FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. VS. RICKY HATTON MAIN EVENT LIVE BLOG

by The Prophet, ProphetFighting

The main event is forthcoming...right now the HBO crew is previewing future fights followed by a video package previewing the main event. While HBO gets their plugs in I will too....coming in early 2008 is my new MMA site called "The Savage Science". Keep up with the latest news on the site at the Savage Science MySpace page:

http://www.myspace.com/thesavagescience

and for the best in boxing commentary visit The Sweet Science:

The Sweet Science--boxing news and commentary

PREFIGHT

Drunken Brits tuning up for the main event. One guy is drinking two longnecks at the same time. Current lines at BetDSI Sportsbook is as follows:

Mayweather -275
Hatton +235

and on the O/U round prop:

OVER 11' ROUNDS -210
UNDER 11' ROUNDS +175

Drunken Brits singing "God Save the Queen" and showing no respect to the legendary Manny Steward. Thankfully, they've called in Michael Buffer to MC the main event to lead a degree of dignity to the proceedings. Buffer introducing Tom Jones singing "God Save the Queen". With the exception of that gnarly hairweave Jones looks and sounds pretty good for his age. Brits roar their approval as Buffer intros the US anthem. US got screwed since we've got Tyrese singing *our* anthem. Score the anthems to Tom Jones/Brits. Drunken Brits are trying to be quiet and respectful during the anthem despite a smattering of boos at the beginning. I guess they were booing Tyrese. Boos picking up near the end of the anthem--I guess they're still sore about that "Revolutionary War" thing.

Jude Law in the house as is Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns. There's Mark Cuban sitting with the "Midnight Idol" Wayne Newton. Tiger Woods and Will Farrell are in attendance. Denzel is here, Wesley Snipes, David Beckham w/o his wife. Jeremy Pivin from "Entourage" is in attendance as are Brangelia (that's Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie).

Hatton making his way to the ring to the awful version of "Blue Moon" I mentioned earlier. In his last fight he prefaced it with a badass sample of Winston Churchill over air raid sirens. Mayweather's entrance begins with a video montage, much to the delight of the drunken Brits.

Mayweather making his entrance now, inexplicably choosing Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" as his ring entrance. Fitty Cent does not appear to be in attendance. Buffer ready to intro the fighters.

They should do a ten bell salute to both the late "Last of the Gladiators" Evel Knievel and to the memory of Pantera/Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrell on this day three years ago. Buffer booms out the catch phrase and we're ready to intro Hatton...

Hatton introduced first to the expected response. Mayweather being introduced now to the expected chorus of boos. Buffer intros him as "Pretty Boy Floyd AKA Money Mayweather". Ref gives the final instructions and we're set to go:


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 1:

Mayweather jabs and Hatton bulls him into the ropes. Cortez breaks it quickly. Nice quick left by Mayweater snaps Hatton's head back. Punch to the body by Mayweather. Mayweather misses and ties Hatton up. Hatton tires to throw a combo but hits only air. Hatton appling pressure and lands a body punch followed by a right hand that stumbles Mayweather. Mayweather moving now. Body shot by Mayweather. Ref warns Hatton for hitting behind the head. Hatton ties up Mayweather. Mayweather with a couple of solid rights to finish the round. Could go either way--except for the stumble. I'll give it to Hatton 10-9


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 2:

Lamps informs us that the Compubox numbers in round 1 were heavily Mayweather. Lots of holding. Hatton lands a nice right hand. Tempo so far favoring Hatton. Mayweather has a small abrasion on his cheekbone, Hatton's nose may be bleeding. Hatton still trying to press the tempo. Nice right hand by Mayweather catches Hatton coming in. Mayweather gets a warning for hitting behind the head. Hatton lands a punch and then ties Mayweather up. Hatton lands a jab, Mayweather misses with a counter. Joe Cortez keeps trying to break them up and now gives them a lecture to stop the holding. Hatton to the body and Mayweather ties him up. Mayweather with a couple of rights. Hatton tries to hold and hit. Mayweather's round 10-9, the fight now 19-19...


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 3:

Hatton warned for holding and hitting on the break. Solid right by Hatton. Floyd lands a left hook. Mayweather hitting behind the head, Hatton holding and hitting. Hatton bulls Mayweather to the ropes. Hatton holds and hits again. Mayweather misses with a right then scores with another and another. Hatton has a big cut over his right eye. It appears to have been from a punch, but we'll see what Joe Cortez calls it between rounds. Mayweather's round 10-9, he's up 29-28 through 3.


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 4:

Cut was caused by a Mayweather right. Hatton holding and hitting again. Mayweather scores with a nice flurry. Nice body shots by Hatton and then back to holding and hitting. Mayweather lands a short right. Body shot by Mayweather. Wild punch by Hatton misses. Nice right by Mayweather. Both guys try to hit on the break. Mayweather countering well now with his trademark accuracy. Mayweather responds with a nice combination that snaps Hatton's head back. Hatton's cut open again. Another nice combination by Mayweather. Mayweather's round 10-9 giving him a 39-37 advantage through 4.


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 5:

Round starts with Hatton bulling Mayweather to the ropes and then ties him up. Hatton hits on the break again and then comes back in to land a bodyshot. Hatton holding and hitting again. Mayweather responds with a hard right inside. Hatton's pace again. Hatton bulls Mayweather into the corner and then ties him up. Mayweather may be taking the round off to regain his energy. Uppercut from Hatton lands. Mayweather lands a right hand lead, Hatton tries to hit on the break again. Cortez separates them then Hatton moves Mayweather back to the ropes. Cortez separates the two fighters as the round ends. Hatton's round 10-9 narrowing Mayweather's lead on my card to 48-47.


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 6:

Lederman has the fight 48-47 Hatton. Mayweather trying to jab to the body. Nice counter right by Mayweather. Hatton hits Mayweather HARD behind the head and Joe Cortez deducts a point. Hatton getting pissed and losing his composure. Mayweather lands a left hook and just misses with another. Short right by Mayweather. Hatton scores to the body and bulls Mayweather to the ropes. Hatton holding and hitting again. Cortez warns him to "keep it clean". Mayweather throwing some dirty punches now. I give the round to Mayweather 10-9, the point deduction making it 10-8. Mayweather leads on my card 58-55.


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 7:

Fighters tied up again, they break and then tie up again. This is pretty much how the round has gone for the first 1:15. Hatton lands some punches while tied up against the ropes. Mayweather lands on the break and then another punch inside. Hatton not really doing any damage, but he's controlling the tempo. Tied up again, hook to the body by Mayweather. Cortez separates the fighters again. Small flurry by Mayweather to end the round. Tough round to score--Hatton controlled the tempo, but Mayweather landed the most effective punches. It could go either way but I'll call it Mayweather 10-9. Mayweather leads 69-64.


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 8:

More of the same holding hitting to start the round. Mayweather lands a nice combination and then another. Another nice right by Hatton. Bodyshots by Mayweather. Floyd has used Hatton's head for a speedbag so far this round. Hatton ties Mayweather up and hits him behind the head again. Hatton hits on the break, Cortez separates them. Left hook by Mayweather and then another. Solid right for Mayweather. He's unloading on Hatton now. :21 seconds left and its been all Mayweather. Hatton responds with a few bodyshots as the round eds. Big round for Mayweather. 10-9 Mayweather, he leads 79-73 on my card.


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 9:

Fighters start with the same tie up as the previous rounds. Mayweather lands a jab. Tied up again and both fighters holding and hitting. A couple of solid punches for Hatton. Right hand misses for Mayweather. Two solid rights by Mayweather. Hatton appears to be tiring somewhat. Tied up again, Hatton trying to maul Mayweather. Mayweather's punches are *way* more accurate and have done much more damage. Hatton eats a couple of Mayweather right hand leads. Right hand again for Mayweather. Mayweather scores with a jab. Two straight right hands score for Mayweather as theround comes to a close. Another round for Mayweather. He's now up 89-82.


MAYWEATHER/HATTON ROUND 10:

Fighters tie up to start the round. Hatton tries to hit on the break. Mayweather starting to dictate the tempo and spacing. Mayweather catches Hatton coming in with a wicked left hook and down goes Hatton. He takes the standing 8 count and he looks wobbly. A couple of more punches and Hatton stumbles across the ring and falls down. Joe Cortez waves the fight off and Floyd Mayweather wins by TKO....

POSTFIGHT:

Mayweather hugs and kisses Hatton--he's now in postfight "Sweet Floyd" mode. Incredible performance by Mayweather--Hatton did a nice job dictating the fight and keeping him off balance early on but Floyd adapted his amazing skills to take over the fight and eventually win by KO.

Offical result--1:35 round 10 Mayweather wins by KO

Mayweather giving a gracious interview now giving tons of props to Hatton. Calls Hatton "one hell of a fighter". Mayweather giving another "I'm retiring" speech which will last just as long as his last retirement. Hatton speaks now after enduring one more hug from Mayweather. Hatton gives a funny line "what a fluke that was" to start his interview. Hatton says Mayweather was better inside than he thought.

Thanks to everyone for following the fight live here at the Epic Carnival...