BRITISH boxing superstar Ricky ?The Hitman? Hatton wasn?t impressed with Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao?s dominant victory over the legendary Oscar De La Hoya last December.
He believes the De La Hoya who fought against the smaller Pacquiao was just a shell of the former dominant fighter that he used to be.
?Any win against Oscar is a magnificent one. Is that the Oscar De La Hoya we have come to love? I don?t think so,? Hatton said in a report posted at SkySports.com.
?And only Oscar can say what happened on the scales. He looked like a shell of the Oscar we know. I don?t think it was hard to beat Oscar that night.?
De La Hoya was stopped by Pacquiao at the end of round eight, wherein the well-decorated former world champion refused to enter the ninth round, because of the punishment that he had endured against the Filipino warrior.
Hatton will be defending his International Boxing Organization light welterweight crown against Pacquiao on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He believes that he is faster than he used to be and that the speed difference between him and Pacquiao isn?t glaring.
?We?re even quicker again. If you could see how fast I?m performing, there?s not that big a gap there. Ultimately, I think size will play a big factor. He has dangers in other areas, like his speed and footwork, but I?m boxing a lot cuter than I was a few years ago,? said Hatton.
Hatton isn?t convinced that the Filipino ring icon can dethrone him in the weight division that he has reigned in for most of his professional boxing career.
?I respect Manny for his skills and all his power, but I think he should be a bit more worried about my power. He has won world titles in different weight divisions, but down there,? said Hatton, who is undefeated in the light welterweight category.
Hatton said that they are ahead of schedule with their preparation for Pacquiao because he thinks the fight is so immense that they are not taking it lightly.
?We started training camp earlier, started sparring earlier, started running earlier. It?s just because of the size of the fight. It?s a fight I massively believe I can win,? said the 30-year-old British fighter.
