FightHype's staff predictions are in for this weekend's highly-anticipated clash as pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao takes on jr. welterweight ruler Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View. Who will win? Who will lose? Get the answers to these questions and more in FightHype's staff predictions.
MANNY PACQUIAO VS. RICKY HATTON
Ben "The Hype" Thompson - Pacquiao TKO6
No need for a long explanation...Pacquiao TKO6! Unlike previous mega-fights, let's just hope that it lives up to all the hype.
Percy "Talent" Crawford - Hatton by Decision
Sandy Liptrot - Hatton by TKO
I'm going with my heart.
Simon Ruvalcaba - Hatton by Decision
Charles Presnell - Pacquaio by Unanimious Decision
Hatton is a little slower and more hittable than Manny. Add to that, like most fighters who attempt an overnight radical change in trainers or styles, in the heat of battle, Hatton will likely make become confused before reverting back to his old bad habits. Pacquaio will win a hard-fought, but unanimous decision.
Dennis "D Source" Guillermo - Pacquiao KO8
Nick Sanchez - Pacquiao KO7
Ricky may have learned a lot from Mayweather Sr. and might apply it in the first two rounds, but once he tastes Manny's power and speed by the midle of the second round, game over! Hatton will resort to his old brawling techniques and Manny will start chipping away at Hatton. Mayweather Sr. will get frustrated wih Hatton and throw in the towel if need be by the 8th. This will make Mayweather Jr. think about his legacy and Manny versus Jr. will be made soon thereafter
Albert Rosales - Pacquiao KO5
Manny takes care of Hatton and Freddie shuts up Sr.!
James Almonte - Pacquiao by TKO
Manny's straight left is going to be the biggest factor in this fight.
Jeff Young - Hatton TKO9
Mike Maniscalco - Hatton by Unanimous Decision
Sean Malone - Pacquiao TKO8
Edward Garza - Pacquiao TKO5
I don't see Hatton making it past five rounds. Pacquiao is going to blind him with his speed and southpaw stance.
Huwebes Fernandez - Pacquiao KO3
Steve Coleman - Pacquiao TKO7
Pac all day and twice on Sundays...EASY! Hatton has proven to me that he is not a top tier fighter in his fights with Collazo, Urango, Lazcano and Malignaggi, not to mention Mayweather Jr. He only came close to looking good in the Malignaggi fight and that was mostly because Paulie himself is not that good. Pac's body shots will be crucial. Hatton proved in the Urango and PBF fights that he cannot take it to the body. I watched Pacquiao train in LA recently. He is way too fast for Ricky, who still does not really move his head consistently. I expect this fight to be fairly easy for Manny and it should not go past 7 rounds before it's stopped. Manny's movement will frustrate Hatton as he runs into shots all night. Ricky only has a puncher's chance. Mayweather Sr. will not even be a factor. TKO7 for Pacquiao by cuts or stoppage.
Gianluca Di Caro - Hatton by Decision
Well, being a Brit I'm going to try and not sound too biased with my prediction for this fight. I'm a big fan of Manny and while I think his southpaw style will cause Ricky problems, I don't think it'll be enough to prevent Manchester's own from taking the victory. I believe that Ricky learned from the Mayweather encounter and will fight his own fight instead of allowing his opponent to dictate. So I'm going RICKY HATTON by a close points victory.
Josh Jordon - Pacquiao TKO9
Ricky is definitely going to have his moments in this bout, but Manny's speed and power will carry the day. I see a slightly closer version of Paquiao vs. Diaz playing out. Hatton is going to be much more competitive, but the outcome will be the same. PacMan gobbles him up with an accumulation of shots.
Kenneth Lundgren - Pacquiao KO9
Hatton has long wanted to avenge his falling apart during his last "SuperFight," but he's going up against the wrong guy, especially a crafty southpaw.. Hatton primarily is successful because of his strong mind and tenacious will to win. He'll need plenty more of that and will fall far short against a prime, peaking southpaw dynamo in Pacquiao. Good versus great here. Pacquiao KO9 Hatton.
Brian "Sinister" Peterson - Hatton TKO7
Joey "Titlebelt" Karash - Pacquiao KO11
Derek Batista - Pacquiao KO10
I got the Pac Man in 10. Too fast, too sharp!
Joe DeMaria - Pacquiao by Split Decision
Styles make fights and even though I have this voice that keep telling me Hatton is going to be all wrong for Pacquiao, I am going against it saying that great fighters like PacMan find a way, even when they are forced to deal with an opponent that is all wrong for them. Regardless of the fact that at times, Pacquiao won't know what do with Hatton, I will say that his flashier combinations and probably some drawn blood will sway the judges as he wins a close, hard-fought, potentially arguable decision. Could be a majority decisionÂ…could be a split decisionÂ…but it will not be easy no matter what anyone tells you. When it's all said and done, the first major pay-per-view event of the year will have delivered and not only will the fight deliver in event status, but it will also deliver in entertainment value.
Jack Plato - Pacquaio TKO11
I think Pacquaio's main plan for victory is to get on the inside of Hatton, where Ricky may not like it as much as he used to. Mayweather was no hard puncher and we saw what he did to Hatton. Instead of Mayweather jabbing and pot-shoting from the outside, this will be Pacquiao on inside with three times the power. Manny won't back down. The first four rounds may see Hatton boxing, jabbing and taking a lead, however, by mid-rounds, Manny WILL make this a brawl. If Hatton holds to survive rather than hit back, he will take shots to the body. More shot to the head will follow. The Hatton of recent years would rather hold than go to war. Manny is strong enough to hit Hatton on the arms, shoulders, elbows...where need be to eventually get him out of there.
Joseph "falvoa" Falvo - Pacquiao KO6
Tough to call, but PacMan's a good, special fighter.