2001 and experts thought that fighting De la hoya was a masaccre and was a joke. you know what ? Manny the Pacman Pacquiao is at his best when he is underdog when manny fought dela hoya Manny transformed into Super Saiyan 1, and this time ascend to Super Saiyan 2 . i”ve never seen a fighter before who eludes, dodges punches and yet capable of throwing an accurate punch., when manny is dodging backwards he throws punches, it’s like Michael Jordan shooting his patented fade away jumper.
The reason why Delahoya lost to Paquiao overwhelmingly is that Delahoya was petrified in the first round of their bout because of Manny’s speed and power punches. The precise timing of Paquiao’s punches that hit the mark and fast movement made Delahoya’s surrender after the 8th round resulting in a TKO. To make a good point short Paquiao’s ability is far more than Hatton’s. I have never seen a champion as fast , powerful punches that makes a good timing to hit the mark than Manny Paquiao . His left jab alone packs a knockout .
well! you could be right but then again there’s a big possibility that you’re going to eat your words any day now. Nobody knows what will be the outcome but to make it more interesting why don’t you put some money on your guy at least you can recover something from previous loses just in case Hatton wins.Though I personally doubt it. good luck anyway
mr. zurita, like the rest of us, we won’t know how this fight will turn out until fight time. you are entitled to your opinion, but i think pacman is just way too fast and too strong for hatton. can’t hit what you can’t catch or see, but then again there’s the lucky punch. this fight does make me nervous because of hatton’s bully ways. i’m hoping for a clean fight. either way hatton seems like a decent person and i wish both fighters luck. pacman all the way!!!
hatton will fall pretty much the same as how he got koed by mayweather. He’ll be coming in at a hundred miles per hour hoping to tag manny with a left jab but unfortunately for him, his defense wont be set. with this, manny will be setting up his nasty left hook to the chin of the unexpectingly hatton. kabooommmm!! hatton hits the canvass and wont beat the ref’s count in round 5, cutting the rounds in half of how hatton fell to mayweather..
Both fighters have a chance to win. It only just a matter of how FAST they think inside the ring during the fight; have a better physical and mental conditioning; and a better corner team to tell him how to adjust his offense, defense and give the fighter the moral support even during the fight.
Lets just wait till the third round has ended and most of us will already know the winner of the fight.
But for my personal opinion. I will pray for a Manny Pacquiaos victory over Ricky Hatton.
Be patient and focused Manny.
manny never defeated anybody in the ring.his victory always come out from training camp.they all know how physically overwhelming manny can inflict to his oponent.they all know that their boxing abilities are not good enough for a win.they tried to push themselves in training camp just to keep up with manny and they all end up worn out.it is just that when fighting against manny you are given two choices.being fit comfortably but will give you a non embarrasing defeat or take the risk of having a bruce lee physic which could give you a good chance of winning but if failed you are giving yourself your own embarrassment.none of which is a decisive advantage to you.after the fight excuses come out when in fact you are already finish in the training camp itself.so to all doubters,i hope this will clear all your if’s and but’s.they are already done even before the fight has just been started.
as a filipino i will always support manny pacquiao till the end.no matter what other people say to him..he is the best of the best…the one &only manny pacquiao!!!!!!!!!!!hatton will taste the sweet fist of manny pacquiao this coming 5-2-09
What was that you said about Pacquiao? Bring it on floyd!!
what the best in 140 lbs are you talking?he didnt even get 5 minutes.eat your words.i feel bad because hatton was not able to receive punishment.
Don Juan, here what I commented on May 1st.
“Juan Zurita, you will eat your words. Odlh was beaten because he was slow and Manny was too fast. The same will happen to Hatton. And this time Hatton will be knocked out much less than the nine rounds it took Mayweather. Then you compare Mayweather to Pacman…Mayweather unable to knockout Odlh and Pacman knocked out Hatton in less than nine rounds. Manny is one of a kind fighter 1) he has no fear, 2) he is so quick, 3) he carries his strength to his new weight, 4) he does not get tired, and 5) his commitment to winning is always 100%.
BTW all boxers that Manny beat have excuses, except for David Diaz.”
Have good day!
oops. hellooooooooo Mr. Zurita! I’m your friend now.
Manny Pacquaio is the best fighter of his time, and I am truly a big fan! Very nice write up. I made a shirt for me and some others boxing fanatics, you can see it here…www(dot)designbyhumans(dot)com/shop/detail/4610 Its the sickest design for a boxing shirt. Anybody can wear it:)