TODAY, somebody?s ?0? is going to go, and I certainly hope it?s not Ricky Hatton?s. This clash of undefeated boxers at the top of the pound-for-pound list is a fitting end to a great year of boxing.
If you have been regularly following this column, you of course know that the Last Round is a sucker for underdogs and the ?Hitman? is what is termed in fight lingo as a live one.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. was once considered untouchable. His hand speed is phenomenal. His defense impenetrable. His boxing prowess the stuff of legend. His roster of victims reads like a Hall of Fame ledger. Zab Judah. Diego Coralles. Jose Luis Castillo. Jesus Chavez.
But last May, ?The Golden Boy? Oscar de la Hoya did what nobody before even came close to doing make a fight with Pretty Boy competitive and leave the outcome in doubt. Floyd got the split decision win, but it was far from decisive. Thirty-four-year-old Dela Hoya who does more promoting than fighting these days showed that Floyd can be bullied, roughed up and intimidated.
Do I dare say intimidated? Yes. It was quite pathetic watching him preen and prance around the ring like a reindeer against De la Hoya, and fail to back up all the smack and his vows of violence during the fight promo tours.
LESSONS. History will show that the best antidote to a masterfully skilled boxer is a relentless pit bull of puncher who applies suffocating pressure and mauls you in places you didn?t even know existed. You can?t outbox the fella, so stop trying to be cute. Bite down hard on that mouthpiece son and tear him apart limb from limb.
Roberto Duran over Sugar Ray Leonard. Jose Luis Castillo over Stevie Johnston. Glenn Johnson over Roy Jones Jr.
Hatton ably fits the stereotype. Many have fallen prey to his seek-and-destroy, take no prisoners approach. If there?s somebody out there who can finally beat Floyd Jr., Ricky Hatton is your best bet. Miguel Cotto, of course, is another candidate, but that?s another story for another column.
TAKE MY ADVICE, RICKY. When cornered, Mayweather likes to tuck in his chin below his shoulder with his left arm low and right arm covering his face. He lulls his opponent into thinking it?s a defensive posture. It?s not.
He?s actually waiting to counter you like a recoiling serpent ready to lash out at the slightest opening. Don?t punch wide in order to hit his exposed head. Remember, his left arm is coiled down low ready to jab or unleash an uppercut you probably will never see.
Instead, stop thinking about where to punch him. Just take what he gives, and punch. Punch his shoulders, his arms or forearms. It may not seem quite effective at first, but keep at it for several rounds and pretty soon, it?ll hurt like hell just to raise them. In doing so, you?re keeping him constantly on the defensive and minimizing his chances to counterpunch.
Dela Hoya was doing the right things until he ran out of steam and inexplicably eased off on the pressure. The famous late Dela Hoya fade was once again in full display in that fight.
This will not be the case with Ricky Hatton.
The only problem for Ricky in this fight, however, is that he will not have the size and strength advantages that Dela Hoya had. This time, he will be the shorter, smaller man. But this only means he has to work harder in order to off-set those inherent disadvantages.
EXPECT THE FIGHT TO BE: A classic bull vs. matador face-off. Ricky comes forward attempting to swarm Floyd and maul him.
Floyd will try to pick Hatton apart by moving and spearing him with flush counters.
Last Rounders Louie Rusiana, Jeremy Elape and Dexter Belarma are picking Hatton. I think I?m in good company.
PUNCHLINE. ?How is the guy going to beat my nephew if he don?t even jab? You need a jab to get in, don?t you? Without a jab, how?s he even going to get close to my nephew? Tell him from me he needs to go buy one quick?- Roger Mayweather, Floyd Jr.?s uncle and trainer.
THE LAST ROUND. It?s on Lisette and Manuel Garcelazo who recently exchanged ?I do?s?. Congratulations and Cheers!
