Many boxing pundits suggested the IBO light-welterweight title clash between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton was going to be the fight of the year. It was also billed as the battle for the tag of ‘pound-for-pound king’. It was neither of these; the fight of the year is still to come, when Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr face-off to see who is the best boxer on the planet.
Of course a lot still has to happen until that bout materialises. Mayweather must first beat Juan Manuel Marquez in July and there is then the question of venue, purse and other matters the promoters must sort out.
However, it is the fight all boxing fans want to see, a showdown that will surely live up to the billing. Mayweather, unlike the one-dimensional Hatton, has the defensive skills to cope with Pacquiao’s stunning hand-speed and timing. It will be a classic.
Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach has suggested Mayweather is scared of his man – why not wait until the Filipino disposed of Hatton and go straight for the star man rather than Marquez? – but this is perhaps a way of stirring up ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’. He will not take kindly to someone else taking his top-dog status in such style.
Pacquiao destroyed Hatton. To concentrate on the Brit’s shortcomings diminishes Pacman’s achievement – he carries his strength through weight divisions without losing his lightning-quick hand and foot movement – and there is only one man who deserves the right to take him on.
Roach has raised the possibility of welterweight champions Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley coming down a division to face Pacquiao, but it is a sign of Pacman’s stature that he can wave aside these excellent fighters and hand-pick the unbeaten and previously peerless Mayweather. It's a safe boxing bet that this truly will be the fight of the year.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
Of course a lot still has to happen until that bout materialises. Mayweather must first beat Juan Manuel Marquez in July and there is then the question of venue, purse and other matters the promoters must sort out.
However, it is the fight all boxing fans want to see, a showdown that will surely live up to the billing. Mayweather, unlike the one-dimensional Hatton, has the defensive skills to cope with Pacquiao’s stunning hand-speed and timing. It will be a classic.
Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach has suggested Mayweather is scared of his man – why not wait until the Filipino disposed of Hatton and go straight for the star man rather than Marquez? – but this is perhaps a way of stirring up ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’. He will not take kindly to someone else taking his top-dog status in such style.
Pacquiao destroyed Hatton. To concentrate on the Brit’s shortcomings diminishes Pacman’s achievement – he carries his strength through weight divisions without losing his lightning-quick hand and foot movement – and there is only one man who deserves the right to take him on.
Roach has raised the possibility of welterweight champions Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley coming down a division to face Pacquiao, but it is a sign of Pacman’s stature that he can wave aside these excellent fighters and hand-pick the unbeaten and previously peerless Mayweather. It's a safe boxing bet that this truly will be the fight of the year.
Original Story:
http://www.sportsloungeblog.com/2009/...
