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Home / Archive: 03. May 2009
By Willie Gannon… Ricky Hatton suffered a devastating second-round knockout in his world title fight against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas last night. The title fight for the IBO light welterweight belt was ended after Hatton was brutally dispatched by the champions lightning strikes.
With the fight just beginning to warm, Hatton was floored by a right from no-where to hit the deck for the first time in the round, after getting up and seemingly surviving Pacquiao’s barrage, the fight was ended by a crushing left that had Hatton counted out with only one second remaining in the round.
The defeat, only the second of Hatton’s 47 fight career now leaves his future in the ring in the balance. At 30, there are not too many options left for the Hitman, and as he lies in his bed this morning considering last nights devastation at one of the best boxers in the world, he must also consider what he has left to offer the sport.
Amazingly, Pacquiao was fighting in his fourth weigh-class in as many fights as he sought to challenge Hatton for his title. In winning, the Filipino now enters Boxing’s folklore as well as the history books as surely, one of the best fighters ever to enter the ring.
In truth, the Filipino’s hand speed had Hatton in trouble right from the start. The sheer amount of positions that he can launch attacks from had the Mancunian’s defence in tatters, and an early knockout looked a distinct possibility as early as mid way through the first round.
Hatton walked straight into three devastating right hands before another right literally shook him to his foundations as the round counted down. The Hitman struggled to his corner and you just knew that Pacquiao had him fixed in his sights as the second round bell rung.
With Hatton out of options and with no other game plan, Pacquiao took him apart. The stunning second round display was only matched by the stunned silence of Ricky’s following who could not believe the dismantling of their hero.
The the rule of the tape tells the true story of how one sided the fight was. Hatton only landed 18 punches in the fight to Pacquiao’s 73.
The stunning victory sets up a potential big money fight in Vegas against Floyd Mayweather Jr, if he overcomes Juan Manuel Marquez on the 18th of July.
“I think a fight with the winner of Mayweather-Marquez is a very good possibility,” said Roach, Pacquiao’s manager after the matchup.
“It’s a natural fight and the fans would want to see it. But I think Mayweather is scared, and we’re not waiting around.”
He added: “If Miguel Cotto wants to come down a few pounds, we can make that happen, or even Shane Mosley.”
The defeat now leaves Hatton’s career in tatters. A defeat of this magnitude has been threatening to happen over his long vaunted career. The Hitman, is a phenomenal boxer but his known binges outside his training regime have always left questions over the Mancunian.
Between binge drinking and binge eating, Hatton always puts on huge weight between fights, and despite the fact that he has always made the weight, many have felt that this kind of regime would be counter productive in his latter years, especially when it comes to taking on fighters of Pacquiao’s class.
Strangely enough, Hatton is a huge fan of the UFC, and has gone on record of a desire to try out the discipline when his career at the highest level in boxing is over. After meeting with Dana White the last time the UFC was in England, it could be an outside possibility.
After luring wrestling’s Brock Lesnar to the UFC, the sport has attracted a whole new range of fans. Bringing someone on board of Hatton’s reputation and pulling power could propel MMA into a whole new ball game.
The win leaves the Filipino as one of boxing’s true legends, a champion across a vast array of different weight classes, he has brought lightning quick hand speed to a new level as he has successfully combined it with phenomenal power, cat like reflexes, and fantastic footwork.
But is he the best fighter in the world? Undoubtedly. There are few who can rival him at the moment, hence Mayweather’s return to the ring, as he searches to end that legendary status that Pacquiao has quite rightly picked up.
Is he the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world?
No.
That honour goes to Ireland’s Katie Taylor. The best women’s boxer in the world is probably the best women boxer of all time, and the 23 year old has demolished everyone that has crossed her path in a highly impressive career to date.
For boxing fans everywhere, I urge you to see this girl box. You won’t be disappointed.
By English Paul…
Same starting-eleven. Same formation. Same venue. Different result. After two successive 1-0 wins, Toronto FC came back down to earth, outplayed by the reigning MLS Champions in a 1-1 draw at BMO Field.
The sunny conditions beforehand seemed to mirror the mood in Southern Ontario, as hopes were high that TFC would continue their winning streak and remain on top of the Eastern standings.
However, just before kick-off, the weather took a turn for the worse as the team came out flat, evoking memories of their performance in the home opener against the Seattle Sounders. Stefan Frei was Toronto’s best player, as his seven saves helped the home team escape with a draw in the face of an onslaught by the visiting Columbus Crew.
The Ohio team’s pressure had finally paid off in the 54th minute through Emmanuel Ekpo. There didn’t appear to be any danger as the Nigerian international collected the ball just inside the TFC half.
Suddenly, with a turn of pace, Ekpo left the Toronto defence flat footed as he sped past Jim Brennan and Marco Velez. The second year player rounded the goalkeeper and calmly slotted the ball home, giving Columbus a well-deserved 1-0 advantage.
As interim coach Chris Cummins said after the game, “We didn’t have enough energy in the first half.” However, even after replacing forward Danny Dichio at half time with Dwayne De Rosario, returning from injury, the team still gave away possession far too easily.
Facing his first real test as coach, Cummins decided to change the 4-3-3 formation, which had proved so successful in the two previous matches. Within two minutes of the tactical change to 4-4-2, the move provided the necessary inspiration.
Midfielder Amado Guevara played a ball down the left from inside the TFC half in the 64th minute. First round draft pick Sam Cronin latched onto the pass, flicking the ball around Jed Zayner before crossing into the Crew penalty area. Andy Gruenebaum was late coming off his line and Chad Barrett claimed his second goal of the season, heading past the stranded goalkeeper for the equaliser.
The Reds goal appeared to deflate the Ohio team, who had failed to take advantage of several chances in the first half, the best of which came on 33 minutes.
Guevara lost the ball deep in TFC territory and Eddie Gaven was played through on goal. But as the defence closed him down, the former New York Red Bull scuffed his shot wide left.
Ten minutes from time, disaster almost struck for Toronto when a similar incident occurred, with centre-back Adrian Serioux losing control of the ball to substitute Pat Noonan. However, with only Frei to beat, Noonan waited too long to take his shot and had it blocked by the man of the match.
Despite playing better in the second half, TFC still didn’t create many scoring opportunities. Their best chance to win came four minutes from time, when they were awarded a free-kick 22 yards from goal. Unfortunately, Canadian international De Rosario summed up the game for the Reds as he blasted the ball over the crossbar.
From a positive viewpoint, the point gained may go a long way towards helping Toronto earn a playoff spot at the end of the season.
However, the team knows they cannot afford to keep coming out flat for games in which they are expected to win. Welsh midfielder Carl Robinson commented later in the locker room, “It shouldn’t take us to go a goal behind, before putting our mark on the game.”
The team now prepares for a mid-week game against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.
Paul Taylor can be contacted at: [email protected]
By Andrew Echevarria… I was given the opportunity to talk to Leaf Prospect Ben Winnett. Ben was drafted in the fourth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and is currently playing in the NCAA. He is a fast skater and an even better shooter. Hopefully this is the first of many interviews to come my way.
Andrew: Welcome Ben, it’s an honour to have you here
Ben: Thank you, I’m honoured to be here as well
Andrew: Well, let’s start things off by getting to know you better. Ben tell us a little bit about yourself and your past
Ben: I’m 19 years old, I’m from New Westminster, British Columbia. I grew up playing minor hockey in Burnaby, and went on to play two years in Salmon Arm in the British Columbia Hockey League, and now I’m in my sophomore season at the University of Michigan.
Andrew: Growing up, what was your favourite team?
Ben: Growing up my favourite team was actually the Toronto Maple Leafs, I was really fortunate to be drafted by them. I took a lot of flack for being a Toronto fan from the west coast, especially from my parents being from Montreal, they liked the Canadiens, my brothers liked the Canucks, but I was always a Leafs fan
Andrew: Okay, this ones’s about the draft. What went through your mind or what were you thinking when you were drafted?
Ben: I wasn’t really surprised with Toronto, I knew they were a team that was interested in me, but obviously it was a fantastic feeling to go to my favourite team growing up. I’m very fortunate in that sense, but it’s also a relief, it was a pressure packed year; playing, and with all those scouts, but I couldn’t have been happier with the way it ended up.
Andrew: Tell us Ben, was there ever a point in your life when you knew you would make the NHL, perhaps something someone said to you or an event that occurred?
Ben: Well, I can’t really remember any specific comment from a coach or a player or anything that said “you know, I think you’ll play in the NHL.” I don’t think anything can guarantee whether you’re a first round pick, second round pick, or just a free agent. I think you have to continue working hard and develop in your game and just see how far that’ll take you.
Andrew: Ben, what is the one thing you’re looking most forward to when you come to the NHL?
Ben: I’d say the NHL has the best hockey players in the world and I think every athlete wants to reach their potential and play at the top of their sport, and for hockey that would mean playing in the NHL for me.
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