05.01.09 – by James Slater – The eagerly anticipated mega-fight is not set to take place until the summer, and Ricky Hatton will not begin serious training for the clash until February – after engaging on a family cruise – but already “The Hitman’s” trainer Floyd Mayweather Senior has gone on record saying his man will not only win – but may well do so by stoppage.
Talking to The Manila Bulletin, Floyd Senior said he also has already worked out “A whole lot of strategy” for the May 2nd light-welterweight showdown that has got the fans salivation with excitement.. A win for Hatton, 30, would be sensational enough – a stoppage victory over the reigning pound-for-pound king, also 30, would be absolutely spectacular. And the wise old trainer says he believes there is a good chance that is exactly the way Ricky will achieve victory.
“I believe that Ricky Hatton can stop Manny Pacquiao, ” Floyd Senior said. “The best man will win on that night but it’s my man who’s going to be the best man that night.”
A bold statement to be sure, especially considering how awesome Pacquiao has looked in his last few fights – particularly last time out, against the much bigger Oscar De la Hoya. It is this last fight that Mayweather Senior mentioned, but he says there is no way Hatton will meet the same fate as “The Golden Boy;” claiming that dehydration on the part of a weight drained Oscar partly led to “Pac-Man’s” upset win on December 6th last year.
“Ricky will not go into that fight like De La Hoya, who was dehydrated,” Floyd said. “I can’t take that speed away from Pacquiao. But if there’s one thing Ricky will take away from Pacquiao, it will be his jab. And Hatton is stronger than Pacquiao.”
Mayweather feels Pacquiao’s southpaw right jab was a major factor also in Manny’s win over De La Hoya, and says he has ideas on how Hatton can take the weapon away from the Filipino come fight time. According to the Bulletin article, Floyd is now simply waiting for his fighter to begin training camp, so he can show him the ideas he has for a May 2nd game-plan.
Of course, Mayweather always talks a good fight, but it does seem he is particularly relishing this one. Can Hatton win? Maybe. Can he win by stoppage? That would surely be one of 2009’s biggest sensations should it occur!