BOXING IBO WORLD TITLE BOUT Manny Pacquiao v Ricky Hatton:IN THE hundreds of thousands of words expended on a promotion that just might be the fight of the year, analysis of Ricky Hatton's chances of beating Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand tonight has been drowned out in a blizzard of baloney.
What had been trailed for the media as a head-to-head between the fighters took on the ghastly appearance of the Politburo inspecting a May Day parade. There was hardly a word said in an hour-and-a-half that was worth reporting, bar Bob Arum’s suggestion that the fight between two non-Americans mattered because “Americans are not xenophobic”.
This new-found objectivity no doubt inspired one writer here to observe: “In the spring of 1998 there were 21 American-born fighters who wore IBF, WBA or WBC belts. In the spring of 2008 that number was down to 14. And right now, in the spring of 2009, the total is seven.”
Which is why Pretty Boy Floyd, who is so good he needs no title, is central to the promotion. The pitch was impressive in its own way, directed not at those assembled to report on it but a potential pay-per-view audience of a million-plus on HBO and Sky.
Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya, co-promoter here with Arum, generated 1.25 million buys when they fought here in December. Hatton against Floyd Mayweather Jr a year earlier drew 915,000.
“Anything over 800,000 buys in the United States will be a success,” says Arum. “But it looks like it will do as many or more than De La Hoya-Pacquiao.”
The truth is, those who are engaged in making big money from the contest, from promoters to hangers-on, cannot lose. They are hoping that noises by Mayweather getting ready to challenge the winner prove to be more than his periodic self-indulgence in media manipulation.
Hatton believes he can get past Pacquiao, tempt Juan Manuel Marquez home to Manchester later this year, then be the perfect opponent for Mayweather, who so comprehensively embarrassed him here two Decembers ago.
“I believe now is the best Ricky Hatton,” he said. “I’ve not turned into a defensive master, but one thing Floyd has told me is don’t get hit. Put the pressure on them but don’t take as many back. There was a period when I’d take three to land one. I put too much emphasis on power and strength and not enough on technique.”
He has to believe. He might even shock his many doubters. But the evidence suggests he will lose bravely, with his reputation for valour intact and his grip on his dream slightly loosened by the wickedly quick feet and hands of the extraordinary little Filipino regarded as peerless across the many weight divisions of the sport.
The fight has the makings of a classic because, as with Pacquiao’s fight against De La Hoya, there is doubt over whether the Pacman, who started his career 14 years ago at 112lb and has won world titles at four weights, can keep defying the scales. He did then, because De La Hoya was wrecked by boiling down below the 147lb limit.
Pacquiao’s sparring partner, Crumlin’s Dean Byrne, agrees the pound-for-pound king will be too fast and too explosive for Hatton.
Unbeaten Irish welterweight Byrne has served as a sparring partner at trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in the build-up to both this fight and last December’s victory over De La Hoya.
Since moving to California last May, the Dubliner has seen at first hand the devastating speed and power of Pacquiao.
“It’s going to be a great fight and I’m looking forward to it,” Byrne said. “Manny’s going to outwork him. He’s going to be too fast and too explosive and I think he’s going to take care of Hatton in the later rounds.”
Byrne, who began his professional career in Australia in 2006 and has since moved his record to 10-0 (4 KOs), has a Las Vegas date of his own to keep tonight when he meets Mexican southpaw Jose Reynoso (10-2, 1 KO) in a scheduled eight-round bout at the South Point Hotel Casino.
The 24-year-old believes working under Roach’s guidance, and training and sparring with the likes of Pacquiao and British world title challenger Amir Khan, is paying great dividends.
“Sparring with Manny Pacquiao is the best sparring you’re ever going to get,” Byrne said. “If you can hold your own with the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, then your job’s done.
“You just have to then train hard and take care of the all the guys that get in your way.
“It’s unbelievable, walking in that gym every day, like stepping into another world.”
Guardian Service
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