MANILA, Philippines - The Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight may just turn out to be a bloody one.
Lee Beard, one of Hatton’s trainers, said recently there’s the possibility of headbutts, accidental or otherwise, during the fight scheduled for 12 rounds on May 2 in Las Vegas.
“Both fighters are similar in height and their styles could mean their heads clashing,” said Bear in an article that came out of Hatton’s own website, www.rickyhitmanhatton.com.
“So cuts are a concern,” said Beard who also predicted that Hatton, who puts his IBO light-welterweight crown on the line, is capable of knocking Pacquiao out inside six rounds.
Beard, however, said Hatton hasn’t been cut up in his most recent fights. Pacquiao, on the other hand, has had bloody fights against Eric Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Beard is no stranger to Pacquiao, showing up in Pacquiao’s Mandalay Bay suite the day after the Filipino crushed David Diaz last March and having some photos taken.
Beard then spoke of how amazing Pacquiao was against Diaz, and way back then he said a fight with Hatton should be a good one. Now he’s saying it might be bloody.
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, knows Hatton too well.
“Hatton has a come-forward, aggressive approach, and in the past his style of fighting has led some people to claim he uses borderline illegal moves, such as using his elbows and shoulders, when in close,” he said.
Pacquiao is pretty much the same, except for the dirty tactics.
“Hatton is much younger (than Oscar de la Hoya), a more vibrant guy, and will give us more difficulties. He will come and truly believe in himself. And he is kind of a rough fighter who will come in with shoulders and elbows, and try to mug us a little bit,” Roach told eastsideboxing.com.
But Pacquiao is unfazed, having said before he’s going to be ready for anything Hatton will bring into the ring.
“Doon na lang magkaka-alaman sa ring (It will be known in the ring),” he told Pinoy scribes.