The Hitman vs Pac Man

[H2O Man]

Saturday, May 2 - at Las Vegas (HBO PPV) - 12 rounds, light welterweights: Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) vs. Ricky Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs).

Sports fans will be focused on one of 2009’s "Super Fights" next week, when Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton defends his IBO junior welterweight title against Manny "Pac Man" Pacquiao. The fight, which takes place in Las Vegas, is the subject of another HBO 24/7 series. Boxing magazines and web sites are featuring articles that indicate this match is one of the most important in recent years. More, people from other sports are expressing interest: Willie Mays, one of the greatest athletes in sports’ history, recently requested a meeting with "Pac Man."

Part of the interest is due to the fact that both of these outstanding fighters are at or near the top of their game. Both are intense fighters, and enjoy sizable fan bases. Both are made for TV, both in and out of the ring. And both can be counted on to give 100% in the ring on May 2.

Another factor is that, should Pacquiao win, Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather will come out of retirement, and face him late in 2009. Manny is considered by many to be today’s "pound-for-pound" best. Floyd retired after being recognized as the "pound-for-pound" best in the sport for several years.

Hatton, 30, is 5’7.5" tall, with a 65" reach. Pacquiao, two months younger, is an inch shorter, but has a 2-inch reach advantage. The Hitman has fought 274 rounds as a professional, with a 70% KO rate; Pac Man has fought 291 rounds as a professional, and has a 68% KO rate.

Hatton is an orthodox fighter; Pacquiao is a southpaw. Hatton is trained by Floyd Mayweather, Sr.; Pacquiao is trained by Freddie Roach. So, on paper, this appears to be a fairly evenly matched event. But the pages of magazines and web sites do not see it this way.

The Ring magazine, correctly known as "the Bible of Boxing," asked 20 experts who would win. In the article, found in last month’s edition, 17 picked Manny, while 3 picked Hatton. More, 10 of those experts picked Manny to win by knockout.

Of course, these warriors are fighting on paper. They will settle this inside the ring, unless there is a controversial ending or disputed decision. However, Kenny Bayless is scheduled to referee, and I think that his skills in that role will allow the "best man" to win. Bayless, along with Roach and Mayweather, will play important parts in this fight.

Bayless will be impartial, but he will allow Hatton to fight on the inside. That is one of the keys to making this a good fight. And both cornermen know that the fight isn’t based on what happened in the ring when Pacquiao fought de la Hoya, or Hatton fought Pretty Boy Floyd.

If we want to look at strengths and weaknesses in previous bouts, there are better fights to focus on. Let’s start with Hatton. His intensity in the ring was most evident against the great Kostya Tszyu. Hatton fractured his face; that’s significant punching power. Hatton also KOed an aging Jose Luis Castillo with a vicious left hook to the body. And in his most recent fight, he KOed Paul Malignaggi, in a much more impression victory over the fast and talented fighter than Miguel Cotto achieved.

Hatton’s weaknesses have been in previous fights with fast "cute" fighters, such as Luis Collazo (in which Hatton "won" a bad decision). Also, against tough Eamonn Magee, Hatton got caught coming in, and was decked by a hard counter-punch along the ropes.

Pacquiao, who turned pro two years before Hatton, has a number of impressive wins over fighters like Erik Morales, Marcos Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manual Marquez. One of his greatest strengths, in my opinion, is his ability to adjust to his opponent during a fight. He has impressive hand speed, and has improved his footwork. Like Hatton, he can fight at a pace that very few fighters can match for 12 rounds.

Early in his career, Pacquiao was KOed twice. I think that was due, in large part, to his weakening himself to make weight. Yet both KO loses came in three rounds, suggesting that weight was not the only issue. More importantly, there have been times when Manny has not reacted well to problems in a fight. This was evident in the first Morales fight, in which he lost by decision. Also, the verdicts in both his fights with Marquez left questions in the minds of many observers.

It’s hard to pick a winner here. It’s easy to identify a way that each man can win convincingly: Pac Man has speed and power; the Hitman has power and brute force. I’ve found myself going back-and-forth, depending upon who I am talking to at the time (with Pacquiao fans, I pick Hatton, and with Hatton fans, Pacquiao). When I talk to myself, I think that Hatton is likely to pull off an upset. But, there’s still a week left …..

[trumad]

1. Sorry---there's only one Hitman...

[H2O Man]

2. He was so good!

[ProfessorGAC]

8. I Knew Tommy Personally

Back when he and i were amateur fighters. He had a great record and was terrifically skilled. (Good defensively, too.)

But, he punched with his front knee locked so his body would go backward when he threw his punches. He lacked power in thsoe days, despite his hand speed and leverage.

When Manny Steward got a hold of him, he broke that habit and Tommy started knocking out everybody in sight.

Once that happened, he was not just a good boxer but definitely THE Hitman.
GAC

[H2O Man]

9. Right.

Hearns was an outstanding boxer, with physical advantages similiar to Paul Williams -- tall, with a long reach, and the ability to move well on his feet. And it's clear that you watched him closely, because you describe his movement to a "T."

Those photos are from my brother, who had opportunity to hang out at the Kronk gym, and attend a lot of Tommy's fights, when he was in his prime. Hearns had punching power that was similar to the great light heavyweight champion, Bob Foster. Manny saw that in him, and taught him how to deliver it in explosive fashion. (The picture of him with Duran is from one of the best examples of that power! My brother was closer to the ring than it appears, but had a pitiful excuse for a camera. I have some photos of Ray Leonard and Magic Johnson, sitting in the row behind him.)

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Thanks, Waterman!

Yeah, he went from a great points boxer to a guy who could knock out a horse in about 3 months. He had a fantastic amateur record (72 and 3 iirc). But when he figured out how to explode into the punch by driving his legs, it was pretty amazing.

Manny made one profound mechanical correction, didn't he?
GAC

[H2O Man]

11. Last weekend,

when we were watching the ESPN FNF card, it opened with the American heavyweight from the recent Olympics. The young man is tall, thin, and has both boxing skills and some real power. But he is inexperienced, and incomplete. My son said he thought that Manny should work with him, so that we could have a Tommy Hearns in the heavyweight division.

It was, of course, the perfect fit: Manny is best with tall fighters, and Hearns had so much potential. A lot of people unfamiliar with his amateur career were surprised when, during the middle rounds of the first Leonard fight, Tommy was outboxing Ray. And convincingly so. If he hadn't weakened himself by making weight, he would have won by decision. He outboxed Wilfred Benitez (Ray actually helped Manny train Tommy for that fight!), which was one of his most impressive victories, though unappreciated by those who only wanted to see him flatten opponents.

His KO victories over Pipino Cuevas and Roberto Duran were my brother's favorite fights, for obvious reasons. Cuevas was a tough, tough man, who had the misfortune of fighting in the Hearns era. Duran was, of course, one of the sport's elite .... he ranks high among the very best of all time. And Hearns destroyed him in a manner that no other fighter ever did. I don't think anyone else could have done that to him, including Ray Robinson.

My brother was there for fights including James Schuler (KO 1); Mark Medal (TKO 8); Juan Roldan (KO 4); and others. I'll have to go through some old photos, and find some that you'll enjoy. Tommy brought a level of excitement that sports fans loved. Plus, he was and is a really nice, decent man outside the ring.

[brentspeak]

40. Did Hearns always have problems with his right hand?

Even when he was younger? His right hand was both his meal-ticket (when it was healthy) and his worst enemy (when it got injured/broken, which was too frequently).

[H2O Man]

3. As DU boxing fans know,

I have a lot of respect for Teddy Atlas. I was tempted to wait to hear his opinion, before posting mine.

Good to hear him say the same thing I wrote here, an hour after I posted.

[bulldogge]

4. He was

probably waiting to see what you had to say on it, lol

[H2O Man]

7. Ha!

You had better be here for the fight, mister.

[nickgutierrez]

5. Who chooses the referee?

Is that something that is decided in the contract, or by the boxing commission?

[H2O Man]

6. A combination of

things goes into it. The commission, the promter, and each fighter have some say.

[bulldogge]

12. Did you

See that Page passed away?

[H2O Man]

13. Yes.

Very sad news. He had suffered a lot in the last 8 years of his life.

Page was an outstanding amateur, and actually was one of Ali's sparring partners when he was in his teens. He used to be at Deer Lake, along with a young Larry Holmes. While Holmes maintained a strict discipline as a professional, Page too often didn't. He never really fulfilled his potential.

Because of that, he wasn't in the "big money" fights in his era. That resulted in his attempting to continue his career way too long. The guys he fought at the end were not even close to what he had been. But he still ended up seriously injured in the fight with Crowe, who was a strong, hard-hitting thug.

[H2O Man]

14. Predictions?

[H2O Man]

15. 5h to the last chance ......

[TroubleMan]

16. Pacman by TKO in the 8th

or thereabouts.

[H2O Man]

17. There is reportedly

conflict within Hatton's corner. This is hardly a surprise, considering that Floyd Mayweather is prone to interpersonal conflicts.

It's never good to have these issues flare up while preparing for a fight. The closer to the fight, the worse it is.

Hence, I think your prediction could be right on target. Thanks!

[doublethink]

18. Just a hunch ...... Ricky Hatton .... willl win a close ...

decision. Maybe even a split decision ... but it will go Hatton's way. Both fighters might even get knocked down in the fight ... but it will go the distance. If not ..... someone will lose because of a cut .... left eye. ha ... not the right ... but left eye. Think if it is fought on the inside ........ Hatton will tear the Pac Man up .... at a distance .... Manny might have a better shot. But tonight I will pick Hatton. Ask me again in the morning ... LOL ...

[sandnsea]

19. Whoa!!!

What a beautiful punch. Have you ever in your life seen such a punch!! That had to be a weakness he practiced for weeks.

[H2O Man]

22. It was perfect.

Just outstanding, all around.

I was wondering if Hatton would make it out of the first round. I'm glad that he was able to walk out of the arena on his own.

[sandnsea]

28. You have to give credit to Freddie Roach

What a tactician. You know that he spotted that opening, and just had Manny throw that punch over and over.

[H2O Man]

32. I agree.

Roach is the perfect trainer for Pacquiao. I read where Moorer said they watched film of Hatton, over and over. Roach saw a pattern, including an opening.

One huge difference between Roach and Mayweather as trainers is that Freddie doesn't care to be at the center of attention. Floyd, Sr., does. In this fight, Freddie Roach's approach "wins," and while Manny is the focus of the public's attention, those who really know boxing understand that this was a victory where "you have to give credit to Freddie Roach."

[TroubleMan]

20. That was a slaughter!

Wow....just wow.

[H2O Man]

23. Wow

is right.

I thought that it was possible that Pacquiao could deck Hatton early, by catching him off balance. And that he might cut him up, and possibly TKO him late. But I didn't think that this outcome was a realistic possibility.

The guy ranks among the elite from any era.

[Wetzelbill]

21. It was a little easier than I thought it would be

But not much. I thought Manny would be too much for Ricky, I really did. He's in his prime and at a level and on a roll where he's going to be nearly impossible to beat. I think Manny has moved beyond some of the problems he's had like in his lose to Morales as you noted. He's matured and looks better than ever. There has to be a Pacquaio-Mayweather fight now. I can't think of a fight that is nearly as interesting as that one.

[H2O Man]

24. That's "the" fight now.

Assuming Floyd wins in July -- and he should -- then there is nothing else in boxing that comes close.

[Wetzelbill]

26. I can't say who I would pick in that one yet

Floyd is a hard worker and he has a guy he can get up for now. He's so gifted you can never count him out. I would say he'd be a slight favorite, not sure how rusty he'll be or anything, that one fight might be enough for him to get back to form.

[H2O Man]

33. I think that

he let his body heal for a year, and from what I understand, has been training for some time now. It's different from being an active fighter, but still distinct from being fully retired.

I favor Floyd, but after last night, recognize that it will be his toughest fight.

[TroubleMan]

30. That fight has to happen.

Barring a severe injury I can't see how either of them could pass it up. After Pacman's performance tonight, that's going to be a huge money fight.

[H2O Man]

34. It seems like

it absolutely has to happen, just as the World Series happens at the end of a baseball season. I can't think of any better contest in all of sports, at this time.

[brentspeak]

39. But a fight between the two means one either has to gain a few pounds

or the other has to lose a few. Or somewhere in between.

[H2O Man]

42. Right now,

the two sides are close to agreement. Pacquiao is saying 142, Mayweather at 145. Look for a 143 limit.

It sounds odd to people who haven't boxed or wrestled, but those pounds -- few as they are -- could be important in a number of ways. The most obvious is, of course, in deciding on purses. It also will be a psychological thing: Manny wants Floyd to work hard to drop those extra pounds, which is harder for a mature fighter to do, than for a younger man. Floyd wants Manny to be thinking about differences in their natural size. The funny thing is that Manny will most likely weigh more than Floyd when they enter the ring.

[Wetzelbill]

25. Here is the fight minus the first minute or so, it might not be up long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXIYftsM4dI

[Wetzelbill]

27. It should be illegal to get knocked out like that

Good lord. I think Manny has filled out into these bigger weight classes pretty well. He's stronger physically than most would think, I don't believe Hatton was much stronger. Even the few times he tried to get in and tie Manny up, he wasn't able to manhandle him by any means. But the speed, damn, that's what does it. Manny is so fast that even when he's wild he's accurate. A guy takes his life into his hands getting in the ring with that guy. He's as great a fighter as I have ever seen.

[TroubleMan]

29. Off topic - did you see the inverted triangle submission at Bellator tonight?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xXiL2Y2olc

[Wetzelbill]

31. I read about it and was planning on watching it tomorrow

Awesome submission! Thanks for posting.

[erpowers]

36. Bad Stuff There

Was it just me are was the other guy's face starting to turn pink? I knew that if someone held that hold on someone the results could be bad, but I had never seen it held that long.

[Wetzelbill]

41. yes that's an air choke

It cuts off the supply of air. Some people will get put out from it from time to time, but usually air chokes make people panic and they tap. They usually are fine. Now a blood choke is when you directly cut off the blood to the head with a choke. That knocks people out in a few seconds. Usually it takes them 10 seconds or so to come out of it, and then they get helped to their feet and are fine. Not a lot different than getting knocked out, but without the concussive impact.

[H2O Man]

35. It should end

Hatton's career. It is not good for the brain, getting KOed like that. There was a moment, while Ricky was still down, when I wondered if he was going to be taken out on a stretcher.

[brentspeak]

38. The announcers were saying that Hatton shouldn't have been handled the way he was

He was unconscious on the canvas, but assistants were lifting him up and moving him around. Better to let him lie there until he can regain consciousness. And agreed, Hatton should retire for the sake of his own health.

[brentspeak]

37. After having his head rocked like that, Hatton would be wise to hand up his gloves

Even if he retires now, there's no guarantee Hatton will still avoid pugilist syndrome from creeping in down the road. But he can be assured of it if he continues to fight and receive punishment like what Pacquiaro gave him.

[H2O Man]

43. His neck snapped,

and his head slammed against the canvas. If he were closer to the ropes, it could have been worse, as one of the more common causes of death in the ring has been when a fighter falls, and his neck/head gets snapped and slammed on the bottom rope. What is intended to protect fighters sometimes poses the greatest threat.

Rubin and Angelo Dundee worked after Ray Mancini's tragic fight, to get the bottom rope moved out a few inches. Promoters weren't interested in the investment in ring safety.

The injuries to the back of his head could result in neurological impairment in a few years.

[brentspeak]

44. Like the "Million-Dollar Baby" scenario

the neck/head gets slammed against an object, and that's all she wrote (except in the movie's case, it was a corner stool, but the same effect).