Dundee: Hatton will stop Pacman hook

MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Dundee knows a great punch when he sees one.

And the great, great trainer of champions, one who handled no less than Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, thinks that Ricky Hatton has that type of a punch.

Dundee, who turns 88 on May 8, told The Sweet Science in a recent interview that Hatton, the pride of Manchester, has what it takes to beat Manny Pacquiao.

He said Hatton, who will put his IBO junior welterweight crown on the line against Pacquiao on May 2 in Las Vegas, is so aggressive that he will take it to Pacquiao.

In fact, he thinks that Hatton is the only fighter out there today, at this moment, who can stop the reigning pound-for-pound champion from the Philippines.

“If ever there is a fighter that could beat Manny Pacquiao it is Ricky Hatton,” Dundee said.

The Sweet Science asked him to elaborate, and the legendary trainer who also helped but failed to guide Oscar dela Hoya past Pacquiao last December, obliged.

“Aggressiveness, Hatton will take it to him. It takes the awkwardness out of the southpaw if you take it to him. And Hatton has the best punch to beat a southpaw, the left hook,” he said Hatton, indeed has got a tremendous left hook, which has fallen a handful of his past opponents whether he lands it to the face or the body. A perfect Hatton left hook could end any fight.

“Hatton said it himself, he is bigger, and stronger. Pacquiao is quicker. But I give Hatton a great shot to win. It is because of the style. You take it to the southpaw,” said Dundee.

“I handled six southpaws, that is how I know. I handled the best southpaw in the world, Michael Nunn. But he got hit with that left hook from James Toney. You see, that is the punch. So they will make it a great fight. And I give Ricky a great shot to win.”

While he may be great in handling southpaws, Dundee wasn’t quite fortunate against Pacquiao when the Filipino icon demolished Dela Hoya in eight rounds last December.

“These things happen in boxing,” he said after the fight.