Ricky Hatton will beat Manny Pacquiao.

[haploid]

both are knockout puncher, means both are strong. but pacquiao is smarter and faster than hatton. well, we'll see about it on may 2. seeing pacquiao fight is just like watching a ****o, it has a hard heart-beating, climatic and ******ic sensation.

[akash]

performance of his life

I think Hatton's going to have to give the performance of his life, he's going to have to give it everything he's got, commiting 120% of himself, and if he does that, I can assure you, that Hatton is a very live underdog. What people forget is that Hatton very fast on his feet, and Manny doesn't fight going backwards.

[Technical_Skill]

Its very hard for a fighter to change certain things over night, saying stuff like.

"If ricky does the floyd mayweather shoulder roll he will win the fight"

Means nothing, because its never going to happen.

But hatton can do something to win the fight and I believe he can win the fight too.

1) Lateral movement, dont come at pac in lines unless the head movement is a miraculous improvement on what it was against paulie. (It wont be) Ricky needs to step away from the lead left of pac, once that happens pac slows up and isnt as quick to get off.

2) Jab, Ricky needs to pump the jab, whilst moving away from the left, it might break up manny's rythym as he will set himself to throw a punch, have to block, then set himself again.

3)Clinch, After ricky lands something nice, he should clinch if possible and take it to pac on the inside, people are seriously underestimating the possibly of pac getting mauled on the inside. Besides ricky doesn't want to get into trading with pac. So I think he should do something along the lines of, move away from left, jab, then right hand or that lead hook, clinch, work inside, do the same again.

I think if rick can do the following, he doesn't have to re-write his boxing dna and he has a chance to win.

[Fights]

Its very hard for a fighter to change certain things over night, saying stuff like.

"If ricky does the floyd mayweather shoulder roll he will win the fight"

Means nothing, because its never going to happen.

But hatton can do something to win the fight and I believe he can win the fight too.

1) Lateral movement, dont come at pac in lines unless the head movement is a miraculous improvement on what it was against paulie. (It wont be) Ricky needs to step away from the lead left of pac, once that happens pac slows up and isnt as quick to get off.

2) Jab, Ricky needs to pump the jab, whilst moving away from the left, it might break up manny's rythym as he will set himself to throw a punch, have to block, then set himself again.

3)Clinch, After ricky lands something nice, he should clinch if possible and take it to pac on the inside, people are seriously underestimating the possibly of pac getting mauled on the inside. Besides ricky doesn't want to get into trading with pac. So I think he should do something along the lines of, move away from left, jab, then right hand or that lead hook, clinch, work inside, do the same again.

I think if rick can do the following, he doesn't have to re-write his boxing dna and he has a chance to win.

nice analysis

[PACHUGGER]

Bumpppppppppppp

[Sorbetero]

Calling it right now, it will be the upset of 2009.

I know Hatton struggles with southpaws, is easy to hit at times due to being overly ambitious, and seems susceptable to being rocked more than a rocking chair, but hey call me crazy.

I think a lot of people are really underestimating Ricky Hatton, and really overrating Pacquiao's victory over Oscar. Don't get me wrong, I think it was a great win for Manny, he was absolutely sensational, it just would of been nice to see a fresh Oscar in there. Weight drained or not, it's very apparent Oscar has officially gotten old. It's unfortunate, but sometimes fighters get old overnight, it's happened to countless of fighters. Although past his prime, against Mayweather, Mayorga, etc, Oscar still had that spark in his step and was still a very formible opponent for everyone. In 2006, 2007, Oscar was easily the best at 154. He was undoubtedly better than Karmazin, Ouma or Spinks (the top dogs at 154 at the time). In the Pacquiao fight it was blatently apparent Oscar no longer had that spark in his step.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

I think Hatton's going to have to give the performance of his life, he's going to have to give it everything he's got, commiting 120% of himself, and if he does that, I can assure you, that Hatton is a very live underdog. What people forget is that Hatton very fast on his feet, and Manny doesn't fight going backwards.

If Ricky is able with the new and improved head movement / defense contingent on Mr. Mayweather's training, I think he will be able to get on the inside often enough against Manny to really score some points. Despite looking good at 147, I really don't think Manny will be able to out muscle Hatton on the inside. In fact, I think Hatton is so much bigger and bulkier that he will be able to dominate Manny on the inside.

An interesting thing to note is that there seems to be a lot of doubt thrown around about both Hatton's and Manny's ability to take a punch. Fans in favour of a Hatton victory tend to scrutinize that Manny really hasn't been chin tested at these weight-classes yet. I whole heartedly agree. This is the fight that will test it. It would be extremely ignorant and overly optimistic if this wasn't a major concern for Pacquiao fans. Yes Manny has improved his defense over the past few years, he seems to have better lateral and head movement than he use to. He definitely keeps his hands higher than he use to at times. However Ricky is awkward, unusually fast, deceptive and creative in the ring. He's been able to hit, and hit hard everyone he's fought, except Mayweather. Defensively, Pacquiao isn't anywhere close to Floyd. I assure you, Ricky Hatton will hit Manny Pacquiao

To be fair to my objectivism however, it would be foolish to conclude that Hatton's chin shouldn't be a major concern of mine, or fans alike as well. Hatton is going to be hit, undoubtedly. He will eat some hard straight left hands on May 2nd. The question is, how will he handle it? Although I believe Manny has the ability and the power to KO Hatton, I think it can only be done in combinations as opposed to a single punch. Though still a good puncher, Manny has definitely lost his 1 KO power, and his fists seem to have lost their heaviness at these higher weight-classes. Sure he gave Oscar a black eye, but my 5 year old neice could've gave Oscar a black eye with the amount of punches he got hit with. Oscar didn't seem bothered by the actual power thrown behind those straight lefts (the hardest punches landed in the fight). With Hatton's quick and deceptive foot speed, and with his improved, although still not great defense, and awkward style, I really don't think he's going to be hit as often as some fans on this website think he is.

A lot of Pacquiao fans need to acknowledge that this fight isn't going to be fought at range will Pacquiao mercfully picks Hatton apart with combination punching, like he did with a helpless, stagnant Oscar. Hatton will dart in and eat some punches in the process, but he will either force Manny to fight backwards and off his backfoot (at least we can all agree that Manny isn't at his best when fighting backwards), or he will be in Manny's chest wrestling, and smothering him all night. What I found incredulous about the Mayweather fight was how Floyd was able hold is own (and more) against Hatton on the inside. He was able to do this, because I think Floyd is a lot stronger than people give him credit for. Floyd was strong enough to wrestle with Hatton, and at times when he wanted, to push him off to create a little distance to land short punches on the inside. I don't think Pacquiao will be able to do the same, I just don't think he's naturally big or strong enough to do so, and it's because of that I think Hatton will be able for the most part, dictate the pace AND the range of which the fight is fought at.

What makes this fight so intriguing is how will Manny be able to handle that type of pressure against someone so much stronger than he is, when he's been the one exerting the pressure his entire career.

the best prediction so far.... you got it right. upset of the year. all philippino in toronto are upset now.

[aether]

TS owes me E-money

[Obusv477]

Calling it right now, it will be the upset of 2009.

I know Hatton struggles with southpaws, is easy to hit at times due to being overly ambitious, and seems susceptable to being rocked more than a rocking chair, but hey call me crazy.

I think a lot of people are really underestimating Ricky Hatton, and really overrating Pacquiao's victory over Oscar. Don't get me wrong, I think it was a great win for Manny, he was absolutely sensational, it just would of been nice to see a fresh Oscar in there. Weight drained or not, it's very apparent Oscar has officially gotten old. It's unfortunate, but sometimes fighters get old overnight, it's happened to countless of fighters. Although past his prime, against Mayweather, Mayorga, etc, Oscar still had that spark in his step and was still a very formible opponent for everyone. In 2006, 2007, Oscar was easily the best at 154. He was undoubtedly better than Karmazin, Ouma or Spinks (the top dogs at 154 at the time). In the Pacquiao fight it was blatently apparent Oscar no longer had that spark in his step.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand.

I think Hatton's going to have to give the performance of his life, he's going to have to give it everything he's got, commiting 120% of himself, and if he does that, I can assure you, that Hatton is a very live underdog. What people forget is that Hatton very fast on his feet, and Manny doesn't fight going backwards.

If Ricky is able with the new and improved head movement / defense contingent on Mr. Mayweather's training, I think he will be able to get on the inside often enough against Manny to really score some points. Despite looking good at 147, I really don't think Manny will be able to out muscle Hatton on the inside. In fact, I think Hatton is so much bigger and bulkier that he will be able to dominate Manny on the inside.

An interesting thing to note is that there seems to be a lot of doubt thrown around about both Hatton's and Manny's ability to take a punch. Fans in favour of a Hatton victory tend to scrutinize that Manny really hasn't been chin tested at these weight-classes yet. I whole heartedly agree. This is the fight that will test it. It would be extremely ignorant and overly optimistic if this wasn't a major concern for Pacquiao fans. Yes Manny has improved his defense over the past few years, he seems to have better lateral and head movement than he use to. He definitely keeps his hands higher than he use to at times. However Ricky is awkward, unusually fast, deceptive and creative in the ring. He's been able to hit, and hit hard everyone he's fought, except Mayweather. Defensively, Pacquiao isn't anywhere close to Floyd. I assure you, Ricky Hatton will hit Manny Pacquiao

To be fair to my objectivism however, it would be foolish to conclude that Hatton's chin shouldn't be a major concern of mine, or fans alike as well. Hatton is going to be hit, undoubtedly. He will eat some hard straight left hands on May 2nd. The question is, how will he handle it? Although I believe Manny has the ability and the power to KO Hatton, I think it can only be done in combinations as opposed to a single punch. Though still a good puncher, Manny has definitely lost his 1 KO power, and his fists seem to have lost their heaviness at these higher weight-classes. Sure he gave Oscar a black eye, but my 5 year old neice could've gave Oscar a black eye with the amount of punches he got hit with. Oscar didn't seem bothered by the actual power thrown behind those straight lefts (the hardest punches landed in the fight). With Hatton's quick and deceptive foot speed, and with his improved, although still not great defense, and awkward style, I really don't think he's going to be hit as often as some fans on this website think he is.

A lot of Pacquiao fans need to acknowledge that this fight isn't going to be fought at range will Pacquiao mercfully picks Hatton apart with combination punching, like he did with a helpless, stagnant Oscar. Hatton will dart in and eat some punches in the process, but he will either force Manny to fight backwards and off his backfoot (at least we can all agree that Manny isn't at his best when fighting backwards), or he will be in Manny's chest wrestling, and smothering him all night. What I found incredulous about the Mayweather fight was how Floyd was able hold is own (and more) against Hatton on the inside. He was able to do this, because I think Floyd is a lot stronger than people give him credit for. Floyd was strong enough to wrestle with Hatton, and at times when he wanted, to push him off to create a little distance to land short punches on the inside. I don't think Pacquiao will be able to do the same, I just don't think he's naturally big or strong enough to do so, and it's because of that I think Hatton will be able for the most part, dictate the pace AND the range of which the fight is fought at.

What makes this fight so intriguing is how will Manny be able to handle that type of pressure against someone so much stronger than he is, when he's been the one exerting the pressure his entire career.

Mad props to you for stickin yor neck out with this prediction. Most people would just as much rather hide behind thier keyboards. U were not even a whiff of being close, but werd up, you're the epitome of a real fan.

[Levcon8686]

I just watched again the JLC and PBF vs Hatton fights. Whats Hatton repeatedly do was go attack forward both gloves on his chest, throw a punch then hold and wrestle then throw some combinations to the head and body. To neutralize this kind of offense Manny with faster accurate punches will simply insert the straight left lead to Hatton's wide open face (Manny able to slip it in Oscar face all night long even Oscar gloves were covering his entire face) when Hatton go forward and try to do the above attack sequence then Manny side step to the right and circle to avoid Hatton of getting hold on him or he just simply jump backward with his faster footwork. The mistake on JLC fight he allowed Hatton to do those attack sequence. Manny will not allow him to do that and will simply use his superior hands and foot speed to counter punch him. On PBF fight, the ref did not allowed him, halted and separate them immediately thereby disrupting Hatton rhythm in the process.

In Malignaggi fight he didn't hold much (which is good on Manny's favor) but his defense was still in minimal, gloves always below on his face with very little head movement inviting Manny's straight left and right hook that normally he can avoid on slower hands speed opponent. Malignaggi had some success repeatedly hitting his face but theres no power behind with it. Manny will just simply tear his face if he allowed that and don't cover his face.

If Ricky can get inside in do what he usually good at it. He has a better chance of winning this fight but since this fight probably will happen in Las Vegas. The ref will be crucial to the outcome of this fight. If the ref dont allow Hatton to do the wrestling, clinching and mauling etc..as the Mayweather fight. This will be a big disadvantage to Hatton physically as he was the stronger, powerful body puncher inside and mentally as he may thought the ref bias will have a psychological impact.

So if he will force to fight from the outside...Pac handspeed and faster footwork will come into play. From safe distance,Pacman has the ability with his footwork speed that he can close the gap between his enemy in micro seconds and fire his lightning 1-2 combos and circle to right then out into safe distance. Adding to the fact that Hatton has little lateral, body, and head movements Pac will land first accurately with left lead or right hooks on his face if he attack recklessly that may cause an early cuts as he easily get cut. We might see another Diaz and ODLH type fight but a much closer fight.

Once again... speed will be a factor and will comes into play. He's just too fast. You can't hurt what you can't catch.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner!

[Hype job]