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BLOODLESS BUT BRUTAL, AS PACMAN?S TECTONIC SHIFT FIRES UP LIGHTNING BOLTS AGAIN, STOPPING HATTON?S BID IN ROUND 2 By Granville Ampong PhilBoxing.com Tue, 05 May 2009  LAS VEGAS, Nevada, May 2, 2009 - Unto the canvas, he fell down like a helpless tree, as if struck by a lightning bolt ? unconscious in fact before he landed straight on his back - flat with his eyes rolling back up. Then, both of his arms involuntarily unfolded to his side, then motionless - in fact - as Referee Kenny Bayless knelt by his side assessing his countenance for about ten seconds, as if forgetting to count. Then, Bayless raised his own right hand waving, signaling a full stoppage of the fight that took place at 2 minutes and 59 seconds into round 2. That was the fallen brave heart of England, Ricky Hatton, now the former IBO Junior Welterweight Champion. REFLECTION: And that was probably the unprecendented segment that Pacquiao left his opponent behind unmindful of his unconscious foe - vindicated perhaps. But, what was prompted to that scene may have been Hatton?s willful fastening of Pacquiao?s right forearm while punching the latter to the kidney and upstairs on several occasions. Pacquiao became fired-up toward Hatton, hammering with his right hook that dropped the latter kneeling with his own elbows to the forefront as if bowing for prayer in the first round. But, Hatton got up to beat the count and then, as the fight resumed, another barrage of punches came through heavily from Pacquiao?s right hand. At this time Hatton fell to the canvas again, on his back toward his corner. But,quickly he regained his composure and delivered brief exchanges with the Filipino superstar 5 seconds before the bell rang to end round 1. Then, round 2 opened up with Hatton assaulting Pacquiao with good jabs and a quick shot to the head. That slightly stunned the latter. But, Pacquiao took hold of the brief exchanges tactically avoiding Hatton?s game plan to wrestle him again, firing lots of right hooks upstairs ? some missed - and then that gruesome lightning left bolted to Hatton?s right jaw punctuated the end of the fight and the raucous crowd of 16,262 at the MGM Grand Arena and millions more watching all over the world momentarily shifted their haste in a catatonic state - shocked at what they saw ? while the Hatton family had their eyes fixed toward their own hero stretching flat in the middle of 20 x 20 foot canvas that the world was anxious to see. And the chanting in the melody of ?Winter Wonderland? by the Britons that began, ?There is only one Ricky Hatton?, vanished in thin air. Then new lyrics of the same reverberated across the arena: ?There is only one Manny Pacquiao.? ?That was astonishing!? said my seatmate, one of the sportswriters from UK. ?I am amazed at Pacquiao?s speed and power ? unbelievable!? Freddie Roach said:? I had watched hours of film of Hatton - I knew him better than my own fighter. ?Hatton pumps his fists before he throws?Hatton was wide open for the right hooks.? ?I knew Pacquiao will take him down within three rounds.? He added. Pacquiao landed 73 of 127 punches in just five minutes and fifty-nine seconds against Ricky Hatton, including 34 of 53 power punches in the second round. Hatton connected on only 18 of 78. Pacquiao captured the IBO Lightweight Welterweight Championship belt and still the Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight title holder. His record improved to 49 wins, 3 losses, 2 draws and 37 knockouts while Hatton dropped to 45 wins, 2 losses and 32 knockouts. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Granville Ampong.  |
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