Saipan going all out for Pacquiao

GARAPAN, Saipan — CNMI boxing fans overwhelmingly predict a victory for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in his junior welterweight bout against the Briton Ricky Hatton Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao’s popularity in this U.S. commonwealth is unquestioned what with the islands’ large Filipino community. Pacquiao also visited Saipan, the CNMI’s capital, in September 2002 and in many ways the Commonwealth has made the reigning best pound-for-pound king its adopted son. Cuki Alvarez, president and promoter of mixed martial arts gym Trench Tech, thinks the fight will go the distance with Pacquiao winning by decision. “Both fighters are in tip-top shape and has outstanding conditioning to go all 12 rounds. I feel Pacman’s “boxing" will outpoint Hatton’s “in your face" style," he said. Former Saipan Chamber of Commerce president and 2009 gubernatorial candidate Juan “Pan" Guerrero shares Alvarez’s prediction and also picked Pacquiao via decision. “My pick is Pacquiao. He will last the fight and by decision." CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial’s press secretary Charles Reyes, meanwhile, believes the fight will not go the distance and Pacquiao will eventually wear down the British brawler in the later rounds. “I believe Pacquiao will knock out Hatton in the 7th or 8th round. Pacquiao has proven himself again and again, and I do not have any reason to expect an upset this time," he said. Department of Commerce’s John Blanco has Hatton seeing stars earlier and thinks the Filipino fighter will knock him out in the sixth round. Given that Pacquiao is from our neck of the woods, it just makes sense to cheer for him. As for the method in which he'll secure his win…it will be a knockout in the 6th round." Pacquiao winning by knockout also didn’t escape Alvarez’ expert observation and said if the Filipino fighter is to put away Hatton it would be in the early rounds. “Now, if there should be a KO...and it's Pacquiao winning by KO, it will be early perhaps in the first three to four rounds. Pacquiao is very quick and very strong early on and does have heavy hands so if Hatton gets overwhelmed by Pacman's speed, he may succumb to Pacquiao's flurry and get KO'd by a rogue punch coming from any angle," he said. Alvarez, however, warned that a Hatton victory—and even a knockout of Pacquiao—is not entirely in the realm of fiction. “If Hatton wins by KO, it will be later in the fight...I'd say anywhere between the 8th and 12th rounds when fatigue starts to take place and becomes a factor. Hatton is hungry and needs this win to perhaps save his career. He already lost to Mayweather and can't afford to lose to another against one of the best in the world if not the best fighter. Pacman has fought and won against the best already in Dela Hoya so we'll just have to wait and see," he added. Incidentally, the Pacquaio-Hatton fight will be aired live on Saipan Sunday at two venues inside Saipan World Resort starting at 10:30am. – GMANews.TV