FILIPINO ring icon Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao isn?t taking any chances against British slugger Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton in their May 2 match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas because of the English slugger?s reputation as a force in the light welterweight ranks.
Even though Pacquiao is ranked as the No.1 fighter in the world, he considers his fight against Hatton as the most daunting task that he will be undertaking in his whole career.
?Ricky?s a strong fighter, a good fighter and he?s quick. For me, this is not a regular fight. I consider this fight to be the toughest of my boxing career,? Pacquiao said in a report posted at TheSun.co.uk. ?After all, he is undefeated as a light-welterweight.?
Hatton has won all of his fights in the 140-pound category and has only lost once in 11 years, to Floyd Mayweather Jr. The Hatton vs. Mayweather fight was in the welterweight division.
While the 30-year-old Gen. Santos boxer is cautious on his upcoming battle, his trainer Freddie Roach has a different view of the fight and thinks that Hatton will be disposed of quickly by Pacquiao.
?I think it?s going to be the best three rounds you?ve ever seen. It?s going to be short and sweet,? said Roach.
Response
?Ricky is going to force the action and Manny is going to respond to it. But Manny is going to get him early and I believe he will knock him out in the early rounds,? Roach said.
On the other hand, Filipino pugilist Bernabe Concepcion?s title fight in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Hatton war, against World Boxing Organization featherweight champion Steven Luevano has been cancelled.
According to a report posted at BoxingScene.com, Luevano and Concepion both got injured in training.
