Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao: Critical Analysis
January 7th, 2009
By Adam Laiolo: It’s a shame that this great spectacle is near 5 months away, not for the fact of not seeing it earlier but because we have to be subjected to the obligatory predictions from anyone to everyone. Ranging from the biased to the plain obscure. But let’s get this right, we are fans of a sport where anything can happen. That why when these two greats step into the ring, it’s going to be unpredictable to the end. Trainers Floyd Mayweather Sr and Freddie Roach have both added fuel to the fire by both predicting their version of events. Roach claiming Pacquiao has the better hand speed and footwork, Mayweather the sheer power and ferocity of Hatton. Whilst these are both true statements, it’s the flaws in each fighter where this fight will be decided.
Manny Pacquiao
Pacquiao has flaws and disadvantages, the biggest being the size difference. Because Pacquiao beat a seriously friend and shot De La Hoya that doesn’t mean he’s a good welterweight, nor does it mean he’s a good light welterweight.
Biggest Worry: Pacquiao biggest worry is going to be taking the full force of a light welterweight. Ricky Hatton is relentless and won’t give Manny an inch, If he gets caught on the ropes at any point Hatton will tear into him and slow those legs down from early on. If Hatton successfully does that Manny would be there for the taking, a blown up lightweight wont handle that for long.
Ricky Hatton
Ricky, in the shortest way, is a flawed fighter. Manny isn’t an exactly ‘textbook’ either but what he does he does with class. The same could be said for Ricky, except he just doesn’t have as many tools in the armory as Pacquiao. Manny will come at you from all angles, and as we know if Ricky isn’t moving his head he’ll just walk onto bombs. On his feet, Ricky isn’t slow, but he’s going to be chasing a lightweight around so if Ricky isn’t 100% sharp in his reactions, Manny can capitalize. Threes also the question of the quality of Ricky’s last wins, bar the knockout to Floyd Mayweather Jr, he has looked awful in one fight and rejuvenated in another. If he carries along the same line of improvement he could be a handful, but if what we saw against Malignaggi was just a right time-right fighter performance then he could be in trouble. Then there’s the chin, which probably won’t prove too much of a problem, Hatton has been hit by far bigger and harder punching fighters than little Manny Pacquiao but it’s the cuts. That a major Hatton flaw and always has been, Malignaggi barely laid a glove on Ricky but yet Ricky had torn skin at the end of the fight. If Manny can throw some of those shots to either eye repeatedly, he could open Ricky up.
Biggest Worry: It’s got to be the cuts, Ricky even with skin grafts is always going to have skin that cuts like wet paper. He has to watch out the overhand left and piercing jab of the southpaw Filipino, devastating punches at any weight.
Tags: 30 Responses to “Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao: Critical Analysis”
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Hatton should drop mayweather sr and look for a real trainer.
I always think that Pacquiao will win over hatton being having the better trainer and experience – but not that quick! He has a lousy trainer.
going by the record – Pacquiao will win.
why is it that a lot of people always emphasize on size and weight? In the real world those factors does not carry a lot of weight. In martial arts classes i see bigger guys getting knock out by smaller dudes. In mix martail arts – especially in Pride i see a lot of smaller guys thumped down big guys. So why should it be different in boxing? Bigger doesn’t necessarily equate to being stronger and better!
in world’s strongest man competition – the winner is usually not the biggest.
if that’s what people imply as hatton’s advantage – i pity hatton.
id rather go for the record. it’s more reliable.
and lastly – Dela Hoya’s greatest fault was he never seriously prepared for Pacman. He is not over the hill (Mosley & Hopkins is older than ODH) – he just got caught flatfooted. The reflexes were not there coz the training was a farce.
Uhmmmmmmmm…. Ricky Hatton has a better record than Manny Pacquiao, well I am trying to say that he just did defeat unfamous boxers than Manny If he had defeated
Floyd Mayweather Jr. maybe I’ll be confused of knowing who will win. The fight that I am waiting for is——
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao vs Floyd “Pretty Boy” Mayweather
a good title is THE BATTLE OF POUND FOR POUND KINGS
Ace manny did not KO JM MARQUEZ who is both FAMOUS AND GREAT….Go Ricky Go!!!
I think Ricky is ready….he has soemthing to proove ….
watch this video….hilarious http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZbUGOHGazQ
hatton fought unknown fighters,, while pacman KOs all famous great fighters.. take note all four different weight divisions,, no excuses.. finish!!
Ricky Hatton is the best pound for pound fighter, he will beat Pac in the 11 round.
Question is if Hatton win , Would Floyd came back and fight hem again?
or
Manny will retair after win over Hatton because he wont fight Floyd ?
never give credit where credit is due. whenever pac wins, there’s always an excuse. all of pacs opponents seems to be weight drained, shot fighter, or something else. i hope hatton won’t be a shot fighter after may 2. watch the fight again and delahoya did try to hit Pacman, but could not find the target. it is also hard to throw punches when you are consistently getting hit. delahoya was on the defensive because he felt pac’s power. something he did not expect. i’m not saying he was the prime delahoya, but don’t take anything away from pacman. let’s talk about hatton getting hurt by b and c class fighters. we all know he lost the fight against colazzo, who also stunned him. if hatton can get his eye puffed up from malignanni who throws slaps and not punches, imagine what pacman can do. hatton’s only chance is to clinch and push pac around which pac will catch him coming in. it should be an exciting fight the first few rounds. i predict a 6th round ko for PAC.
obviously the article is pro-hatton, Pacman will not become p4p king if he’s fighting “petsies’” opponents, how can you say that david diaz is the weakest of the champions. I think diaz is better than hatton.
i guess we will just all wait for the result of this fight matey,,, when the great Manny (Mexico-tioner) or probably (British-tioner) fought Golden Boy este Pogi Boy Oscar dela Hoya, all the odds are against him, he is under estimated, and the underdog, but to the surprise of all the result came otherwise….a lot of mouth was shut or shall i say gob smacked…you can say what ever you like matey but for sure the end result of this fight is gonna be the same,,, this Ricky Hatton thing will be part of the great Manny’s collection of list of defeated wanna be,and like the rests hope and career of this poor boy from Manchester will fade, and the list will go on and on and on. So Hatton’s fans be prepared for a pure 100% Filipino ” KUMO “.
the de la hoya fight is nothing to go by,pacman did look fast but oscar has been pushing too many pencils,my moneys on the hitman he will love going toe to toe with pacman and he will be too powerful!hatton to stop pacman in 7 rounds
I think pacman is going to beat hitman because of his speed and his powerful left hook
Ricky hatton is any boxers worst nightmare, unless joe cortez is the ref!
Freddie Roach quoted “Hatton is a tough guy who never lost at 140 pounds”; “but there’s always a first time for everyone.LOL.
its a good article.. but i still go for pacman… im a filipino and i believe of what pacman have… and as i saw some fights of ricky he got no power and speed… his like a kid punching his father on the back… what a baby…hehehe
i agree. good piece.
i remember ricky having a lot of trouble with luis collazo a few years ago when he made his debut at 147. collazo was quick and boxed ricky, using his movement to negate ricky’s aggression. (he even buzzed ricky once late) i’m not sure manny is as slick as collazo, but he’s definitely got enough speed and lateral movement to frustrate hatton, maybe bust him up and force hatton to press the action even more than usual. he could get hatton off his game.
i’m liking this fight more and more actually. it could be a good one. hatton will have to really, really get after it to win. he might have to walk through some serious fire, but it can be done. he needs to push pacman, press him, give him the same business he gave kostya. but pacman is fighting with such confidence -and roach will work him hard. roach knows pacman beating oscar wasn’t all that -getting by hatton will be tougher. much tougher.
i’m still going with manny by decision or late tko, but am open to revision. i eagerly await this one.
Nice analysis. The x-factor is Mayweather Sr., who tends to focus on defense while Hatton is natrually offense minded. I think it’s a good blend of thinking and they could have the answer to Pac.
Hatton also has one of the best cuts men in the business in his corner. (Not really a shocker when you think about it) Give him Roy Jones Jnr’s cuts man and I bet he’d have lost every fight he got cut in. Then again, I suppose RJJ’s corner haven’t had as much experience with their man getting cut up as team Hatton have…
Adam. You have good boxing knowledge. everything you said amtches my opinion.
nice one!!!!!!!!!!!!!about time some common sense.may 2nd cant come quick enough!!
Adam
everyone has given you stick before and rightly so
However this article is exactly how I see and judging by the other comments others have seen it the same way good Article
Hatton wasnt cut during malignaggi fight. the only thing he had was slight swelling under his left eye which was caused in round one.
Adam Laiolo…ITS OFFICIAL, well done mate. You have written the most accurate article on this website yet. Superb. And a pelasure to see soemone that knows something about boxing. Thank you
Have to agree very well put. Looking forward to a great fight I like both men but will back Hatton for a late stoppage. Whatever the result it will be exciting.
I cant wait for this, its bound to go down as the fight of the year, not just for names sake but as the fight will pan out too.
2 boxers at the top of their games with exciting all out attacking styles theres no way this fight wont deliver as a brilliant spectacle.
and ive never ever seen either of thise 2 take a backwards step no matter whats happening to them in the fight.
But i wont be swayed, Hattons size and power to overcome Pacquiau by some form of stoppage. Though the call for Hatton to lose on cuts is a great call, very possible.
Great article – which is very rare for this site. If I were you I’d go write on another site, cos you’re too good to be alongside all the other biased attention-seekers on here
What a good balanced article, makes a pleasant change. This site is too prone on putting heavily biased tosh up! Long may this sort of stuff continue!
For what its worth, i think it will be a cracking fight, with both having a good chance of winning, but were Hatton will win via KO, with his harder, heavier hits, Manny relentless speed will get him the win on points! Only shame is that it will be across the pond, a sold out wembley or city of manc venue would be immense!
I hear rumours that Floyd Mayweather is going to face Andre Berto while he awaits the winner of Manny and Ricky.
that was a top read that spot on. I reckon hattons gonna blitz him pac isnt a skilled enough defensive boxer aka like Mayweather not to get into some sort of trading match and if/when he does he will get hurt. Mind you I dont think we should underestimate pacs power who punches well above his weight
pukka article mate well informed and spot on, im a massive hatton fan because of sheer heart but i like most think manny will edge it……. i hope not i would love to see him win,( ricky late stoppage )??????????????? good article….