MANILA, Philippines - IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. painted the other day a different picture from conventional thinking in predicting the outcome of the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight in Las Vegas this weekend.
Contrary to popular opinion that the IBO lightwelterweight title bout will end in a knockout, Donaire said he’s picking Pacquiao to win on points.
“It won’t be an easy fight for Manny,” said Donaire who left Manila for San Francisco with his wife Rachel last night and will be in Las Vegas to cheer for Pacquiao. “Hatton is strong, maybe stronger than (Oscar) De la Hoya whom Manny couldn’t drop. He’ll crowd Manny and lean on him against the ropes. He’ll move to Manny’s right, which is his weak side, and stay clear of the left hand. He’ll dig into Manny’s body. Manny will get tired stepping back. But if Manny turns it into a tactical fight, uses his southpaw advantage and outspeeds Hatton, there’s no way he’s losing.”
Donaire said while Hatton will try to brawl, Pacquiao will stick and move to frustrate the Hitman from Manchester.
“Freddie (Roach) thinks Manny will finish off Hatton in three or four rounds so they must know something we don’t,” continued Donaire. “They must have an ace up their sleeves. They must have seen something in Hatton’s style that will make him an easy target for Manny. But what I know is Hatton is a dangerous opponent who’ll make it difficult for Manny to connect. He’ll press the attack and take away Manny’s distance.”
Although Hatton has the ability to pull an upset, Donaire said it’s unlikely because Pacquiao is too quick and too smart.
“Before Hatton can move to Manny’s right, he’ll be thrown off balance by the jab,” he went on. “Hatton has difficulty fighting lefties. And there’s no tougher southpaw in the 140-pound division than Manny.”
Donaire said Hatton will push Pacquiao to the limit but there’s no way the Englishman will take the decision. “Manny might not be able to bring Hatton down like he did David Diaz but he’ll win just the same,” said Donaire.
As for his future plans, Donaire said he’s looking forward to invading the superflyweight ranks.
“Making 112 pounds just takes too much out of me,” said Donaire. “I’m hoping my fight against (Raul) Martinez was my last as a flyweight. During the fight, I felt my legs stiffening. My lungs were fine and I was breathing normal but my legs were cramping. I couldn’t break out into a sweat.”
Last April 19, Martinez took four trips to the canvas before Chicago referee Pete Podgorski stopped the massacre in the fourth round at the Araneta Coliseum. It was Donaire’s third defense of the title he wrested from Vic Darchinyan two years ago.
“In the first round, I landed a right hook that hurt Martinez,” said Donaire. “That set the tone for the fight. From then on, he kept looking for the right and his defense opened up for my left. I made adjustments as the fight wore on. I noticed his jab was landing on my shoulder so I bent a little lower to make him miss and that gave me the chance to throw my counter right. I switch-hit a little bit and I’m excited to work on fighting southpaw in the gym for my future fights. Fighting left and right will confuse my opponents.”
Donaire said Martinez was in no condition to continue after he was floored in the fourth. Podgorski didn’t bother to count even as Martinez got up quickly but his legs were rubbery and his eyes were glazed. Before the start of the fourth, Podgorski told Martinez that if he went down once more, the fight would be stopped outright. Podgorski kept his word.
“I threw everything I had,” said Donaire. “At the end of the first round, I felt pain in my left hand. But I didn’t let it bother me. I wanted to finish him off. When he got up in the fourth round, I noticed his legs crossed. He was wobbly. It was right that the referee stepped in.”
Donaire said Martinez earned his respect.
“He told me he never imagined I could be so fast and so strong, that he’s now my big fan,” said Donaire. “I respect him for that. He’s capable of fighting a lot better but I didn’t give him the chance to show what he could do. I give him credit for coming to Manila. But I didn’t want to disappoint the fans. I went out there with a challenger’s mindset. I felt like I had nothing to lose and I gave it all I had.”
Donaire said after resting his battered left hand a few days, it was 95 percent back to normal. “I’m ready to go back to the gym,” said Donaire before taking off for San Francisco.