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Opinion Archive:

The Hitman has it

Our judges disagree, but Hatton has the edge, 3-2!

The Panel Posted 30th April 2009 view comments

Ricky Hatton is back fighting for pound-for-pound glory again, this time against current number one, Manny Pacquiao.

It is a match that has had the world of boxing divided and is live and exclusive on Sky Box Office and Sky Box Office HD.

Hatton: will be number one - if our jury is correct

Hatton: will be number one - if our jury is correct

Jim Watt, Glenn McCrory, Johnny Nelson, Nicky Piper and Adam Smith - The Panel - will be on duty come fight night but first...

SKYSPORTS.COM: We've looked at both fighters, broken the fight down and you've all seen them training for May 2. All that's left to do is ask you for a prediction. How do you see the fight panning out and more importantly, who wins?

Glenn McCrory

When this fight was made I was convinced it was a great one for Ricky Hatton - and have not changed my mind. I am going to stick with the old adage that a good biggun always beats a good littl'un. I do think Pacquiao and his camp are getting carried away by the win over De La Hoya, I really do. Oscar was shot, it was only the fact that he is such a good athlete allowed him to get away with it. This is a different story. Ricky is still a hungry fighter, he is desperare to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and I happen to think he beats anyone and everyone in the world from 10 stone down. And that includes Pacquiao. Ricky has plenty of fight left and I genuinely think he will prevail.

He might struggle a little with the southpaw element and there might be times when he is confused and caught with surprise shots, but Hatton will just be too big, too strong. And this could turn out to be absolute mayhem as well. I think it was Johnny who said he needs to rough Pacquiao up and that I think we might see him doing just that. I don't want to advocate dirty tactics, but Ricky knows you get three warnings, he is a smart fighter, so why not use two of them. That way he can take Pacquioa's rhythm away and get in close and make his advantages tell. In hindsight I never expected Ricky to beat Mayweather, I just got carried away as the fight got closer, but I am expecting him to win this. I can see a stoppage two thirds of the way through if Ricky is right on his game, but whatever the outcome, he wins. I think this is the right fight at the right time against the right guy - Pacquiao's team have made a big mistake.

Johnny Nelson

I've got to disagree with Glenn. Like him, I made my mind up a while back when this was made and I am not going to change it - I think Pacquiao chops Ricky Hatton down, I really do. I do think this will be an unbelievable fight though and like any boxing fan I have been glued to the 24/7 series in the run-up - and I am not happy with what we've seen from Floyd Mayweather. I just think it's all about him; he has been turning up late for training which I know would drive me mad, he has been using orthodox pads and that worries me. It's like he is doing Ricky a favour. Of course Ricky has the size and strength to cause Pacquiao plenty of problems, but I think this will be all about Manny's speed and skill. I do think it could be a war of attrition for the Hitman, where the volume of punches take their toll.

I can see Pac Man's speeed taking him in and out all night although he doesn't want to be rolling out to his right as I have seen him doing in training, because he will walk right on to Ricky's favourite left hook. Also he has been talking about fighting on the inside, but that is the last thing he wants to do. He needs to stay away because he has the speed from the lighter weights and can nip in and out like thief in the night before Hatton can find a response. As much as Ricky's weight and conditioning looks like its improved I just don't see him being able to do that, I really don't. My heart always says Ricky, but this time, my head says Pacquiao - and it doesn't go past eight rounds.

Adam Smith

I'm picking Hatton to prevail. Simply because Manny Pacquiao has never fought at 10 stone. This is Ricky Hatton's world, his expertise, his territory. Like Glenn, I think Manny has made a mistake. I don't think Pacquiao's an immoveable object. I also know that Freddie really wanted to train Ricky and could he just be secretly a tad worried about Hatton's size? Roach has been far more outspoken this time, and predicts a three-round fight. I don't see that, but I do think Pacquiao will struggle weight-wise if they get down the stretch. The camp know that will be new and hard territory, however fit and well-defined he is. Hatton also possesses skills. He may not outbox Pacquiao, but if he can get outside the southpaw lead and utilise his jab effectively, he could do enough in that department to allow his strength and body shots to flow.

And Pacquiao's never fought a beast at 10 stone. A busy beast, who can be a nasty so and so in there. Hatton's got those broad shoulders, a slight height advantage and an enormous weight advantage. Then there's his underrated, redefined skills, plus his phenomenal will to win. Hatton will be all over Pacquaio. He can - and should - win this fight. I love Ricky but this isn't my heart saying it, it's my head. I expect Hatton to come through in eight or nine rounds, and like him, I think it will be brutal and thunderously exciting.

Jim Watt

Ricky has a chance, of course he does, but he will have to pull out the performance of his career against a fighter at his very peak, high on confidence after wins over some of the very best around. It is not impossible for Hatton, but it is a very, very big job. It is going to be a real tough fight and I would never write Ricky off, but I have to be totally honest and say I am leaning towards Pacquiao. Whatever happens, I really do think we are in for a great fight. While Pacquiao might well draw Hatton in and use his speed to stay out of trouble, don't think for a moment he is going to get on his bike all night. He will come forward. And when he does, he will do so smartly. And he will do so as a southpaw.

Ricky has struggled against southpaws in the past - like most fighters - and Pacquiao is nothing like as square-on as he used to be. Just go back four years and he was a crude slugger but now, as we have seen, he can box beautifully. Ricky is big and strong enough to do some damge of course, but the speed of Pacquiao and the amount of punches that will land make that a really tough ask. If Ricky is to pull it off, I actually think it will have to be through using his skills and I do worry that even though he is now under Mayweather Snr, he has been doing what he is so used to, for so long, that I just cannot see him changing completely. Either way, I think Pacquiao will have no trouble finding the target all night. I am going to disagree with Freddie Roach on the three rounds, but as much as we would all love to see Ricky pull this off, I can see him losing on points.

Nicky Piper

Pacquiao might be the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world - but like Glenn says, he is no light-welterweight. Not even at lightweight really, because David Diaz was not exactly a great champion was he. The win over Juan Manuel Marquez, who I think is a terrific fighter, was great but that was down at super-featherweight and Ricky Hatton is anything but a super-featherweight! I just think Hatton will be too strong, too persistent. Pacquiao is quite happy boxing off the back foot as we saw againsy De La Hoya, but can he handle the sheer force of Hatton? Ricky has been taught to go forward and Floyd Mayweather has refined that. Ricky has always been a clever boxer with a good tactical brain and I think he will come forward while keeping space between them - and working Pacquiao's body.

It might need another Kostya Tszyu night for Hatton and after the Juan Lazcano fight I would have said that was beyond him. But he has been rejuvenated and has his vigour back and the change of trainer seems to have worked. He respects Mayweather so when he asks him to do something he will listen, whereas maybe he had become too close, to comfortable with Billy Graham. I really do think he will be able to make his size and power count and I think that swings it Hatton's way - and he is more thn capable of stopping Manny late on. At worst, Ricky wins on points.

Comments (25)

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Ian Huntley says...

Manny too fast and skillfull, Hatton couldn't ko Malignaggi, his corner had to throw the towel in , i see an easy win for Manny

Posted 12:37 2nd May 2009

Andy Larkin says...

hatton to win ,to big, to powerful.

Posted 08:12 2nd May 2009

Leonardo Carpio says...

Manny will paint the town bloody red. His signature left straight will be all over hattons face. At the end of the fight (which will not be round 12), hatton's face will take more hits than a worn out dart board in an english pub. Mayweather senior better teach the british bulldog, how to duck. Now panelists, start cooking up your excuses. Here's some suggestions: 1. Hatton's lifestyle of putting more lard in between fights has finally caught up with him... 2. Mayweather tried to change Ricky into something he is'nt really is. 3. Mayweather is a liar, he is not the best trainer in the world. 3. ______ (fill in the blanks)

Posted 08:05 2nd May 2009

Andrew Ward says...

i have put big money on hatton. he is an ordinary man fightin for ever normal person out there , he needs a break an this is it , k.o before the 7th. get behind him with the 25,000 fans tere. come on ricky

Posted 02:55 2nd May 2009

Tom Hughes says...

I agree with a lot of the people who believe that Paqcuiao will win. It will be a very entertaining fight, but it won't go past 8, maybe 9 rounds. And I think Pacquiao's combination of relentlessness but also speed and slickness will take it's toll on ricky unfortunately - even worse than what pretty boy floyd did to him.

Posted 15:49 1st May 2009

Chris Mooney says...

A good big un does beat a good little one. But this is an average big one, taking on an all time great little one. Ricky Hatton's chances rest on whether Pacquiao can handle a 160 pound opponent, in ring. In terms of class, it's not even close

Posted 13:29 1st May 2009

Mark Fairman says...

I have to say that Pacman is a great technical boxer, but is he big enough to trouble hatton on the poqer front, NO and I dont think he has been in with someone with as much pure agression as Hatton, if Ricky allows Pacman to work from distance it will be a very long and painful night.. But Ricky will be in his face from round 1 and as long as he does that for the whole fight i see Ricky the winner towards the end of the fight....

Posted 11:33 1st May 2009

Atom Soria says...

Let's see what those 3 would be saying if the Pac-Man wins...

Posted 03:32 1st May 2009

Richie Everitt says...

Hatton is just underestimating he thinks just becuase he's the bigger boxer and more natural at that weight he can seriously take out pacquiao, Pacquiao as said before is just too fast and speed kills, he's even more versatile then he was before freddie roach has turned him from a proper firey slugger, to slick fast counter puncher who can change styles from fight to fight, he'll cut up hatton early, hatton might dominate the first 4 rounds but in one of those early rounds he'll get knocked down but i believe eventually it won't till be later in the fight that Pacquiao will knock out hatton in the 9th or 10th round, pacquiao is faster than mayweather jr and look what he did, Pacquiao stamina gets even better later in the fight and he only improves. All the british are underestimating him big time you wait you're going to be shocked to see how truly fanastic a boxer Pacquiao is. Pacquiao to win by 9th/10th TKO

Posted 00:51 1st May 2009

Afzal Gujar says...

Manny Pacquio has faught some of the worlds best warriors in Marquez, Barrera and Morales, He is a true gentleman in the sport and true icon in boxing. You have to respect and admire the way he conducts himself and the way he represents his people. It would be a tradgedy if someone like hatton with his common lifestyle and distateful humour could beat pacquio the man has got no style or personna about him and belongs on the council estates of manchester where plenty of Ricky Hattons are marching around.

Posted 21:57 30th April 2009

Dave S says...

i think it depends how manny wants to fight,because Ricky will be there in his face all night,if he decides to move in and out as he did against oscar,he has more chance of winning,no chance of a ko,but cuts or points.But if he gets in too close and stays too long,Rickys body shots are going to be something that Manny has never had to deal with,and i can see Manny getting over zealous if he has some early success,and that is when Ricky's strentgh and power will take over,my guess...Ricky around the 9th round.

Posted 21:06 30th April 2009

Lee Mallett says...

I think the win over De La Hoya has a lot of people thinking pacman is unbeatable but lets be honest De La Hoya looked awful in that fight Hatton would have knocked him out. As far as this fight goes Pacman wont have it easy hes never been in the ring with anyone of Hattons size and strength and he has been stopped at far lighter weights with body shots and as everyone knows Hattons a lethal body puncher! But in Pacmans favour he has awesome hand speed and movement. But i personally think if Hatton gets on top of him and boxes an intelligent fight he will knock Pacman out, i know he can take punishment but off a fighter as strong as Hatton i dont think he will know whats hit him! And lets not forget neither of Pacmans fights at lightweight and welterweight were against the best in those weights. But whoever wins (hopefully Hatton) they are both warriors and will give us one memorable fight.

Posted 20:52 30th April 2009

Jason C says...

Hard one to call, i think pac man could cut Hattons face to pieces, but i also think Ricky could hit him so hard to the body he couldnt carry on even of he wanted to, Ricky early/mid body pac man mid/late cuts

Posted 20:51 30th April 2009

Ryan Barbour says...

Ricky will be to big and to strong for Manny stoppage in the 6th Gd Luck m8 !!!!!

Posted 20:31 30th April 2009

Jon Trethewey says...

Ricky will be too strong! Pacquiauo is a fast fighter but when Ricky lands with those big body punches I cant see him losing to someone smaller than him. Remember he owns this division. Ricky in the 7th round!!!!!!!!

Posted 19:56 30th April 2009

Mark Holmes says...

I personally see this as a Manny early , Hatton late fight. I can see Hatton getting blown away with a careless punch early on but cant help but think that hatton chops him down in the later rounds. Should be a hell of a fight!!!

Posted 18:05 30th April 2009

Marco Dall'omo says...

Pac is far too fast and skillfull for hatton, he might though lack the power to stop the fight, Pac will win on points as Hatton has a big heart and can take a lot of punishment

Posted 17:39 30th April 2009

Convey Sean says...

Hatton to be too big and too strong for Manny and will knock him out in the 8th

Posted 17:25 30th April 2009

Jimmy Hynd says...

tough tough fight but hatton to win as long as he fights a clever fight and doesn't go in gung ho. hatton 10th round.

Posted 16:29 30th April 2009

John O'dwyer says...

I agree completely with the last comment. Pac Man will be too fast for Hitman. His technical ability is astounding and as strong as Hatton is, Pacqiuao can take a lot of punishment as he has shown in past fights. Hatton, great fighter but for me this a a fight too far. I would love to see Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao.

Posted 16:10 30th April 2009

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