The Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton tussle has all the hallmarks of a mega-fight. Hatton is virtually his own sports franchise in England, while Manny Pacquiao was just named as one of “The World’s Most Influential People” by TIME Magazine. While Hatton’s hooligan’s plunk down hard earned pounds to fly to America and see their hero, some from the Philippians believe Pacquiao is “almost a god”, according to former Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis who wrote the TIME piece. This is an updated version of boxing’s immoveable object taking on the irresistible force.
Given both boxers’ popularity, their elite status in the fight game and the buzz this clash has created, I set out to find the opinions of boxing fans. Here is what several boxing fans had to say on the eve of the big fight:
Rachel Charles
Los Angeles, CA
Ricky Hatton will win.
I don’t see a KO, so either a towel or cards…. either way it’s going to be a hell of a fight!
Cam Kemp
Delmar, MD
Pac-man by TKO in round 6.
Pac-man is WAYYYYYY too fast and too skilled for Hatton. Hatton will make the mistake of trying to throw inside and Pac will punish him, you will think you’re watching a replay of Pac-man vs. De la Hoya.
Trayce Z
Chicago, IL
Manny Pacquiao by KO6.
Strength, speed and a superior mental game beats brute force. But it sure will be fun while it lasts.
Billy Irwin
Niagara Falls, Canada
Manny Pacquiao by late stoppage.
Ricky Hatton is not good with speed and moving southpaws
Anthony Johnson
Portland, OR
Manny Pacquiao by TKO in the 11th.
Pacquiao will get accustomed to fighting a bigger man, but Hatton won’t ever be able to adjust appropriately for Pac Man’s hand speed and the ref will be forced to stop the bout late in the fight.
Luis G.
Tucson, AZ
Manny Pacquiao in 9 by TKO
There will be 2 flash knockdowns between rounds 1 thru 8 then Pacquiao will drop Hatton a couple of times before referee Kenny Bayless steps in and stops the fight.
Victor L.
Laredo, TX
Pacquiao in 8 by KO
Cuz Hatton ran into a weak ass hook by Mayweather imagine what Pacman’s gonna do to him, forget about it.
SupaSick Wit it.
Yay Area, Kali
Pacquiao in 11 by TKO
This fight will stopped on cuts and a beatdown!
DjVirgo
Between Da YAY and L.A, CA
Pacman in 3 by TKO
Im going with Freddie Roach-clip’s prediction.
Ryan B.
Las Vegas, NV
Pacquiao TKO 11
Hatton will prove to be a tough test for Pacquiao, but Pacquiao will play bullfighter to Hatton’s bullrushes, attack the body, and slowly but surely break Hatton down to a late-round stoppage.
Lorenzo
Fresno, CA
Hatton WINs by TKO 11 RD
It’s an underdog weekend, I say Hatton catches Pacman with a KO UPPERCUT. I’m also picking the BULLS over the CELTECS in game 7.
Monjo C.
Pasadena, CA
Pacquiao by UD
Hatton will try to box in the early rounds, and Pac will counter him. If there’s a knock down, it will be Pac.
Eric
from NJ
Ricky Hatton by KO in the 11th.
Ricky shows wrestles and fights Manny on the inside and breaks him down. Manny’s speed without the long reach brings him in close. Ricky leans on him and uses left hooks to the body to break him down.
Daniel M.
Passaic, NJ
Hatton KO round 5
Hatton is going to KO Pacman his pressure Is going be too much for Pac.
Vicente S.
Colorado Springs, CO
Pac TKO 6 (last and final final final prediciton)
Manny will shock Hatton with his speed and power. Hatton thinks he has a power advantage, but his plan will go to shit when he tastes a Pac straight. Pac will counter any body attack by Hatton using a right hook, left straight counter.
Thanks to everyone that wrote to me and made a prediction.
I think Vicente captures most fans dilemma with his “final, final, final prediction”. This match up is brilliant because it invokes classic boxing questions. Southpaw vs. orthodox. Can technique overcome speed? Will the naturally smaller Pacquiao be able to overcome the bigger Ricky Hatton? Reminds me of the questions I asked leading up to Sugar Ray Leonard-Marvin Hagler, Evander Holyfield going up to heavyweight, Roberto Duran-Sugar Ray Leonard, Bernard Hopkins-Oscar De La Hoya and the list could go on and on. Great fights that create buzz have similar things in common:
1. Great fighters
2. Great back stories
3. Lingering questions on which boxer’s special talent will overcome the opponent’s talent. Example: speed vs. power, height vs. speed, reach vs. movement
This match delivers on all fronts. The real winner is already obvious; it is us, the boxing faithful. Enjoy this, I know I will.