Pacquiao/Hatton Recap

Ricky HattonBy Doveed Linder – The Pacquiao / Hatton fight was something of a toss up going in. Pacquiao was the betting favorite, but a lot of respectable people in the boxing world were picking Hatton. Those who picked Pacquiao believed that he would win because of his speed and skill, while those who favored Hatton thought that his size and strength was enough to prevail. It was certainly a topic worthy of debate and the build up to this fight was tremendous.

But the action didn’t prove as competitive as most thought, as Pacquiao dominated from the get go, dropping Hatton twice in the 1st round and eventually knocking him out in the 2nd. This was one of the most explosive and sensational performances by a top fighter against another top fighter since Tyson/Spinks and it reinforced Manny Pacquiao’s position as the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, and now Ricky Hatton – no other fighter in the world today has a resume that can compare to what Manny Pacquiao has accomplished in recent years, except for perhaps former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr. who officially announced that he was coming out of retirement on the day of the Pacquiao/Hatton fight. With the excitement of Pacquiao’s latest victory and the return of Floyd Mayweather, Jr., a Pacquiao/Mayweather match up is without a doubt the #1 fight that the boxing world is calling for.

When Pacquiao first came onto the scene, he brought a lot of energy, a lot of speed, and basically found his success by landing his devastating left hand. And while he was one of the top guys in the sport, he was regarded by many as one dimensional and predictable. But over the years, his skills have vastly improved as he now uses angles, he’s a great puncher with both hands, he has become an exceptional counter puncher, he has the ability to adjust to different styles, and he improves with every fight.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has been a complete fighter throughout his career. He grew up in a boxing family and began learning the sweet science at an early age. He’s a gifted athlete and he’s never shown any glaring holes in his game, as he has remained undefeated throughout his career.

But Mayweather has been inactive since December of 2007, while Pacquiao has kept busy and remained dedicated to his craft. Most people are of the belief that Mayweather is still at the top of his game and that when he returns he will be just as effective as ever. He will have a chance to prove this on July 18th when he gets in the ring with Juan Manuel Marquez who happens to be one of the best fighters in the world. Many expect Mayweather to win this fight and he most likely will, but Marquez is tough and determined. He’s very ambitious fighter and he’s not showing up just so he can be a gauge to see how Mayweather will match up against Pacquiao.

Assuming Mayweather is victorious against Marquez, a Pacquiao/Mayweather fight would be the biggest and most meaningful match up the boxing world has seen in some time. This would be two pound-for-pound kings facing each other in what would undoubtedly be the toughest test for both men. This scenario is not dissimilar to the first Ali/Frazier fight, when Muhammad Ali came out of retirement to face heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in an attempt to recapture what he believed was rightfully his.

A Pacquiao/Mayweather fight would be a complete toss up, as a strong argument could be made that either guy will win. If you line up all of the boxing experts in the world, no one could say with a straight face just how this fight would play out. It’s an intriguing match up that inspires the imagination. Between Mayweather/De La Hoya and Pacquiao/Hatton, there have been some big promotions in recent years, but the build up to Pacquiao/Mayweather would be through the roof and it’s the fight that boxing needs.