Larry Merchant, the legendary boxing commentator who has worked the biggest fights in recent history, is calling the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight pretty even.
“The thinking in some corners is, sooner or later Pacman (Pacquiao) will land shots, as Hatton is moving in. He’s got that lefty power Hatton won’t be prepared for,” he said.
However, the gray-haired HBO commentator who hatched the “Dream Match” between Pacquiao and Oscar dela Hoya, said Hatton has the ability to pull it off as well.
“But Hatton is a bright guy. We saw in his last fight he was willing to modify his style to be effective, under Floyd Mayweather Sr.,” said Merchant of the pride of Manchester.
With over a hundred days before the fight, Pacquiao has come out as the early favorite at minus 215, meaning a $215 bet will win a hundred bucks.
Hatton, according to the Las Vegas Hilton betting line, is at plus 185 - $100 wins $185.
It’s minus 140 that the fight will last until the 1:30 mark of the 10th round, and plus 120 that it will end earlier than that.
Hatton will put his IBO light-welterweight (140 lbs) title at stake against Pacquiao on May 2 in Las Vegas. He’s been unbeaten at 140 lbs, his only loss, to Mayweather, at 147 lbs.
Pacquiao is the brightest star in boxing today, and while he’s the current WBC lightweight (135 lbs) champion it seems like he’d spend the rest of his career fighting no lower than 140 lbs.
“Pacquiao-Hatton is probably the biggest junior welterweight fight that I can recall. It is a great contrast in styles, in and out of the ring. Who would’ve thought two small guys from outside America would meet in America for a big prizefight? I don’t recall that happening,” said Merchant.
The Sweet Science sees Pacquiao winning closely on points, and Merchant countered by saying, “If it goes the distance (but) it should be a hell of a fight.”
Many believe that the winner of the May 2 showdown earns the right to face Mayweather, who suddenly retired, undefeated in 39 fights, after knocking out Hatton in December of 2007.
But if Mayweather holds back, there’s also a big fight that could take place between the winner between Pacquiao and Hatton, and the winner of the Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz showdown.
Marquez, the only fighter who came close to beating Pacquiao over the last two years, will face Diaz on Feb. 28.
“If Pacquiao wins, that could lead to another super event, an end of the year fight with Floyd Mayweather. Or, the winner fighting the Juan Manuel Marquez-Juan Diaz (Feb. 28 in Texas) winner is also a big event,” said Merchant.
It’s not going to be easy for Pacquiao to get past Hatton.
“I don’t recall Pacquiao having to deal with someone quite like Hatton,” Merchant added.
But he was amazed at how Pacquiao has evolved into a two-fisted fighter, no longer the same boxer who lives and dies with his left hand. Patience has also been a virtue for the Pinoy superstar.
“Pacquiao showed his willingness to make modifications under Freddie Roach. That was a big surprise for many, how skilled Pacquiao was, how complete he was, against Oscar. He now throws rights more, and we hadn’t seen that so much when he arrived and was blowing through people.
“Also, his poise and discipline versus Oscar, his ability to avoid being careless or overzealous, was impressive. That’s unusual for a fighter to be able to make changes like that, after being so successful and making so much money,” Merchant observed.