Ricky Hatton will knock Manny Pacquiao out cold.

That is, if he challenges the Filipino to a beer-guzzling contest, according to PhilBoxing.com writer Edwin Espejo.

“Hatton is the classic Brit who cannot seem to wait for his fight to be over before he rushes into the pub for his ale, welts and bruises all over,” Espejo said in one of his articles.
 
But Espejo thinks Pacquiao won’t go down without a fight. Not only is Pacquiao an endorser of San Miguel Beer, the country’s leading beer product, he also enjoys the taste of the very product he is endorsing.

“Manny may not be as beer-thirsty in all his post fights, but tales of his indulging in booze when not in training is no tale at all. Manny drinks, too. Period,” said Espejo.

In the end, however, Espejo said Hatton will emerge as the better drinker among the two fighters.

“While Manny may down us leisure drinkers (his favorite is San Miguel Light), he will not be able to beat Hatton, who does not drink water at all, according to rumors,” said Espejo.

Pacquiao-Hatton, the real match

Kidding aside, the PhilBoxing writer gave his insight on the possible match between Hatton and Pacquiao.

“A May or June face-off with Hatton would be the most interesting fight to look forward the whole of 2009 – that is if Floyd Mayweather Jr., does not come out from his retirement cocoon,” said Espejo.

Espejo likened the fast-punching Hatton to a speeding truck.

“Ricky is fast to the draw and furious with his punches. He rushes forward like a speeding truck,” he said.

On the other hand, the fight observer thinks Pacquiao is like a bull… one that no bullfighter would dare to face.

“He also is like a bull. But a bull who could move sideways, backward and forward that bullfighter could not handle,” said Espejo.
 
The writer predicted a short fight between the two heavy hitters.

“I will predict a Manny win. And this one will not go the distance,” he said.