Pacquiao TKOs Hatton
Agence France-Presse, INQUIRER.net
First Posted 11:36:00 05/03/2009
Filed Under: Boxing, Pacquiao
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE 3) Manny Pacquiao beats Ricky Hatton via technical knockout in the second round Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in Las Vegas, Nevada, snatching the light welterweight crown and carving his name as one of the legends in boxing history.
Pacquiao matched a boxing record by taking a title in his sixth different weight class.
The Filipino superstar knocked the Englishman down twice in the first round and finished off Hatton with a powerful left hand to the head that sent Hatton flat on his back.
Referee Kenny Bayless looked at the unmoving Hatton and waved his hands without even counting to 10, giving Pacquiao the victory after two minutes and 59 seconds of the second round.
Pacquiao won Hatton's International Boxing Organization junior welterweight title.
“I didn’t expect a short fight. He hit me hard, I was lucky to have hit him with a right hook. He was surprised with my right hand. Yes, he was strong, and I was careful not to be hit,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie Roach, said he was not surprised by the early TKO since he has been working to improve Pacquiao’s left and right hand punches.
Pacquiao thanked his supporters and planned to go home immediately to take a vacation.
Bob Arum of Top Rank said that Pacquiao was getting better. But the boxing champion countered, “Don’t forget God.”
Arum said Pacquiao was the “greatest fighter that ever lived.”
Pacquiao, seen as the world pound-for-pound champion, won his 10th fight in a row, improving to 49-3 with two drawn with his 37th early stoppage. Hatton fell to 45-2, losing at junior welterweight for the first time in his career.
With a report from Erwin Oliva, INQUIRER.net
