Ibang Hatton ang haharap kay Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - Tinawanan lamang ni Ricky Hatton, na kasalukuyang mabigat pa rin sa timbang na 145 lbs. may isang buwan na lang bago ang laban, ang sinabi ni Freddie Roach na mahina ang baba ng British champ.

“Keep talking,” ani Hatton sabay tawa nang mapakinggan ang balita sa ABS-CBN sa pag-uulat ni bureau chief Danny Buenafe, na nasa London para maghatid ng balita mula sa kampo ni Hatton.

Kailan lamang, sinabi ni Roach na pupuntiryahin ni Pacquiao ang baba ni Hatton upang paigsiin ang kanilang laban sa May 2 sa Las Vegas.

“We’re going for his chin. That’s the money shot,” ani Roach.

Ngunit sinabi ni Hatton na hindi ito mangyayari.

“I’m a lot better. I’m taking shots moving the head, jabbing. I think the tape they’ve been watching, is the old Ricky Hatton. So they have to work,” ani Hatton.

Hangad ni Pacquiao na agawin sa 30-year-old British na reigning IBO lightwelterweight champion ang kanyang titulo at maging ilan sa maliit na bilang ng boksingerong nagwagi ng limang titulo sa iba’t ibang weight class.

Ngunit may ipinaabot na salita ang trainer ni Hatton na si Floyd Mayweather Sr. para kay Roach.

“I think that Ricky has better skills. Ricky will be backing the Pacman up against the ropes or in the corner, he’ll (Pacquiao) be having a lot of problems right there,” aniya.

Sa isyu sa mahinang baba ng kanyang alaga, sinabi nito na: “Anybody can play jokes with himself, you wanna fool yourself and try to fool the public? That’s fine. At the end of the day only one fighter will be standing and I know who it’s gonna be. It’s gonna be the Hitman Hatton,” ani Mayweather.

Kumpiyansa ang self-proclaimed greatest trainer sa boxing na maaabot ni Hatton ang porma at timbang na 140 lbs sa bisperas ng laban.

“Freddie Roach has said a few things that have upset Floyd - like Manny Pacquiao is going to knock me out in three rounds - and he was nothing short of disgusted by that. It got his back up a bit. This fight is about getting the tactics right and who is the better trainer,” wika ni Hatton sa The Daily Telegraph. (Abac Cordero)