By Adam Fillingham: With less than two weeks left until the light welterweight showdown between Ricky ‘The hitman’ Hatton and Manny ‘pacman’ Pacquiao at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, I wanted to take a look at the two fighters attributes.
Power
Manny Pacquiao has the more Kos on his record with 36 to Hatton’s 32 but just remember Hatton has been fighting at a higher weight classes (light welterweight and welterweight) but Manny has been fighting at a range of weights some a lot lower than Hatton. Hatton is renowned for his ferocious power but Pacquiao isn’t really in that department although having good power. Remember Manny didn’t knock out a lot of fighters under the featherweight boundary and Hatton is a born and bread light welterweight.
Winner-Hatton
Speed
After watching both fighters’ recent fights I am leaning towards Pacquiao being the faster fighter. This doesn’t mean Hatton is any slouch, far from it. He has fast hands for a power puncher and can switch from head to body in a blink. Manny though has brought his speed up from the flyweights and upwards and is seriously quick even after bulking up for the De La Hoya fight.
Winner- Pacquiao
Chin
Pacquiao has never been knocked out by a punch to the head although he has never fought anyone with the power and size of Hatton. Hatton has only been knocked out once by the world class Floyd Mayweather but Mayweather hadn’t bulked up for the fight ,which Pacquiao will most likely be doing. Hatton is used to taking punches from fighters at this weight but Pacquiao isn’t really, due to his only experience being against a weight drained De La Hoya.
Winner-Hatton
Body Shots
If Manny Pacquiao had any weakness it would be his body, due to the fact that he was knocked out twice by body blows. These were early in his career and he hasn’t been knocked out in nine years. Freddy Roach has tried to rectify his week body but will it be enough to with stand arguably the best body puncher in boxing? Once again Hatton is used to taking punches from light Welterweights and will likely walk straight though Pacquiao’s shots.
Winner-Hatton
Experience
Pacquiao has fought the more fights, fighting 53 fights to Hatton’s 46. Pacquiao has also been in more world title fights, fighting 11 fights to Hatton’s 9. This could prove the better fighter if Pacquiao can use his higher experience level to his advantage.
Winner- Pacquiao
So Hatton wins 3-2 but does that tell the whole story? Will Pacquiao’s speed just overwhelm Hatton? Or will his experience take over and he just fights to good for Hatton? In my opinion, no. I think Hatton has too much experience at this weight to let this one slip away from him.
Prediction
For me I think Hatton body shots will take there toll and eventually knock him down or even out. They will seriously slow him down which will totally cancel out Pacquiao’s main asset, his speed.
Hatton KO 10-12 rounds.
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