"I don't like him, and he doesn't like me. That's not the usual prefight talk; that's just the way things are," Hearns would matter-of-factly state leading up to his title challenge. "He's chicken. He ducked me for three years until he thought I got old. Well, I'm not old, and he's in for a helluva beating," then champion Marvin Hagler would respond. Perhaps it was the mutual dislike of each other that ultimately lead to the brawler, Hagler, knocking out the boxer, Hearns, after three rounds of non-stop, toe-to-toe action.
But unlike that classic fight which took place 24 years ago, there is no animosity between the two fighters set to square off in May. Where Hagler and Hearns despised each other, Hatton and Pacquiao share a mutual respect for one another. In fact, the only bad blood that does exist is between the two trainers. So what will happen this time around when another brawler squares off against another boxer...when another orthodox fighter takes on another southpaw…when another Hitman (45-1, 32KOs) clashes with Pac Man (48-3-2, 36KOs) on May 2nd? Well, although the circumstances may be slightly different, if you listen to their trainers, the fight will play out something like this...
ROUND 1
Hatton comes out fast, leaping in with a left hook upstairs that's blocked by Pacquiao. The tanacious Hatton pushes Pacquiao back to the ropes. Head down, he bangs a 1-2 to the body. Pacquiao fires back a vicious four-punch combo that momentarily staggers Hatton. Another 1-2 lands for Pacquiao. Hatton holds on. The ref separates them. Nice left hand lands for Hatton, but Pacquiao fires back with a 1-2 upstairs. Hatton digs a right hand to the body and lands two hard left hooks upstairs. Pacquiao grins and bangs his gloves as if to say he was unfazed by the punches. Both men clinch. Pacquiao dances away on his toes and fires his jab. Hatton presses forward. Left hand lands for Pacquiao. Hatton misses with a left hook to the body. Pacquiao lands a 1-2. Hatton still stalking as Pacquiao circles the ring. They trade jabs. Left hook to the body lands for Hatton. Pacquiao lands a left. Another. Hatton looks unfazed and continues to press forward. Woooooo...quick four-punch combo lands for Pacquiao and Hatton is cut. There's a cut over the left eye of Hatton. Hatton bangs a left to the body and pushes Pacquiao back to the ropes. Blood is pouring all over the face of Hatton. Pacquiao in the corner and Hatton continues to work the body. Pacquiao fires back. Both men trading non-stop in the corner. Two vicious uppercuts land for Pacquio. Hatton answers with a 1-2 upstairs that snaps the head back of Pacquiao. Great round! Great round! I give it to Pacquiao.
Pacquiao 10 Hatton 9
ROUND 2
Hatton charges out and lands a left to the body. Pacquiao dances away and lands a quick 1-2. Hatton presses forward. Pacquiao lands a jab. Another. Straight left lead lands for Pacquiao. Hatton leaps in with a left hook to the body, but misses. Another 1-2 lands for Pacquiao. Hatton lands a right upstairs. Wooooo...another right from Hatton snaps the head back of Pacquiao again. Left to the body lands for Hatton. Pacquiao dances away. Quick three-punch combo lands for Pacquiao. Hatton lands a jab. Another. Pacquiao retreats to the ropes. Some roughhousing on the inside from Hatton. Hatton digs a 1-2 to the body against the ropes. Pacquiao lands a left hook upstairs. 1-2 lands for Pacquiao that opens the cut back up. More blood begins to flow down the face of Hatton. Hatton answers with a 1-2 of his own upstairs. Pacquiao holds on. Hatton lands a nice right upstairs. Some more roughhousing on the inside from Hatton. Pacquiao covers up. Hatton digs another 1-2 to the body. Pacquiao lands a three-punch combo, but eats a HARD right hand from Hatton that snaps his head back. Both men trade jabs. Pacquiao lands a lead straight left. Nice left and a right lands for Hatton against the ropes. Hatton mauls Pacquiao against the ropes as he mugs him with elbows. 1-2 to the body lands for Hatton. Pacquiao works his way out with a three-punch combo. Another good round. A close one, but I give it to Hatton.
Pacquiao 19 Hatton 19
ROUND 3
"Manny, keep the jab in his face. Keep moving and don't let him touch your body son," Freddie Roach could be heard telling Pacquiao in the corner. Pacquiao comes out dancing on his toes and lands a quick 1-2. Jab lands for Pacquiao. Hatton bulls forward and tries to maul him again with some elbows. Referee Kenny Bayless warns Hatton about the dirty tactics. Pacquiao circles around the ring and lands a lead straight left. Hatton jumps in with a left hook to the body, but misses as Pacquiao dances away. Hatton presses forward and backs Pacquiao up to the corner. Some more roughhousing by Pacquiao as he lands a 1-2 to the body. Pacquiao works his way out with a quick combo. Now there's a break in the action as Bayless wants the doctor to take a look at the cut. Thankfully, the action resumes. Hatton leaps in wildly and lands a left hook to the body. Pacquiao grins and bangs his gloves together again. Hatton bulls forward and lands a 1-2. Pacquiao fires back and lands a four-punch combo of his own. Lead straight left lands for Pacquiao. Hatton just eats it. Another lead straight left lands for Pacquiao. Hatton eats it again and presses forward. WOOOOOOOOOO...right hand, left hook and a BIG right uppercut lands for Pacquiao and Hatton is down. He's down! Hatton is flat on his back! Bayless picks up the count at 4, 5, 6....Hatton rolls over and tries to get up....8, 9....Hatton barely beats the count to make it to his feet, but he looks done. His legs are done! Bayless looks him over...THAT'S IT....IT'S OVER! Kenny Bayless calls a halt to the action. Pacquiao raises his hands to the crowd before kneeling in the corner to say a prayer. The crowd is going crazy!
Pacquiao TKO3
Okay...so maybe it's just wishful thinking...maybe we're asking too much of Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. Expecting them to put on a performance on par with the three-round war that Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns participated in might be a little unrealistic. But wouldn't that be great? With the recent retirement of Oscar De La Hoya, wouldn't it be nice to know that the sport of boxing far transcends any one big name? That it's the fight itself, not the name of the fighter, that compels fans to watch a clash of styles guaranteed to produce fireworks. On May 2nd, let's hope that both fighters put on a performance that lives up to the predictions of their trainers.
SOURCE: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content4643.html
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