Roach: 'Hitman' to get hit a lot by Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – How appropriate can a moniker get. Stepping up on his verbal jabs at the opposition, trainer Freddie Roach took notice of Ricky Hatton’s “Hitman" ring tag and how it perfectly foretells Hatton’s fate against his prized pupil Manny Pacquiao. “Hitman is an accurate name for Hatton because on May 2, Hatton is going to get hit, man, and a lot!" Roach was quoted in a report by doghouseboxing.com. The Hall of Fame trainer once more reiterated his confidence that Pacquiao would run over Hatton, whom he described as a “one-dimensional" slugger. “I told Manny I would be disappointed if the fight lasts longer than three rounds," he said. Roach has been engaged in a verbal tussle with Hatton’s equally outspoken trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. in the lead-up to the “Battle of East and West" card and in his latest tirade, turned a little poetic just like Senior. “Ricky Hatton is like the Manchurian Candidate, but since he is from Manchester, England I’ll call him the Mancunian Candidate," he said, referring to a Cold War-era novel and film about a son of a prominent political family who is brainwashed to become an unwilling assassin for the communists. “I know Floyd is trying to deprogram Ricky from being a one-dimensional puncher, but it’s too late to try and brainwash a fighter who has close to 50 fights during a 12-year professional career. The fact is Floyd couldn’t program a VCR much less a fighter with so many bad habits ingrained into him," he added. Roach’s confidence comes from Hatton’s come-forward style and questionable defense, which he claimed suits his faster, more skilled ward. He said Hatton, despite claiming improvement in other aspects, would eventually revert to his slugger-style once he gets hit by the Filipino pound for pound king. These factors have led Roach to firmly believe that the “Pacman" is going to do what he does best - gobble up Hatton’s Ring Magazine and IBO junior welterweight title when they meet two weeks from now in Las Vegas. –GMANews.TV