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By Conrad M. Cariño, Senior
Desk Editor
The father of Floyd Mayweather
Jr. who is also the trainer of Ricky Hatton, believes Filipino
boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao won’t be a match for either the
American or British fighter.
Over at boxing website Eastsideboxing.com,
Floyd Mayweather Sr., a former world championship contender, said
Hatton is ready to face Pacquiao and his son would pose a “serious
challenge” for the Filipino boxing star.
He even said Mayweather Jr. would
be coming out of retirement next year. There are even rumors that
Mayweather Jr. had gone back to the gym to get back his old form to
eventually face Pacquiao.
Mayweather Sr., known as the
enstranged father of the American fighter, said a Pacquiao-Hatton or
Pacquiao-Mayweather fight would definitely be top draws.
“Both [Hatton and Mayweather
Jr.] fighters have a major following and this thing would sell out
quick,” Mayweather Sr. said.
The elder Mayweather said Hatton
would use his aggressiveness to defeat the Filipino, while his son
would use his “brilliance in speed, intelligence and defense” to
dismantle Pacquiao.
He believes Hatton would
eventually defeat Pacquiao, saying, “if they want Rick, they’re
going to get Rick and it won’t end pretty for them [Team Pacquiao].”
Mayweather Sr. said his son, the
former pound-for-pound king, would punish Pacquiao really bad if the
two fighters met.
“[Mayweather Jr.] would beat
him [Manny] easy. He [Mayweather Jr.]would do to him what Manny
did to Oscar, but worse,” Mayweather Sr. said.
Evenly matched
Pacquiao and Hatton almost have
identical heights, with the Filipino giving up half an inch to the
5’7” British fighter. But Pacquiao has a one-inch reach
advantage over Hatton. The Briton, who just turned 29 on October,
has 45 wins with 32 knockouts. His lone loss was from Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather Jr. is 5’8” and
has a 72-inch reach, which gives him a five-inch reach advantage
over the Filipino. The American would be 31 years old on February
next year. He has an unblemished record of 39 wins with 25
knockouts.
Hatton and Mayweather Jr. met on
December 8, 2007 where the American dominated the Briton en route to
a 10th round stoppage. The American also won a split decision on May
5, 2007 over de la Hoya in a fight that generated the highest
pay-per-views.
Hatton stopped Italian Paulie
Malignaggi on November 11, where fight fans took note of the
Briton’s improved fighting skills that were honed by Mayweather
Sr., who was the trainer of de la Hoya from 2001 to 2006.
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