MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas, May 2, 2009–The greatest fight of the year was over in two rounds with Manny Pacquiao sending shocked British fans into a stunned silence when Ricky Hatton, who held the IBO Light Welterweight Division, took a powerful left punch to the jaw that sent him flying to the floor of the ring.
Fresh from his much-anticipated non-title match against Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya way back in December of 2008, Manny again shook up the boxing world with a 2nd-round TKO that stunned Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton and sent millions of Filipinos around the world into a joyous frenzy.
The match started spectacularly enough, with Filipino singer Martin Nievera singing the Philippine National Anthem and Tom Jones serenading the audience with his rendition of “God Save the Queen.’ Fil-Am singer Jasmine Villegas also sang her version of the American national anthem for the American crowd.
Hatton came in a sparkly windbreaker followed by Manny who entered with his entourage and Fil-Am WWE wrestler Batista. Even at the start of round one it was clear who was going to dominate the match. Manny greeted Hatton with a light jab to the face and deftly moved to avoid Hatton’s retaliatory jab. The two players move fast and after a couple of missed hits Manny again lands one punch, this time on Hatton’s head. He again deftly moves to avoid the British fighter’s return punch just in time, and follows this up with a quick right cross and two exchange blows, ending with four lightning-fast punches that sends Hatton flat on the canvas. Ricky manages to get back up though, and easily avoids a combination by Manny. He comes up with a combination of punches of his own, but Pacman returns the favor and quickly jumps out of the way. After Ricky sends a left that misses Pacquiao by inches, he takes a right cross that again sends him to the floor.
Round two starts off with a couple of hits and misses. Manny starts to get cautious and starts to hold his right arm up, although he is a known lefty. He lands two left hooks and a quick uppercut on Hatton’s chest. After a couple of combination punches from both fighters Manny takes the lead with two straight punches to the head. Ricky manages to connect with his own retaliatory punch, but this was followed by a strong body shot from Pacman, followed by the left shot that seemed to come from nowhere, sending Hatton to the ground for the third time, effectively ending the match, making Pacman the new IBO Light Welterweight Division champion.
Ending the fight with a TKO after two rounds was more than Freddy Roach, Pacman’s trainer, had anticipated. He had earlier stated in a interview that he was expecting Manny to knock the British boxer in the middle or later rounds. With this win, Manny Pacquiao has cemented his place as the best pound-for-pound champion in the world, becoming the first Asian boxer to win five titles in five different weight divisions.
