Hatton-Pacquiao: Look for Ricky to Take a Terrible Beating
April 29th, 2009
By Michael Lieberman: There’s only three more days left before Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao meet up in the ring on Saturday night at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The closer we get to D-day, the more boxing fans and writers seem to be jumping off the Hatton ship and putting their money on Pacquiao to win the fight. It isn’t because Pacquiao is looked at as invincible, because he’s far from that, but mostly because of how good Pacquiao has looked in beating his last four opponents Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya.
That unfortunately will be his undoing. Hatton is going into this fight with very little experience against top quality fighters. Indeed, of Hatton’s entire resume, I can only pick out two fighters – Luis Collazo and Floyd Mayweather Jr. – that I consider to be truly world class fighters.
The rest of them are either C-level or B level fighters. I include Kostya Tszyu and Jose Luis Castillo as being two former A-class champions, who by the time that Hatton fought them, had deteriorated to the B-classification. Whether Hatton knows this or not, this is going to be a major problem for him on Saturday night against Pacquiao.
When you’re facing a world class fighter like Pacquiao, you end up paying to price if you cut corners to get to him. For sure, the lack of quality opposition has done wonders to Hatton’s record, keeping it much better than it probably would be if he were to have faced nothing but the pure cream of the crop opponents during his career.
But, if Hatton had taken on a murderer’s row of top fighters, there’s a good chance he’d have too many losses to be even considered for a fight against Pacquiao. As we saw in the John Duddy vs. Billy Lyell fight this past weekend, when you take a good fighter that has been matched very carefully to ensure that they keep winning and then put them in with a fighter that has taken on a lot of quality fighters in their career, bad things can happen to the fighter with the padded record.
On Saturday night, I see Hatton, with his pumped up record filled with a lot of soft opponents, getting beaten to a pulp by Pacquiao. I’d like to think that I’ll be wrong and that somehow Hatton can get the win, but based on his prior work history in his career, he’s simply not ready for a fighter in Pacquiao’s class.
Like I said, you can’t cut corners when facing top talent. For a fighter like Pacquiao, there’s prerequisite opponents that Hatton would need to have faced in order to be prepared for the kind of firepower that Pacquiao will bringing to the fight on Saturday night. Those fighters that Hatton should have fought are Junior Witter, Timothy Bradley, Kendall Holt, Ricardo Torres and Victor Ortiz.
Somehow, Hatton chose not to fight them, and instead went after the much easier Paulie Malignaggi and Juan Lazcano instead. Those fights may have kept Hatton on the winning track, but they stunted his development as a fighter and kept him from progressing.
Now, Hatton will be skipping ahead two levels to face an even better fighter in Pacquiao, and all without the needed fights that could have prepared Hatton for this fight. By jumping ahead and avoiding them, Hatton only ended up cheating himself, because he’s the one that will be hurt on Saturday night, not them.
Tags: 46 Responses to “Hatton-Pacquiao: Look for Ricky to Take a Terrible Beating”
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lol lol lol, i wonder where are those anti-pacquiao critics are now?
And I can’t imagine how sad UK is right now they might even start a war to philippines ROFL!
pacquiao answer your question or specteculation of lot of writer and fan or critics that pacquiao has no one punch power in welter wieght division..
Very precise article. Hatton looked nervous the moment he climbed the ring
I love the gap of power… Hatton kissing the fist of manny… Poor thing…
What happened now to Ricky Hatton??? Manny is the greatest of all time… No need to justify the losers…
Ricky Hatton TKO 2nd round.
Pacquiao is just too strong for poor Ricky
Oh dear Michael…. what will you say on Sunday morning when Hatton has a 47-0 rcord?
Can’t wait for your excuses, all the best Ben.
pac-man is the most exiting boxer than any of fighter today , thats why fans love him to watch. go people champs
Pacquiao sure will win I tell you ricky will experience true boxing that he dreamed of.
Makes me laugh all the yank writers on here nearly always make completely wrong predictions …
Look at who the pros are backing….
Most fighters and real sports journalists aren’t thinking the same as this websites crap….
only morons are dead 100% sure of the outcome. and there are a plenty of guys with a limited number of brain cells. And regarding this fight – i hope hattons wins that one (although I DON’T KNOW like some morons here) – it’s mostly because he’s bob arum’s fighter, and he’s trained by roach, whom i detest. so actually i have nothing against pacquaio – he’s a very cool guy, just don’t like his surrounding. i’m always against roach fither, no matter who. and always against arum fighters, because they’re both pieces of…. for me. no respect for both of this guys
Ricky Hatton will take a bad beating in this fight no doubt.He’s not on the same level as Pacquaio.Hatton should be fighting Collazo or Lazcano because thats the type of level Ricky is at.
I, myself, am favoring Pac Man over Hatton in this one, but I think it’s going to be great, and people aren’t giving Hatton the credit he deserves. He’s a great brawler, and I think his size can give Manny problems, but I think Manny has quickness to get himself out of trouble if need be. Whatever the outcome, this is going to be a great fight and may be the start of a trilogy! Manny’s going to forget all about JMM. Pacquiao Hatton 2 will be in England, and Pacquiao Hatton 3 will be in the Philippines!
Look for pacman to KO 3rd or 4th! Good article, i myself being English love to see them do well, how ever Ricky has never fought a man like pac. The spped and intensity he brings is on another level to anyone Ricky has fought.
This will be a great fight for a limited number of rounds. Hitman just wont be able to stick to his trainers work and wil re-vert to the old face first Hatton, perfect for the Pacman!!
Cant wait for the fight though!!
hope hatton kos pac man early real early.
hope hatton kos pac man early real early.
i just think hatton will be too strong for pacman when he works the body.
I think you underestimate Hatton!
It is going to a closely contested fight between TWO world class fighters and i think Hatton will win on points!!
To aff – Khan is not the new superstar i will start respecting him if he fights that Briedis Prescott and wins until then in my eyes he will just be another big puncher with no chin!!!!
haha i like ur style robbie ur deffo a fellow englishman
Has Pacquiao ever been hit by someone with Hattons power?………No.
Hatton has the heart, will and chin to match anybody out there.
Hatton has been hit by a lot harder punchers than Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is an amazing fighter, awesome, but come on…………………Theres only one Ricky Hatton.
Boxing, for a start Michael, is a universal sport, so really it is only yanks that have this bent way of looking at the sport and can’t appreciate none American fighters.
Hatton is a fierce brawler and stoof toe-to-toe with Tszyu and finished him – that is spectacular!
Manny is moving up and Hatton at his favoured weight is absolutely frightening – can Manny take the punches?
i feel if ricky doesnt win a round up to the 4th with this new “boxing ability” he will change the style.. i wouldnt say he will go back to his “old ways” id say more plan B.
But still much respect to the English fans and other’s who love Ricky, I still like many other’s wanted to see a very good fight that could match up the greats like the Foreman/Ali, Hagler/Leonard and Robinson/Graciano fights they all made an indelible ink to this sport and I want this two great fighters Ricky Hatton and Manny Paquiao separated by land and oceans to show us that boxing is still alive and blessed.
Ricky is so vulnerable to hooks as evident to his previous fights specially against PBF where he got his first defeat via left cracking hooks to the jaw, that’s why am pretty much confident that come on May 2nd he will receive a lot of it from the PACMAN.
Hatton can only pull out an upset if he will used his clinch and punch tactics, much like holding Manny Pacquiao with one hand while hitting his opponent to submission. In short Ricky could and will always used his Dirty tactics just to beat the P4P king.
this fight is too close to call i can see a knockout in the 8th or 9th but for who i cannot say…hattons power heart and chin are his major strengths and with pac man his techincal ability speed and power are his strenths..i think if hattons stamina is in tip top shape i think he may just clinch it.
All you igrut yaky bums you aint a clue have you in this fight your going 2 c pacman bounce punches of hitmans head then ricky will smile and then adjust , then it will evan stevens 4 the next 2 round’ then i think it will b much like pacquiao v delahoya vevy 1 sided but with pacman taking a terible beatin as rickin go thuogh the gears !! ricky is bigger stronger just as fast and he wants it real bad ! remember pacquaio is no maywether and this is hattons real w8 class HATTON KO PACQUAIO 8th round
Yes Michelle Lieberman I will look for Ricky to take a terrible beating.
Not sure i will find it though. Even if Pacman ends up the winner hes guna have to work very very hard for it and is guna know hes been in a real battle.
Even if Hatton loses he wont go easy. I have just re-watched the Hatton Mayweather fight and he gave him, the amazing Floyd Jr, a big tough fight, which Floyf scknowledged afterwards.
Pacquiao has got the better speed and technical ability but Hatton can live with that even if he comes off 2nd best. Only way it could be called easy is if Hatton gets KO in an early round but thats not giving him a terrible beating is it.
But i dont think Hatton will lose, i think have got it in their heads that there is a gulf of ability between them, and while giving Pacman the credit he deserves, and he does deserve it, they are beginning to forget just how good Rickie really is.
The last part of your analysis was correct – Hatton should have probably thrown his lot in with the best of Jr Welter before even considering a fight like this.
But the other part is way off. NOBODY was saying Tszyu was over-the-hill until after Hatton very physically beat him up. If that’s your measuring stick, then strike Morales, Barrera and DLH off of Pac’s “hit” list – all 3 of those guys have been worthless since or their last fights with Pac.
Hatton has a chance because he’s the naturally bigger fighter, will test Pacquiao’s body in ways that no fighter has in his career and do so with more natural power. Since his move up, to 135 and then 147, Pacquiao hasn’t been tested. Diaz is an above-average welter, but he’s a gate-keeper at best.
The smart money is on Pacquiao, but at least admit that he has some vulnerabilities, and that if things go right, it’s not ridiculous to see Hatton physically wearing him down as the fight carries on (dirty stuff, grappling, body shots, etc).
And I’d venture that Floyd Jr is a better technical fighter than Manny, and has more natural power than Manny, primarily bc he’s the bigger fighter. Having said that – I had Hatton fighting him until halfway through the 6th (when Cortez took points off). Yes, Hatton lost his cool, and Floyd was able to start measuring his punches, but Hatton was very much in that fight for awhile. I’d say Hatton has an even better chance – with a better trainer, and different game plan – to eke out a victory against a smaller, less technically sound fighter.
hatton will win
rickys a natural light welter and i think this will tell during the fight, even though i yhink pacman is awesome
Michael,
I agree that Pacquiao is a world cless fighter, and arguably the best pound for pound fighter on the plant but this could be a far closer fight than you predict. Ok Pacquiao is quick but Hatton is no slouch eithe. Since Floyd senior took over in Hattons corner his handspeed has greatly improved and for the first time in his career Hatton is actually avoiding punches. Billy Graham had taught Hatton to walk through punches and rely on his chin and his awesome knockout power to win fights. Now however Floyd senior is schooling him in not being hit, getting strikes off and getting back out of trouble. Pacquiao fought a starved De la hoya, as admitted by Freddie Roche (when he spotted the fresh iv marks on Oscars arm) this will not be the same fight. Its gonna be a belter. I like pacquiao as a fighter and as a guy but i would love to see Hatton take this one. Maybe it would draw Pretty boy out of retirement for one last hoorah!
He will always be the old predictable HATTON.
99.99% pacquiao will win the fight brothers, but 00.01% chance for hatton will make also a difference. As we all know, they have their own hands wrap with cleto reyes globes. Anything can happen to this fight friends but I am taking pacman to dominate the fight from start to finish.
pac-man is the most exiting boxer than any of fighter today , thats why fans love him to watch
hattons gonna get blasted in to next week.khans the new superstar,manny in 3 all day long,
i think ricky hatton will beat manny pacquiao in 6 rounds he has never fought somebody with the power of the hitman dela hoya should not of even showed up he just done it for the big check
ricky is a good fighter; however manny will win in
9 rounds tko.
I find it amusing that most of the writers here seem to think Hatton cant handle a brawl, after slating him for being nothing but a one dimensional brawler!!!!
Hatton can win this fight, without a doubt.
You call on Barrera, Marquez, Diaz and De La Hoya as Pacquiao’s best wins.
I will give you Barrera and Marquez, but Diaz is mince and De La Hoya was shot. Pac hasnt been tested past 130lbs, Hatton will undoubtably be the hardest test of Pac since Marquez.
Hatton has the ability to sit on the outside and pick Manny apart as he rushes in, just as Marquez did, what he can also do is brawl with the best of them.
not long to go now.
Oh, for fcuks sake, will you shut up, Michael … you are beyond foolish with your assessment.
Ricky will win and will be the first to stop Pacman, make no mistake ! he will be too fast ( contrary to popular opinion ), to accurate and pweful for Pacman to be able to handle or endure punishment from. Don’t be surprised if Pacman get’s stopped fairly early.
Hatton is 1 game mother fooker with a heart of a lion you can never bet against him at 140 NEVER
I will be truelly suprised if hatton wins this fight….i expect him to be beaten by points down the stretch or maybe even stopped!
Not sure what to say about this – A padded out record, protected?! The guy moved up out of his weight class to fight Mayweather who is THE best fighter on the planet. Skipping ahead 2 levels from Mayweather? What are you talking about…As I keep saying Pac’s class makes this an evens fight but he is the one moving up into Hatton’s division – take away a mal-nourished de la hoya fight and you’d all be saying the same thing – tough fight, close to call and maybe a slight Hatton advantage due to size, strength and durability at the weight. Pac man never been hit by a guy Ricky’s size as Oscar didnt hit him!
Why do you think Paulie Malignaggi was the easier fight? He was ranked no.2 light-welterweight and was the IBF champ and the majority of the american fans backed Malignaggi to beat Hatton. If you read this Lieberman please reply to this question.
Take the articles by Michael and the articles by Ms. Manuela Perez, and it almost evens out, although Ms. Manuela Perez seems rather delusional and crazy. Michael at least seems just a little biased.
advantages hatton:-
power
punch resistance
never beaten at light welter
expert body shot
advantages pacquiao:-
Speed
boxing ability
footwork
continues to improve with every fight
heart
awesomeness!