Hatton to go down like Diaz, says Arum

MANILA, Philippines - Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said yesterday there’s no doubt in his mind that Ricky Hatton will go out like a light in his IBO lightwelterweight title defense against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2.

“I’ve never seen Manny as quick as he is now at 140 pounds,” said Arum who’s in town to witness the double championship card co-promoted by Solar Sports and Top Rank at the Araneta Coliseum tomorrow morning.

“In sports, speed kills. And there’s nothing Hatton can do about it. Hatton’s a strong body puncher but Manny’s a stronger body puncher. Manny’s too fast for him. I’m talking not just handspeed but footspeed, too.”

Arum predicted an ending similar to Pacquiao’s fight against David Diaz to win the WBC lightweight crown last year.

“I don’t know if it’ll end in six or nine or whatever,” he continued. “All I know is it’s going to end in a knockout and Hatton’s going down, face first, just like Diaz.”

Arum said he expects about 15,000 English fans to fly in for the fight.

“I don’t know if they’re buying tickets,” he went on. “I’m told there are only about 400 of the $1,000 tickets left. The English fans are rowdy and wild but they won’t cause any trouble. They’ll party and drink up. I think the weigh-in will be crazy because they’re all showing up to cheer for Hatton and admission is free. For the fight, those who won’t be in the stadium will watch on closed-circuit TV and hang around bars. The pay-per-view sales in the UK will be huge and that’s what will bring in incremental revenue.”

From Arum’s estimate, Pacquiao could earn as much as $20 million for the bout.

“It’s really a 52-50 sharing,” disclosed Arum. “Hatton wouldn’t budge on 50-50 and neither would Manny so (Golden Boy chief executive officer Richard) Schaefer and I agreed to put in our share to give Manny 52 percent. Still, he’s guaranteed at least $12 million and his take could go up to $20 million with the pay-per-view sales taken into account.”

Arum said Hatton’s allergy to southpaws will lead to his downfall.

“Just like Oscar (de la Hoya), Hatton is lost fighting southpaws,” said Arum. “That talk about Oscar being dehydrated when he fought Manny is a lot of bull. He expected Manny to come forward so it wouldn’t have mattered if he fought southpaw or not. But Freddie (Roach) did an excellent job of capitalizing on Manny’s southpaw style. Manny fought like a traditional lefty, moving to the right and throwing punches from all angles. Oscar was badly beaten up. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t see the punches coming. Now that he’s announced his retirement, I guarantee he’ll stay retired. One fighter with blinding speed just like Manny is (interim WBO bantamweight champion Fernando) Montiel. I saw his fight against (Diego) Silva a few weeks ago and I never saw the punch that took out Silva. That’s just like what I expect Manny to do to Hatton.”

As for Hatton, Arum said the Hitman won’t be able to lay a glove on Pacquiao.

“Hatton almost got knocked out in the last round of his fight against (Luis) Collazo, who’s a southpaw,” he said. “Hatton can’t fight a lefty. Manny will prove it.”

Arum said Pacquiao has comfortably slid into the lightwelterweight division and saw no problem in the Filipino icon shifting from class to class.

“Fighters used to do that all the time, moving up and down weight divisions,” said Arum. “People who claim it’ll take a toll on Manny’s body don’t know their boxing history. Just check on what Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson, Barney Ross and those legends did in their prime. Manny’s the same way. He knows how to adapt to situations. He knows his body well. I’ve seen him work out in the gym and I don’t think there’s anyone out there capable of beating him at 140 pounds right now. He’s so fast and so strong. He’s killing his sparmates who, by the way, are very, very good fighters, too.”