Ricky Hatton Vs. Manny Pacquiao Ends with Early Pacquiao Knockout

Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao was boxing's biggest event of the year, in everything but the actual fight. Hatton vs. Pacquiao was promoted to the hilt by boxing, HBO and pay-per-view, but there still had to be an actual fight first. The welterweights finally squared off in Las Vegas last night, as Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao tried to give the crowd the show they had been waiting months for. But only one of them did that, as Manny Pacquiao proved very early that it was not Ricky Hatton's night.

Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao turned into the Manny Pacquiao show, as Hatton was knocked down three times in just under two rounds, and was declared out of the fight by the second bell. With a second to spare, Pacquiao knocked out Hatton for good in round 2, winning the so-called super fight and turning it into a laugher.

The knockout was so decisive that Hatton couldn't get up for 15 minutes, bringing a bit of fear into the aftermath of the match. Hatton eventually got up, however, leaving Pacquiao to celebrate a lopsided win that solidified his place on top of the boxing world.

Hatton vs. Pacquiao was hoped to be a closer fight that would live up to all the hysteria. But all the match did was increase the hysteria for Pacquiao as the new most feared man in boxing, while Hatton lost his big chance to move up those ranks.

With Hatton disposed of, Pacquiao now waits for his next mega-challenge. Those possibilities increased before the fight, as unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. officially announced his return to boxing.

Mayweather Jr. is scheduled to fight Juan Manuel Marquez first on July 18, but could face Pacquiao for an even more charged up showdown at the end of the year if he wins.

Mayweather Jr., whose estranged father helped train Hatton, made this announcement before the match and stole a lot of the attention. An equivalent can be made to Alex Rodriguez announcing his intent to get out of his contract with the Yankees - which he ultimately didn't - on the night the Red Sox were about to clinch the 2007 World Series.

Though Mayweather Jr. took his share of the headlines on this night, Manny Pacquiao had the bigger knock-out blow, as Ricky Hatton can attest. If he doesn't wind up fighting Mayweather Jr. next, Miguel Cotto could be next in line.

Sources

YouTube- "Pacquiao vs Hatton round 2" www.youtube.com/watch

Los Angeles Times- "Pacquiao knocks out Hatton in second round" www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-pacquiao-hatton3-2009may03,0,3756382.story

USA Today- "Mayweather returns to keep boxing 'up and running'" www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2009-05-02-mayweather-marquez_N.htm