Ring Magazine's panel sees a Pacquiao victory

MANILA, Philippines - At least 17 of the 20 boxing personalities polled by The Ring magazine had picked Manny Pacquiao to roll past Ricky Hatton in their May 2 showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two former Hatton opponents in Paul Malignaggi and Luis Collazo were among those who placed their money on the Filipino boxing sensation. The experts’ predictions are featured as part of the 21-page article devoted by the so-called “Bible of Boxing" for its May edition which will have a sketch of Pacquiao and Hatton on the cover. The story is entitled “Hatton vs. Pacquiao." Malignaggi was the last opponent Hatton fought, coming two weeks before Pacquiao’s eight-round technical knockout win over ring legend Oscar De La Hoya. Hatton scored a one-sided 11th round TKO over his American foe. Collazo is a south-paw like Pacquiao and gave Hatton one of the toughest fights in his career with the World Boxing Association (WBO) welterweight belt at stake. Although Hatton knocked down the American in the opening round, the puncher from Manchester, England would only settle for a unanimous decision win in a fight many thought went Collazo’s way. Former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion David Diaz, whom Pacquiao dethroned with a ninth round stoppage in June last year, also sees a victory by the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter. Interestingly, Diaz picked De La Hoya to win over Pacquiao when The Ring also came out with a similar 20-man prediction in its December issue in time for the highly-anticipated welterweight showdown between two of the sports’ most popular boxers. At least 18 of those asked picked a win by the “Golden Boy." The three personalities who are rooting for a Hatton victory include television commentator Steve Bunch, Mark Collins of Esquire UK and Stuart Brennan of Manchester Evening News. Both Bunch and Brennan predict a late-round stoppage by the Briton while Collins said the 12-round fight for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight belt could be over between mid-to-late rounds. –GMANews.TV