With a lackluster heavyweight division, and Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr now in retirement, boxing is in dire need of new stars. This weekend features a matchup of two of boxing’s biggest stars. Current pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao attempts to conquer another weight class as he takes on 140-lb champion Ricky Hatton. It is the biggest fight of the year and it will be an interesting indicator of boxing buyrates in the post-De La Hoya era.
Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao (IBO Light Welterweight Title)
Money Line: Hatton +210; Pacquiao -270
Ricky Hatton has been the king of the light welterweight division since dismantling Kostya Tszyu in 2005. His only loss as a professional came to Floyd Mayweather Jr but that was at the welterweight limit. Hatton hasn’t had much trouble in any of his light welterweight fights since becoming champion and is known for his endless motor. His propensity for body shots is used to neutralize any speed disadvantage he may encounter. With Ricky Hatton, fans can expect a fierce aggressor that throws punches in bunches. British fans follow Ricky Hatton all over the world so don’t expect any lack of support for The Hitman in Las Vegas. He just may need every bit of that fan support to topple the #1 boxer in the world right now.
Manny Pacquiao cemented his spot atop the pound-for-pound rankings with a thorough domination of Oscar De La Hoya last December. That was a fight that eventually led De La Hoya to retirement. Pacquiao’s last three fights have been wins at 130 lbs, 135 lbs, and 147 lbs. The first two were against the world champion in that division while the win at 147 was against the aforementioned Oscar De La Hoya. Pacman is going for his fourth significant win in a fourth weight class as he takes on Ricky Hatton at 140 lbs. Like Hatton, Pacquiao has a seemingly endless motor and the undying support of his home country.
Fight Predictions
Corey: Pacquiao appears to be just too much for Hatton. He’s too fast and too powerful, and, just in case he does get hit, he has shown a great chin in the past. The one question that Hatton needs to answer early in this fight is whether or not he can get to Pacquiao’s body. That’s Hatton’s bread and butter and the only weakness Pacquiao seems to have on him. Without a consistent body attack, Hatton is going to get blown out of the water with the heavy firepower. I don’t see Hatton getting the job done as Pacquiao’s defense looks better every fight. The Pacman will stop The Hitman in nine rounds or less.
Trent: Hatton and Pacquiao have many similarities in the boxing ring. Both throw a high volume of punches. Both refuse to relent in close quarters. Both exhibit a nice combination of speed and power. The key difference, however, is that Manny Pacquiao is the better version of Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao is faster, stronger, and more determined. I think Corey got it right on this one. Pacquiao will be too fast for Hatton and you can be sure that Hatton will get pegged any time that he tries to get in close for the body attack. Hatton won’t back off and that is what likely will lead to the end of the fight. Hatton will go down fighting, but he will almost certainly go down. Pacquiao by KO in the 9th, just to rub it in to Floyd Mayweather Jr that he finished Hatton one round earlier. That ought to be enough to get Pacquiao-Mayweather cooking.
Fight odds from Bodog.com
