British boxing star Ricky Hatton is unfazed by Manny Pacquiao?s speed and power even as he hinted his readiness to fight the Filipino icon in his own game and match Pacquiao?s speed and boxing skills with his own.
?To be honest, Manny has always been quite easy to hit,? Hatton told Luis Sandoval of BoxingScene.com. ?He hasn?t been the most elusive [opponent I can think of].?
The slugger from Manchester, England said he won?t settle for a decision and wants to win by knockout when he takes on Pacquiao, the reigning No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, during their megabuck collision on May 2 in Las Vegas.
Hatton, 30, makes no secret of his desire to score a decisive win against Pacquiao, who has been installed a 2-1 favorite by most bookmakers in Las Vegas and even in London.
He told BoxingScene that he won?t be satisfied with a win by decision and that he plans to test Pacquiao?s chin and body very early in the fight.
?[Pacquiao?s] been shaken up several times. He?s been stopped twice by body shots,? Hatton said, referring to Pacquiao?s two knockout losses early in his career.
?He?s improved technically. I hope that he?s improved on that body and that chin because he?s going to get hit by the biggest man that he?s ever fought. I don?t think that fight is going to won on points,? the British junior welterweight slugger said.
According to Hatton, he and Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 by knockouts) are the type of fighters who generally don?t win by decision because of their explosive, forward-moving style of fighting.
?Manny goes for the knockout and I go for the knockout. It might come back to bite me on the ass but I really don?t think so. Kostya Tszyu hit me with that murderous right hand. Luis Collazo, big and strong, hit me and he couldn?t knock me out,? Hatton said.
Hatton (45-1, 32 by knockouts) expressed disbelief over the early betting odds, which put him a 1-2 underdog against Pacquiao in early betting lines in Las Vegas.
He believes the public has been influenced by Pacquiao?s masterful domination of Oscar De La Hoya in their December 6 encounter during, which Pacquiao forced boxing?s former biggest draw to quit in his stool at the end of the eighth round.
Hatton insists that Pacquiao fought a shot De La Hoya, who he said was drained from trying to make the 147-pound weight limit after having fought at middleweight for most of his latter matches.
By the Mancunian estimation, Pacquiao does not hit hard enough to cause him serious concern.
?I?m a bit shocked that he fought at 130, once at 135 and once with Oscar at 147 and everyone is asking if I can take his power. Hell, yeah, I can take his power. I would like to think I can. You can never tell in boxing,? Hatton said. ?Manny will be in for one hell of a shock with my boxing ability and my hand speed.?
Hatton observed that Pacquiao is given more credit than he deserves because of his stunning victory over De La Hoya, adding that he does not mind being the underdog against Pacquiao, a world champion in four different weight classes.
