LAS VEGAS, NV – MANNY Pacquiao showed everyone why he is the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.
In front of a sold out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night, Pacquiao made quick work of Ricky Hatton, the 140-pound IBF Light Welterweight Champion. Pacquiao knocked the British champion down twice in the first round before finishing him off in the second.
“I mean I am surprised that it was that easy, but the fighter [Hatton] fights hard,” said Pacquiao after the fight. “Our strategy was the one punch. Left hook. Right hook. That was going to be the key to this fight.”
Pacquiao executed the game plan with perfection.
In the first round, Hatton started aggressively. He charged Pacquiao, clinched and threw short body blows. However, Pacquiao answered back. Pacquiao gained some distance and threw a quick left hook to the head that stunned the British champion.
He landed a few more combinations before knocking down the British fighter with a right hook to the chin midway through the first round. With the Filipino crowd on its feet, British fans were in disbelief.
Pacquiao pounced on Hatton again a few moments later. This time, Pacquiao landed a left hook to the head of Hatton, immediately felling the Englishman.
Pacquiao finished off Hatton in the subsequent round. Pacquiao landed a left hook on the chin and below Hatton’s earlobe, a textbook knockout punch. Hatton was immediately out before he fell to the canvas.
The referee immediately waved the fight over at 2:59 in round two.
“I was just doing my job in the ring and doing my best to make the people happy,” said Pacquiao. “Nothing personal, I am just doing my job. I am satisfied. I am always trying my best in the ring and make a good impression on the people.”
Hatton was not made available for comment. Hatton was rushed to the hospital for precautionary measures.
Before the match, Roach predicted a Pacquiao knockout in three, he’ll settle for two.
“Manny is unbelievable,” said Roach at the press conference. “I’m the best trainer in the world because I have the best fighter in the world.”
Roach said that Hatton was very predictable. Coming into the fight, Roach saw a tell in Hatton’s style.
“Every time he throws the left hook and cocks it, he is wide open for the right hook from the southpaw stance,” Roach explained. “We worked on that every day in the gym and it just worked beautifully.”
I knew it was over,” added Roach. “Ricky fights the same way over and over. He doesn’t have the ability to adjust. I watched the tapes over and over the last few months. I know him as well as I know my fighters.”
The win catapults Pacquiao in the boxing history books. Pacquiao becomes the first Asian to capture six world titles in six different weight division - flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, junior lightweight, lightweight and now, junior welterweight.
Who’s Next?
The morning of the Hatton vs. Pacquiao fight, former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced he would come back to the boxing ring. Mayweather Jr. is set to face Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on July 18.
The winner may possibly be Pacquiao’s next opponent.
Roach said that they are willing to fight anybody – Sugar Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, and Mayweather Jr.
Many fans are expecting Mayweather jr. to face off against Pacquiao.
Top Rank President Bob Arum said of the possible future matches, bring it on.
“If Mayweather jr. wants a piece of this little Filipino, just be my guest,” said Arum.
Source: http://www.asianjournal.com/dateline-usa/15-dateline-usa/1787-pacquiao-dominates-hatton-captures-6th-world-title.html
Social Bookmarking
No comments:
Post a Comment