Why Hatton Lost to Pacquiao: A Critical Analysis

By Boxing News - 05/06/2009 - Comments

hat1122By Matt Stein: Well, basically Ricky Hatton was in no position to be fighting a talented fighter like Manny Pacquiao in the first place. You’ve got a fighter that likes to drink and eat, ballooning up in weight after every fight and then having to use training camp as a mini fat farm to take off all the lard. That in itself was more than enough reason for Hatton to lose to a quality fighter like Manny Pacquiao. Hatton never stood a chance against Manny Pacquiao, as he came out using the wrong approach by going straight at Pacquiao in a line.

He made it easy for Manny, who stood back and intercepted Hatton’s wild attacks by landing right hands. The fight closely resembled Nonito Donaire’s 5th round TKO win over Vic Darchinyan. In that fight, Darchinyan rushed in again and again, and was clipped with right hooks on the way in.

Like Hatton, Darchinyan was unable to adjust to Donaire’s right hooks and kept trying to rush him repeatedly despite taking flush shuts each time. Hatton made the same mistake and instead of backing off and coming up with another plan, Hatton stuck with his wild attacks until he was eventually knocked out in the 2nd round by Pacquiao.

Weight: to a certain degree I think Hatton’s weight loss for the fight might have had an effect on his ability to take a shot. Any time a fighter is forced to take off 30 or more pounds of pure fat, it often leaves them weaker and with a decreased ability to take a punch.

For this fight, Hatton didn’t blow up quite so much as he has in the past, but I’d be willing to guess that Hatton had to take off at least 20-25 pounds of fat to get nearer to the 140 pound weight limit for the fight. It likely had an effect on Hatton’s strength and his chin, because Hatton seemed to be weaker than he had been in his fight with Paulie Malignaggi.

Fighting Style: Hatton seemed to abandon almost immediately everything that his trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. had tried to teach in 12 weeks of training. I don’t what was the issue between Mayweather Sr. and Hatton’s assistant trainer, but that shouldn’t have effected Hatton’s ability learn and apply the teachings to what he was doing in the ring.

So maybe Mayweather Sr. was late for a few training sessions, but that’s not a reason to have a kitten over it and make a federal case out of it. Hatton should have blocked that garbage out, put his focus on learning what he needed to know. I know Hatton’s a loyal guy and likes his assistant trainer, but for me, Mayweather Sr. is the one that Hatton should have had his focus on.

Hatton should have used everything that was told to him by Mayweather Sr., because he’s had a proven track record as a trainer and was a damn good fighter as well during his career. The fact that Hatton lost focus immediately in the 1st round was a major mistake, and one of the crucial factors for him losing the fight.

If you know a fighter is faster than you and dangerous, you don’t go right at them and try to knock them out from the opening round without



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