By Chris Williams: I hate boxers that foul. And that’s why I’m hoping that Ricky Hatton (45-1, 32 KOs) keeps it clean on May 2nd against Manny Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs) in their 12-round bout for Hatton obscure IBO light welterweight title. Freddie Roach, the trainer for Pacquiao, is preparing Manny for the potential case that Hatton starts slinging elbows and shoulders.
However, an equal problem for Pacquiao is Hatton’s tendency to hook his opponents’ arms on occasion and land with his free hand. That’s hard to beat because it depending on which arm is being tied up, the fighter may be forced to try and block shots on the opposite side of his body.
The elbowing and shoulder problem is one thing, as is the holding and hitting, but perhaps more of a problem is Hatton’s tendency to wrestle with his opponents which has the effect of tiring them out. Hatton, a stocky 5’7″, seems made to be a wrestler, looking like one and showing quite extraordinary grappling skills on the inside.
It should normally have no place in a boxing ring, but unfortunately with the exception of his fight against Floyd Mayweather in December 2007, Hatton has been able to get away with the extracurricular stuff on the inside.
That’s not to say that Hatton alone gets away with it over in England, but rather they have looser rules about the Marcus of Queensbury rules of boxing, and seem to be more comfortable with the wrestling and rough stuff on the inside in comparison to referees in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
When Hatton fought Mayweather, he found himself in a whole different boxing world, with a referee Joe Cortez, who, like many American referees, doesn’t allow the holding, elbowing and wresting on the inside. Without the ability to wrestle Mayweather, and tire him out, Hatton was forced to fight Mayweather man against man, matching him punch for punch. Hatton wasn’t suited for this kind of battle as it turns out and took a beating in the second half of the fight after being penalized by Cortez.
Pacquiao no doubt will have studied many of Hatton’s fights by the time they meet in the ring and will know how to avoid getting hit with elbows, shoulders, rabbit punches or wrestled with. The best way to avoid all of those things is to try and stay on the outside and use lateral movement. Hatton usually gets in position for the rough stuff after throwing one of his big leaping hooks or right hands.
After throwing the punches, Hatton often falls in with a clinch, punch and wrestle routine on the inside, where he likes to stay on his opponent like a tick, wearing them down with wrestling, holding and punches. Pacquiao must at all costs avoid these attacks by stepping to the side and clubbing Hatton with a shot or two and then get moving to avoid him slithering off the ropes and trying to grab and hold on.
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