Boxing:Manny Pacquiao shattered Ricky Hatton's dreams of becoming the best fighter on the planet with a devastating display of speed and power in Las Vegas last night. The Pacman cemented his status as reigning P4P king and claimed a world title in a sixth weight division by knocking Hatton down twice in the opening round and then knocking him out in the second.
Hatton simply had no answer to the Filipino buzzaw, who cut through his defences like a knife through butter.
Those who predicted a newer more polished Hatton under the stewardship of Floyd Mayweather Sr were left disappointed as he failed to make Pacquiao (now 49-3-2) break sweat.
Hatton (now 45-2) came out for the first stalking his opponent as ever, but was soon given a taste of things to come as Pacquiao made him cover up with a sustained flurry.
And seconds later the Hitman was down for the first time, hit by a crunching right hook as he tried to throw his own left.
Hatton was now in survival mode and Pacquiao swarmed forward, landing at will with both hands.
The pressure had to tell and the Pacman sent Hatton thudding into the canvas again as the round drew to a close with a booming left hand.
Hatton, eyes glazed, waited for the eight count before rising, and mercifully the bell to end the first saved him.
The only question now was if the one-minute break was enough to steady Hatton's legs and clear his head.
For the opening stages of the second it seemed the answer might be in the affirmative as Hatton even landed a decent shot of his own, but the hope didn't last long.
As the clock ran down towards the bell, Pacquaio produced a grandstand finish with a huge left hook that sent Hatton to the canvas for a third time.
This time there was no way back, and referee Kenny Bayless waved it off almost immediately to crown Pacquiao the new Ring magazine and IBO light-welterweight champion.
The only concern now was for Hatton's health after such a heavy knockdown, but he was able to get up after a few minutes and return to his dressing room.
He was later taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
Pacquiao's emphatic victory will silence the doubters who claimed his destruction of Oscar De La Hoya last December came at the expense of a fighter weak and drained at the weight.
And for Hatton it will surely end for good any dreams he has of ascending to the P4P throne.
The next logical step for Pacquiao would be a clash with the previous holder of that mythical title - Floyd 'Money' Mayweather Jr - who announced his ring return earlier on Saturday.
He'll make his comeback against Juan Manuel Marquez in a 144lb catchweight affair on July 18th.