Palomino picks Hatton over Pacquiao
Posted Dec. 8, 2008 at 03:05pm
By Michael Rosenthal
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The conventional “wisdom” going into the Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao fight on Saturday in Las Vegas was that Pacquiao was too small. We know what happened there.
Now, the conventional wisdom is Pacquiao will fight Ricky Hatton in his next fight at 140 pounds and pummel the overmatched Englishman, who is tough and aggressive but lacks the speed and athleticism of Pacquiao.
At least one knowledgeable observer doesn’t see it that way.
“At 140 pounds, I think Hatton is too strong for Manny,” former welterweight champion Carlos Palomino said. “He’d put way too much pressure on Manny. And he’s not the kind of guy to stand around; he’d be in and out. He’s very quick and strong. He has a lot more punching power than Manny.”
Palomino was reminded that few would give Hatton much of a chance.
“I think you have to look at how Oscar looked (on Saturday),” he said. “As soon as I saw that he weighed in at 145, I thought there was a problem. And then they announced the night of the fight that he put on only two pounds in 24 hours. It was unbelievable.
“Antonio Margarito weighed in at 146½ when he fought Miguel Cotto but weighed 160 the night of the fight. That’s what I was expecting from Oscar, at least 155, 156, 157. To have Manny come in at 148½, heavier than Oscar, was just unbelievable to me.
“I don’t know what he was thinking or who he listened to. It was just a total, total mistake. He was sucking on ice before the fight, all the way up to the ring. That told me he was completely dehydrated. I was really shocked.”
So how does Palomino see the Pacquiao-Hatton fight going?
“Manny will be moving on his toes, like he did against Oscar,” he said. “And Hatton will be putting pressure on him. Hatton is very strong at 140, very quick. He’ll be in and out, not standing in right in front of him like Oscar did. Oscar walked him down but didn’t throw any punches.
“Hatton doesn’t do that. He’s all over the place. And he has power at 140. He’ll overwhelm Manny. I don’t think it’ll be an easy fight; Manny will be more comfortable at 140 (than 147). But Hatton is still in his prime, he’s still fighting at a top level.
“That’s the kind of fight you want to see – two guys in their prime.”
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at theringeditor@yahoo.com
Now, the conventional wisdom is Pacquiao will fight Ricky Hatton in his next fight at 140 pounds and pummel the overmatched Englishman, who is tough and aggressive but lacks the speed and athleticism of Pacquiao.
At least one knowledgeable observer doesn’t see it that way.
“At 140 pounds, I think Hatton is too strong for Manny,” former welterweight champion Carlos Palomino said. “He’d put way too much pressure on Manny. And he’s not the kind of guy to stand around; he’d be in and out. He’s very quick and strong. He has a lot more punching power than Manny.”
Palomino was reminded that few would give Hatton much of a chance.
“I think you have to look at how Oscar looked (on Saturday),” he said. “As soon as I saw that he weighed in at 145, I thought there was a problem. And then they announced the night of the fight that he put on only two pounds in 24 hours. It was unbelievable.
“Antonio Margarito weighed in at 146½ when he fought Miguel Cotto but weighed 160 the night of the fight. That’s what I was expecting from Oscar, at least 155, 156, 157. To have Manny come in at 148½, heavier than Oscar, was just unbelievable to me.
“I don’t know what he was thinking or who he listened to. It was just a total, total mistake. He was sucking on ice before the fight, all the way up to the ring. That told me he was completely dehydrated. I was really shocked.”
So how does Palomino see the Pacquiao-Hatton fight going?
“Manny will be moving on his toes, like he did against Oscar,” he said. “And Hatton will be putting pressure on him. Hatton is very strong at 140, very quick. He’ll be in and out, not standing in right in front of him like Oscar did. Oscar walked him down but didn’t throw any punches.
“Hatton doesn’t do that. He’s all over the place. And he has power at 140. He’ll overwhelm Manny. I don’t think it’ll be an easy fight; Manny will be more comfortable at 140 (than 147). But Hatton is still in his prime, he’s still fighting at a top level.
“That’s the kind of fight you want to see – two guys in their prime.”
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at theringeditor@yahoo.com
