[BoSox Fan 1950]

What had been billed as the "Match-Up of the decade" (no, they didn't think to mention which decade, lol) turned out to be a rather brisk and devastating clinic by Pacquiao on how to beat the living you-know-what out of an opponent in rather short order. Hatton gets knocked out at 2:59 of Round TWO!! My 19-year-old son, the culinary arts protégé (read short-order cook), takes longer to make my breakfast! I really thought it might go three rounds, and it damned-near did. But there was never any doubt in my mind that Manny would dispatch Ricky with the utmost disdain.
Pacquiao also knocked Hatton down in the first round. TWICE! But the dummy, Hatton, got up. TWICE!
My first thought was, "Atta BOY, Manny!! That'll shut his mouth!" Now, believe me, I know that the opponents in the fight "game" are supposed to talk trash to each other and about each other. Happens all the time. My wife will complain about some mud-slinging comment made by De La Hoya or Hatton or other prior opponent and I simply respond, "That's what they're suppose to do. Do you expect him to say anything else, like, 'He's gonna beat the heck outta me?"
I know all that. But, IMHO, it seemed to me that Hatton was a bit over the top with a couple of his comments, "The only way I lose this fight is if I don't show up."
Well, as promised, he showed up and made the consummate mistake of GETTING up, twice.
My second thought was "Way to go, Manny!" That should prove, even to the most brazen and intellectually-challenged naysayers that Manny is, indeed, the best pound-for-pound fighter the fight "game" has ever seen. I've been watching fights for over 60 years ("Look Sharp! Feel Sharp! Be sharp! And, listen Mister, How are you fixed for blades? You better check, Gillette blue blades we mean! The Gillette Friday Night Fights are on the air!") and Manny is the best I've ever seen. Bar none.
So, if you get a chance, watch a tape of this most recent win or any other you can get your hands on. Then be sure to watch his next fight, probably against the here-to-fore retiree, Mayweather. It'll be fun. Just don't bet against the kid from the Philippines.
Thanks for "listening."
Later.