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Pacquiao could make life very difficult for Mayweather, says Hatton

LAS VEGAS - APRIL 29: Filipino boxer Manny 'Pac-Man' Pacquiao, Bob Arum, Oscar De La Hoya and British boxer Ricky Hatton pose for photos at the Pacquia v Hatton press conference at MGM Grand on April 29, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images)

Ricky Hatton, one of the five common opponents of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, said that he’s giving the American the slight edge in the fight but also admitted that the Filipino slugger could “make life very difficult for him.”

“Manny is a great fighter but when you look at the trouble he had with the counter-punching style of Juan Manuel Marquez, he could be in serious trouble with Floyd Mayweather,” said Hatton in an interview with Tom Gray of RingTV.

“With that said, Manny will take a lot of heart from how Marcos Maidana was able to test Floyd and compete with him. For that reason, I give Manny a great shot in the fight because Mayweather has slowed down a touch.”

Hatton lost to Mayweather back in 2007 via technical knockout in the tenth round. He then lost via a devastating second round knockout versus Pacquiao. Aside from Hatton, Maywether and Pacquiao both fought Marquez, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, and Oscar De La Hoya.

“I feel that Manny should box in and out against Mayweather, adopting a similar style to what he used against Oscar De La Hoya. Floyd’s shoulder roll defense wouldn’t be as effective and it would bring him out of his comfort zone,” said Hatton.

“The last time Floyd was forced to come forward against a speedy fighter was with Zab Judah [in 2006] and he struggled early on. Imagine Manny bouncing around, in and out, with Floyd hunting him down using the shoulder roll. Manny could make life very difficult for him if he does that.”

However, Hatton maintained that Mayweather is correctly the favorite in the fight.

“Floyd always finds a way to win, no matter the style, and that’s the reason that I make him a slight favorite over Manny,” he ended.