Quote Originally Posted by GAME View Post

Marquez.

Hatton was pretty much in his prime. Prior to Pac, his only loss was against PBF, p4p #1, and before that he beat a string of top junior welterweights. Hatton was universally acknowledged as #1 at junior welterweight. He had never lost a match at that weight and fought pretty much all-comers.

And I'm not a Pac groupie by any means.
Hatton was hardly in his prime. Colin Hart reckons he has steadily been in decline since the beat Tszyu. Since the KO loss to Floyd Hatton struggled badly with a washed up Lazcano and was hurt in that fight . Proof enough he shoudl have retired way back then but he went on regardless like too many fighters do. For Pacfans to suggest that Hatton was in his prime post the Lazcano fight and Floyd KO loss is just laughable. Its like me saying Pac was in his prime when he got beat by Torrencampo.
Woah there hater. I thought I specifically said I wasn't a Pacman groupie. Don't include me in that group, Por Favor.

Either you are confusing peak with prime or, in addition to Pac, you have contempt for Hatton and his accomplishments too.

Hatton reached his zenith with his win over Tszyu because he never gave a better performance, but he was still in solid fighting shape when he fought Pacquiao. Maybe slightly passed his prime, but not significantly passed it as you seem to suggest. Recall that Hatton was 25 when he fought Tszyu. After Tszyu, Hatton beat Maussa, Urango, Collazo, and Castillo. Needless to say, Urango and Collazo have gone on to solid fights against the world's best at or around that weight class. How many other junior welterweights could put together that string of victories like Hatton? He wasn't universally regarded as #1 in that weight class for no reason. Sure he looked rusty when he fought Lazcano, but it makes sense because he was coming off his first ever knock out, let alone defeat. Most fighters do.