8.12.07

Round by Round: Mayweather vs. Hatton

Merchant says to predict the fight would be hope over experience. He says Mayweather is so skilled that it can drain all the drama out of the fight. That's as good a way to say it as any.

First up is "God Save the Queen" by Sir Tom Jones, then the "Star-Spangled Banner" by Tyrese Gibson. The Brits are even booing the anthem. And I did not know Tom Jones was British.

Celebrities on hand include Jude Law, Ray Leonard, Mark Cuban, Wayne Newton and Helio Castroneves, Tiger Woods, Will Ferrell, Mario Lopez, Denzel Washington, David Beckham, Jeremy Piven, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani.

Hatton enters to "Blue Moon" as always. And Floyd Mayweather enters to... "Born in the U.S.A." That won't win over any of the Brits. Buffer gives the "somebody's 0 has got to go," but of course a draw could make that untrue. Got to love Floyd's Dancing With the Stars co-stars mixing with his crew and holding his belts. Pretty Boy is also introduced as a.k.a. Money. Not very original.

Round 1

Quick jab by PBF and Hatton ties up. Hatton has a quick jab of his own. Left hook by PBF, Hatton responds. Left by Floyd as he backs up. Footwork will be key for Floyd, for sure. Crowd responds to every body shot by Hatton, that may influence the judges. Power shot by Hatton lands. Ricky able to tie up every time so far. Left to the body by Hatton. Good right by PBF. Both land at the bell.

The Franchise scores it: Hatton 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Hatton 10-9
Uatu scores it: Mayweather 10-9

Round 2

Good left along the ropes by Hatton. Floyd good left as he backs out. Ref calls time to talk things over. Good right by PBF. Big right by Floyd again before they hold. Left by Hatton. PBF with a shot to the back of the head. It's rough inside, which favors Hatton. Joe Cortez calls time again. He's warning them for roughing up on the inside. Two lefts by Hatton. Hatton tries to flurry as does Mayweather.

The Franchise scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Hatton 10-9
Uatu scores it: Mayweather 10-9

Round 3

Can Hatton keep this up for 12 rounds? If so it will be close. Good exchange along the ropes. Lampley is upset because he thinks Floyd is doing more holding. Hatton scores once or twice in a flurry along the ropes. Floyd able to hop in and out every now and then. Mayweather scores with hard shots from both hands. Hatton's right eye is cut. Floyd uppercuts inside, and it's a good round for him.

The Franchise scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Uatu scores it: Mayweather 10-9

Round 4

Hatton goes right back to his stalking. Floyd punches off the ropes but Hatton stands strong. Body and head lefts by Hitman. Right by Floyd. Flurry by Hatton along the ropes. Toe-to-toe in the center of the ring. Big right by Floyd. Two big shots by PBF. Hatton shows some heart by slugging away in the middle. Nice combo by Floyd until he stumbles. Surgical precision by Floyd when he can keep the fight off the ropes.

The Franchise scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Uatu scores it: Mayweather 10-9

Round 5

Hatton controls it early once again. He needs to keep Floyd backed up. Easier said than done. Flurry mostly blocked by PBF. Good right by Floyd. Mayweather is crafty, picking his spots. Bic combo by Hitman misses for the most part. Uppercuts starting to land inside for Ricky. Floyd gets ready to steal it, but Hatton won't let him. Ugly round is good for Hatton.

The Franchise scores it: Hatton 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Hatton 10-9
Uatu scores it: Hatton 10-9

Round 6

Floyd looking smarter right off the bat in the sixth. Both men snap each other back along the ropes. Floyd almost goes out of the ring. Hatton gets a point deducted for hitting behind the head. Now it turns into a brawl. Quick left by PBF. Hatton is determined again along the ropes. Body shots by Ricky can't feel good. Both men score with rights in the center. That was ugly for a completely different reason.

The Franchise scores it: Draw 9-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mayweather 10-8
Uatu scores it: Mayweather 10-8

Round 7

Floyd scores first. On the replay, Hatton missed that shot he was docked for. Mucho wrestling again. Hatton really does have a great cutman, because that cut doesn't look too good. Floyd gets the best of an exchange before the bell but he does miss a few. Tough round to score.

The Franchise scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Uatu scores it: Hatton 10-9

Round 8

Floyd looking very good this round, scoring with both hands. Right hand stuns Hitman for a second. Hatton gets pummeled against the ropes. Now a big right from Hatton. Ricky may have weathered the storm, pun intended. Left uppercut by Hatton. Good left cuaght Hitman coming in. Hatton in big trouble in the corner. He fights back before the bell but it was too little, too late that time.

The Franchise scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Uatu scores it: Mayweather 10-9

Round 9

I'm betting Floyd may be on his bike this round. Good quick left by Floyd. Left by Hatton. Floyd backed up but still lands. Sweet jab by PBF. Things go Hatton's way for a bit as his fans get the chants going again. Big miss as Floyd wheels away. Quick combo inside by Floyd. This is a great round for him because he didn't use much energy but did enough to win. Two straight rights in the last ten seconds should seal that one for Money.

The Franchise scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mayweather 10-9
Uatu scores it: Mayweather 10-9

Round 10

Floyd seems to have Hatton timed right now. Big left catches Hatton coming in and he's on the canvas! Another left just as the ref looked like he was going to call it, and Hatton's down again. It's over.

The winner by by KO at 1:35 of the 10th round, Floyd Mayweather Jr. At the time of the stoppage, The Franchise had it 87-83 Mayweather, Spartan117 had it 87-83 Mayweather, Uatu had it 88-82 Mayweather.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Well after the fact, I'm sure: Tom Jones is not British, but as a Welshman he is a subject of the Crown. I did not know he'd been knighted.