For well-known boxing commentator Larry Merchant, Manny Pacquiao will have to repeat his tactics in his fight with Oscar de la Hoya to succeed against Ricky Hatton.

“Pacquiao has to do what he did against Oscar: hit and not be hit,” said Merchant in an HBO.com feature about views of commentators in the much-awaited May 2 fight.

“In this fight, I think Hatton will be more aggressive than Oscar, so Pac has to put some doubt in Hatton by making him pay for his aggression,” added Merchant, who witnessed several monumental fights in his 31-year career as commentator.

In his fight against de la Hoya on December 6, 2008, Pacquiao was seen to have transformed into a “boxer-puncher”, far from the “swarmer” that fight fans used to see.

The General Santos City native has defeated the boxing great in eight rounds.

“Pacquiao exposed Oscar, and it was a masterpiece of its kind. Give him credit for that. The story of that fight was how sophisticated of a fighter Pacquiao was. He has evolved into a boxer-puncher,” said Merchant.

The HBO commentator also acknowledged Hatton’s stature as a power puncher. He, however, thinks power can only take a fighter to a distance.

“Hatton is stronger than Pacquiao. But strength is relative. Muscles don't win fights… with strength versus quickness, quickness usually wins,” said Merchant.

The boxing analyst said that for Hatton to survive Pacquiao, the British champion must avoid the Pinoy’s powerful left hand.

Merchant described Pacquiao’s left as “the single most devastating punch in boxing”.

“[It’s] a short, quick and powerful left hand the likes of which no fighter has ever faced before. It's shocking to them,” he said. “How will Hatton deal with it when he comes in on Pacquiao? [Floyd] Mayweather [Sr.] can help."

Pacquiao is looking to win a fifth world title against Hatton when they face at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on May 2.

But the British boxer, who remains unbeaten in the junior welterweight division, looks on defeating the world's top pound-for-pound fighter.