Manny Pacquiao Kayos Ricky Hatton in Round 2

Whoa.

Pacquiao -vs- Hatton Prediction

Saturday May 2, 2009 brings us the highly anticipated matchup of speedy technician boxer/puncher Manny Pacquiao and spirited brawler/infighter Ricky Hatton.

The advertising video for the PPV Event shows Pacquiao ominously warning, ”It’s the punch you don’t see that will knock you out.”  Hatton responds dramatically: “You’re going to see the punch that will knock you out.

Here’s the view from the Fistic Mystic:

Before Pacquiao’s fight with Oscar De la Hoya, many people were concerned for the Pacman’s well-being.  They thought that the jump up in weight was too much and that De la Hoya’s power posed a real danger to the smaller man.

De la Hoya surprised everyone by coming in weight-drained and slow.  Afterwards he confessed his inability to pull the trigger when he saw holes in Pacquiao’s game.  Pacquiao, for his part, didn’t fail to take advantage of De la Hoya’s weaknesses.  It was a one-sided demolition so decisive that De la Hoya attempted no excuses and immediately made it clear that he intended to retire.

In Las Vegas on Saturday, Ricky Hatton should have the advantage that De la Hoya was expected to have but didn’t.  Hatton is naturally larger framed and stronger than Pacquiao, and the Hit Man reminded us in his unmerciful dissection of Paulie Malignaggi that he is quick enough to make his strength pay dividends.  I expect to see Pacquiao on the move right from the opening bell, moving quickly and trying to counter.  Pacquiao and trainer will expect Hatton’s conditioning to be questionable, as it has sometimes been in the past.

Hatton’s prefight strategy may be more difficult to predict because of his nascent association with master trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr, but a leopard doesn’t change his spots and Hatton can’t change the fact that he’s an aggressive, hyper-competitive, innately confident brawler.  The official word from the Hatton camp is that Mayweather’s job has been more to minimize Hatton’s weaknesses than to transform him into a Mayweather-style clinician.  Sooner or later Hatton is going to revert to his natural style: alligator-armed inside hooker.  That’s when we’ll find out whether he has learned any useful habits from Papa Mayweather.

Pacquiao can be hit, and he can be knocked down.  But he possesses great toughness of both the mental and physical varieties.  Don’t be surprised if Pacquiao is knocked down early, but do be surprised if he gets knocked out early.  And thoughFreddie Roach may exaggerate Pacman’s mastery of technical boxing, it’s certainly true that he’s much more technically adept than Hatton.  Pacquiao is the more likely of the two to make approriate strategic and tactical adjustments during the fight.

The Fistic Mystic says: Pacquiao’s tenacity and intelligence will make him a formidable opponent, but Hatton’s size and strength and improved defense will help him to outlast Pacquiao.  Hatton will win by late stoppage.

Ricky Hatton defeats Paulie Malignaggi

Malignaggi’s corner mercifully ended a one-sided beating of their man by throwing in the towel in the 11th round.

From the Fistic Mystic, here’s a suggestion for a new nickname for Malignaggi: The Human Necklace. 

Mayweather retires, Hatton to fight on

Floyd Mayweather has announced that he is effectively retiring with his KO defeat of Ricky Hatton.  Mayweather says he won’t fight in 2008 or 2009, and whether he will fight after that is up in the air.  After the fight Mayweather repeated his mantra, “I’m going to retire from boxing, not let boxing retire me.”  As a practical matter, no fighter is likely to retain the speed, sharpness, and endurance that made him a champ after two years of inactivity.  If he doesn’t continue to train vigorously, in addition to sparring, Mayweather will lose the skills upon which he has built his career, namely his speed, quickness, coordination, reflexes, balance, and flexibility.

Hatton, meanwhile, was quick to announce that he will not retire.  “Oh yeah,” he grinned, when asked after the loss whether he intends to continue to fight.  Unlike Mayweather, Hatton loves the sport of boxing and loves to fight.  Not that he couldn’t afford a rest: Hatton’s tools, chiefly strength, toughness, and endurance, are less prone to deterioration than Mayweather’s.

Mayweather KOs Hatton, and my thoughts

A few things worth mentioning before I toddle off to bed.

1. Hatton apparently didn’t hit Mayweather in the back of the head in round 6, but he was penalized for doing so.  Mayweather did hit Hatton in the back of the head (twice) just before the bell, and Cortez didn’t penalize Mayweather.  That could have been a big deal had the fight gone the distance.
2. Hatton looked strong early and faded, just like Oscar De La Hoya did last May 5.  Is it Mayweather’s skills and conditioning that makes the difference?
3. Mayweather jump-punched several times tonight, missed badly each time, and I can’t see that hurting anyone even if he did connect.  And that sort of thing might not hurt Mayweather now, but if he tries it again when he’s a little older and a little slower, it might come back to haunt him.
4. Mayweather says he’s going to take a break of at least two years before fighting again.  Bad idea.  Think, Floyd – will you be the same fighter after two years of inactivity?

Mayweather -vs- Hatton, Analysis and Result

Good evening.  Michael Buffer is introducing the fighters and Tom Jones is singing God Save the Queen.  I’ll let you know at the end of each round what I think about what I just saw.  Thanks for checking in.

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Hatton is in the ring, Mrs Mystic says he looks like a great big blueberry in his blue robe.  I had to laugh when I heard Born in the USA playing as Mayweather entered the ring.  He’s always ready to stick his finger in someone’s eye.

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Round 1

Hatton is a man on a mission.  Mayweather has connected a few times, but Hatton’s punches have more mustard.  He moves forward and back very quickly.  A good left to the head, later a good left hook to the ribs. Round goes to Hatton, 10-9.

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Round 2

Hatton is controlling the tempo, Mayweather hasn’t smiled yet in this fight.  Mayweather drops his hands at the 1:46 mark, daring Hatton to hit him.  Cortez is doing a good job of keeping control.  Hatton is bleeding from the nose, Hatton just swallowed a big Mayweather punch.  Hatton lands a hefty left at :59.  Mayweather isn’t fighting, he’s running backwards and wrestling.  Round even, 10-10.

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Round 3

Good jab by Hatton snaps Mayweather’s head back at 2:43.  Cortez might be getting a little intrusive with his constant warnings.  Hatton has Mayweather backed up to the ropes at 1:25, looking seriously uncomfortable.  I think Mayweather wouldn’t be holding so much if Hatton wasn’t hurting him.  Mayweather lands his right a couple times in the last minute.  Mayweather lands to Hatton’s ribs in the last five seconds.  Hatton is bleeding from the right eyebrow after this round.  Round to Mayweather, 10-9.

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Round 4

Hatton is bulling Mayweather into the corner constantly.  Hatton pummelled Mayweather in the corner at about 2:15 and again at 2:05.  Big overhand right may have missed at 1:38.  Hatton throws a good combo then gets tagged at 1:25.    Mayweather counterpunching well.  Mayweather hit Hatton hard twice at :55.  Hatton is really strong, but getting hit a lot.  Lots of grappling for the rest of the round. Round to Mayweather, 10-9.

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Round 5

Hatton is no longer bleeding as the round begins.  This time Mayweather leads Hatton into the corner, walking backward.  Hatton teeing off on Mayweather at 2:30.  Who will tire first?  Hatton is staying inside, where he wants to be.  Nothing clean landing, but lots of glancing impacts from Hatton up to 1:50.  Mayweather trying to jump and punch, misses badly.  Hatton mauling Mayweather in the corner at 1:25.  Big short-arm combos from Hatton, then a big left hook at 1:05.  Got Mayweather back in the corner again, then Mayweather fights his way out and lands a couple at :47.  Hatton landing repeatedly to the body at :30.  More grabbing.  Mayweather elbows Hatton in the jaw at :04.  Round to Hatton, 10-9.

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Round 6

Mayweather acting crafty but landing no punches to 2:25.  Big right by Hatton at 2:12, puts Mayweather halfway throught the ropes with a punch to the back of the head at 2:02.  Penalized 1 pt.  Hatton’s pissed.  Mayweather is landing punches, jumping in, running back.  Hatton keeps getting hit.  Can’t tell whether Hatton’s body punches are landing because Mayweather keeps crouching.  In the corner Hatton mauls Mayweather effectively from :50 to :30.  Now Mayweather hits Hatton in the back of the head twice before the bell.  Round even, 9-9.

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Round 7

Hatton, stalking Mayweather, catches him at 2:45 but does nothing.  More grappling.  Soft body punches by Mayweather at 2:28.  Hatton backed in the corner for a change at 2:10, but fights his way out.  Bulling Mayweather around again, but that’s hard on Hatton because he’s so much shorter.  Hatton connects a combination at 1:40.  Mayweather is getting better at infighting as they go on.  More grappling and ineffective mauling from both fighters.  Hatton suddenly seems stronger at :40.  Good jab from Hatton at :16, fighters trading in the middle of the ring at the bell.  Round to Hatton, 10-9.

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Round 8

No action through 2:40.  Good right cross by Mayweather at 2:31.  Mayweather connecting hard at 2:15 thru 2:05.  Hatton’s knees looking wobbly.  Hatton grabs and pushes Mayweather to center of ring, connects big overhand right at 1:28.  Traps Mayweather in the corner at 1:11, Cortez has to rescue Mayweather.  Hatton looking good now.  Back into the corner at :50.  Good left counter by Mayweather at :40 – Mayweather looks like he might end it, but Hatton comes back with a combo at :11.  More grappling.  Round to Mayweather 10-9.

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Round 9

Hatton stalking again.  Light jabs from both fighters.  Good left hook to the body by Hatton at 2:17.  Chasing Mayweather now.  Good left by Mayweather at 1:53.  Good left, good right, now traps Mayweather against ropes.  Strong punches are stopped by Mayweather’s arms.  More elbows to the face from Mayweather at 1:05.  Mayweather starting to showboat, ducking and dodging at :50.  Hatton’s slowed a lot.  Is Hatton resting?  Trading punches at :06.  Round to Mayweather 10-9.

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Round 10

Crowd singing boisterously for Hatton.  Hatton lands to the body and the head at 2:45 or so.  Hatton going more and more overhand.  Big knockdown by Mayweather at 1:54.  Hatton gets up but looks worried.  Big left to the temple by Mayweather, Hatton staggers and goes down.  Fight over, Mayweather wins.

Tonight’s Card, Results, from MGM Grand

• Floyd Mayweather Jr defeats Ricky Hatton by KO in Round 10.
• Daniel Ponce de Leon defeats Eduardo Escobedo by Unanimious Decision
• Edner Cherry defeats Wes Ferguson by KO in Round 6
• Jeff Lacy defeats Peter Manfredo Jr by Unanimous Decision
• Jose Angel Rodriguez draws Ishmail Arvin by Majority Draw in 6 rounds
• Daniel Jacobs defeats Jose Hurtado by TKO in Round 1
• Danny Garcia defeats Jesus Villareal by KO in Round 2
• Matthew Hatton defeats Frankie Santos by Unanimous Decision
• Jonathan Oquendo defeats Andres Ledesma by TKO in Round 1

Get the detailed poop on the main event at http://fisticmystic.wordpress.com/2007/12/08/mayweather-vs-hatton-analysis-and-result/

Round-by-round updates to be posted here

I’ll give final results of undercard fights, but the main event is the reason we’re all here.

For Mayweather-Hatton you’ll find round-by-round updates posted here, along with brief summaries of significant action.  When the fight’s over I’ll present a short analysis along with my scoring.

Enjoy!

Hatton’s Weight Issue

Ricky Hatton, at 5′6″ tall, is plenty filled out at 145 lbs.  Like most fighters, if he stopped training he would balloon to a much heavier weight, and between fights he usually does.  Unlike many guys, who seem not to be affected much by added weight, Hatton struggles when his weight increases, even a little bit.  Trainer Billy Graham explained recently that Hatton’s ideal weight is in the low to mid 140s, so much so that when he bulked up from 140 to 147 for his fight against Luis Collazo (a 12-round decision for Hatton) he lost much of his speed and quickness.

One of the things to watch for tonight is whether Hatton is sluggish at 145.  Everyone in his camp says he’s in tip-top condition and should put on a show.  We’ll see.

Mayweather -vs- Hatton, Tonight at 9pm eastern

The vital particulars:

Mayweather….v…………Hatton
30………………Age………………29
5′8…………….Height……………5′6
72′……………Reach……………..66′
38 …………….Wins………………43
24…………..Knockouts………….31
0……………..Losses……………….0

Scouting Reports:

Floyd Mayweather: The American (147 lbs at weigh-in) likes to hide behind his shoulder and his mits, talented at duck-and-dodging, fantastic defensive fighter.  Not a heavy puncher, but has fast and stinging hands.  Prone to showboating when things are going well, but things have always gone well for Floyd.  Never has been severely tested, although Castillo (1st fight) and De La Hoya both looked good for a while.  Mayweather has no known weaknesses.

Ricky Hatton: The Englishman (145 lbs at weigh-in) moves forward and absorbs a lot of punishment to get off his short hooks.  Unlike Mayweather, Hatton is a devastating puncher.  Though his reach is rather short, Hatton’s “alligator arms” haven’t been a problem for him because he moves forward and back very quickly; unlike most British fighters, Hatton is not a plodder.  Hatton has a tendency to get very badly out of shape between fights, but the word from his camp is that didn’t happen this time, despite his looking a little soft while on a promotional tour with Mayweather.