BOXING:FAVOURITE MANNY Pacquiao of the Philippines claimed the IBO light-welterweight title with a stunning second-round knock-out of British holder Ricky Hatton on Saturday night.
The 30-year-old southpaw twice knocked the Englishman to the canvas in the opening round before ending the fight with a stinging left hook at the MGM Grand Hotel’s Garden Arena.
The ring announcer said the bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, had ended two minutes 39 seconds into the round, but that was later corrected by officials to two minutes 59 seconds.
“I was surprised that this was so easy, but I’ve worked hard in training camp since the beginning of March,” a beaming Pacquiao said in a ringside interview.
“He was wide open for the right hook. I knew he would be looking for my left. It’s nothing personal. I was just doing my job.
“This is as big for me as the De La Hoya win,” the Filipino added, referring to his eight-round stoppage of 10-times world champion Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas in December.
Hatton, who had stopped American Paulo Malignaggi in November to retain his IBO light-welterweight belt, was left motionless in the centre of the ring for several minutes before being helped to his feet to sit on a stool.
“It was a hard loss, but I am okay,” the 30-year-old Manchester boxer said before being taken to the nearby Valley Hospital as a precaution. “I really didn’t see the punch coming, but it was a great shot. I know I will be okay.”
Widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Pacquiao improved his career record to 49-3-2, with 37 knock-outs.
Hatton, who had never previously lost at his natural weight of 140 pounds, slipped to 45-2 with 32 knock-outs.
Meanwhile, former Irish intermediate champ Dean Byrne helped Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach to the first part of a Nevada double after hitting the jackpot in Las Vegas on Friday.
The 24-year-old Dublin-born light-welterweight stretched his unbeaten run to 11 after earning a unanimous decision over Mexican southpaw Jose Reynoso at the South Point Hotel and Casino.
Elsewhere, Floyd Mayweather Jr will come out of retirement in July when he will take on Mexico’s IBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, the 32-year-old American said on Saturday.
Ireland’s Joe Ward, Michael Reilly and Chris Mullaly made it through to today’s semi-finals of the Heydar Aliyev Cup following wins in Azerbaijan yesterday.
Irish captain Ward hammered Sinan Shabiyev of Azerbaijan 21-3 and Reilly beat Aliyev Raven, also of Azerbaijan, 8-5. Mullaly also emerged victorious over an Azerbaijani, out-pointing Ajamov Samin 11-3, over three rounds.
But there was disappointment for Roy O’Carroll, Christy Joyce, and Eddie Byrne yesterday.
Ireland are using the 10-nation box-off in preparation for next month’s AIBA World Junior Championships which begin in Yerevan, Armenia on May 23rd.
