Finally...after all these years...it's just another one of Wacko's Drunken Round by Rounds featuring the highly anticipated & overly salivated match up between "Pretty Bwoy" Floyd Mayweather & Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton.

As far as boxing goes…this year has been one of the best years of the past decade for boxing enthusiasts who share a love of all weight classes.

From Bantamweight to Light Heavyweight all of the marquee names have been fighting each other & boxing has seen a resurgence of phenomenal proportions…maybe not in comparison to boxing’s glory days…but 2007 has definitely been the shot in the arm the sport has needed.

In Wacko’s humble opinion, 2007 has been the best year in boxing since I’ve been a boxing fan…& ole’ Wacko’s been a boxing fan for the better part of the 36 years that the earth has graced him with air to breath & alcohol to chug.

This year we’ve had more upsets, more gusty performances, more shocks, more surprises, & more fighters rising to the occasion than you can shake a stick at.

Champions were matched against contenders & contenders won! Up & coming prospects rumbled with journeymen & journeymen shocked us! Champions punctuated questionable careers with exclamation marks! Prospects became Super Stars! Veterans proved their worth!

All in all…our fighters went to war to bring us some of the more compelling bouts of the decade…& in the end…that’s what we’ve all been crying for from our boxers…boxing at it’s best.

That my friends is what 2007 has been about in a nutshell…

BOXING AT IT’S BEST!!!

This being the last month of the year…you would think that a lull was on the horizon…not true. As fans we ask…no we demand that they bring their best…that we get what we all struggle to pay for…more bang for our buck…& if possible…if it’s not to much to ask…how about the greatest fight that we’ve ever seen. At least a fight worth $49.95.

Come December the 2nd, 2007...Christmas comes early…& HBO’s dropping a package down out chimney that will most likely be talked about long into the New Year…

While it won’t be a gift delivered by a jolly ole’ fat man & reindeer with a glowing red noses…it will be one hell of a bundle that’ll be bringing loads of joy to us bwoys & girls!

Finally…we’ll all get one of our greatest wishes gift wrapped (minus the bow) in all it’s glory & another mess of questions answered! Previous history will become validated…some facts will become fiction…but all questions will be answered regarding arguably two of the greatest figures of our generations boxing roster.

This December…once again…we will all be treated to that which we desire the most…

TWO WORLD CHAMPIONS GOING TOE TO TOE!!!

It gives me great pleasure to toss out the banter & state that once again…it’s fight night...& that inturn means...that once again it's time for another installment of Wacko’s Drunken Round by Round.

Before we get started…I want to clear something up…while I like to consider myself a die hard boxing fan…I only know what I know. I have no shame in admitting that…probably half of what I know…I actually don’t know…but I will do my damned best, as always, to give you the most accurate assessment of the combatants involved in this match up as unabashedly unbiased as I can.

That being said…let’s talk about the game, shall we?

“Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather jr vs. Ricky “the Hitman” Hatton.

HBO has dubbed this bout simple & to the point…”UNDEFEATED”.

While that may seem weak to most…that’s damned dead on the money in Wacko’s book. Both men have a hell of a lot more to lose than just a goose egg, though.

Outside of his record, Ricky Hatton (43 fights with 31 ko‘s & no losses) has a lot riding on this win. Hatton is a British icon…a staple in the book of what it is to be a “good ole‘ bwoy”, he’s the poster boy of what most Brits strive to be…in truth he’s the picture of what every one wants to be…he’s respected, loved, & revered in his hometown & amongst his fans. In the ring Hatton is known as being a banger…a body bruiser & someone that would die on the mat for the win…he’s the latest incarnation of Gatti & the fans love him.

Floyd Mayweather jr (38 fights with 24 ko‘s & no defeats) is basically the polar opposite. For Floyd…it’s all about the record, where he is, where he will be, what he is & shall be, & how much money he‘s gonna bank along the way. Floyd is loved neither inside the square circle outside of it…but he is respected by anyone & everyone that knows their boxing game. That hasn’t earned him many…if any fans…but it has gotten him paid & that seems to be all that there is to Floyd Mayweather jr.

Enter the Match :

The bout sold out in something like 3 minutes & then broke all closed circuit records sold! I aint even sure that there’s any standing room left in the nose bleeds. That’s insane fellars…now I realize that Hatton puts asses in many a seats on your side of the pond…but over here…he doesn‘t…not on his lonesome.

This fight is a testament to the greatness of both fighters & their fans.

First & foremost…the facts:

Fact #1: This fight is a battle of the undefeateds.
Fact #2: No if’s, ands, or buts…it’s going to be one for the ages.
Fact #3: This will be the tuffest test to date for either man.
Fact #4: Each fighter has constantly been scrutinized throughout his career…that will end tonight…win, lose, or draw.
Fact #5: A dominate loss could be devastating for either man’s career…more so for Floyd’s.
Fact #6: This will be the biggest match-up of two undefeated welterweights since Oscar de la Hoya and Felix Trinidad.

While there are many more facts to discuss…those are the ones that matter the most to me. We could go on & on & on all night long…but we still have the factors to cover…so I’ll let you all squabble & mull the facts over…while I move along to what I have affectionately dubbed… “the Wackster’s Factors of the Fight”!

Factors for & against Floyd Mayweather jr.

Factor 1: Speed & abilities. No one’s faster at 147lbs…no one…& no ones got the skills that Floyd has. There are so many factors that can be argued in this bout…but one thing is for sure…if Floyd can handle Hatton’s pressure…there’s now way that Hatton can handle Floyd’s speed & mastering of the defensive arts. Floyd will most likely allow himself to be pushed to the ropes throughout the fight. This is where Mayweather does his best work. Shoulder rolls, forearms to the chest, dips, & then uppercuts & hooks in bundles. In the end...I think that Hatton will fair well...but down the stretch...he will be shocked. Factor in Floyd’s favor.

Factor 2: Power. Definitely not something I’d pin on Floyd as an advantage. He’s accurate & has accumulative power…but honestly…I think that against Hatton all he’ll have out of those two options will be accuracy. I aint so sure that Floyd get’s to accumulate his shots as often as he has in the past. The constant pressure of Hatton will be a factor that I think disrupts Floyd’s accuracy a slight bit & thus effects his accumulation…thus negating his power. Factor in Hatton’s favor.

Factor 3: Abilities. Hands down…Floyd has the upper hand here. No need in going over every trick in Floyd's bag...we know what they are & how they work. Factor in Floyd’s favor.

Factor 4: Defense. Again…hands down…Floyd has this one in the bag. This is going to be a bigger factor than his speed & basic over all abilities. I think that Hatton will be damned effective backing Floyd up...but everyone knows that Floyd does well on the back foot & he's going to just shell up on the ropes like he did against Oscar & counter in when Hatton shifts gears...& Hatton will have to shift gears against Floyd. One speed will not do it. Factor in Floyd’s favor.

Factor 5: Chin. This is defiantly something that I think Floyd has an ample amount of that’s going to factor into the bout towards the latter rounds…as it always does. Floyd will let Hatton unload…maybe to the point of him edging ahead on the cards…but I believe he will play possum & hold his best shit for the end of the bout. Factor in Floyd’s favor.


Factors for & against Ricky “the Hitman” Hatton.

Factor 1: Speed & abilities. While Hatton’s fast & does have a decent repertoire of punches & combinations…he’s got nothing on Floyd’s arsenal. I completely write Hatton off on this one. Floyd get’s this one hands down. Factor in Floyd’s favor.

Factor 2: Power & pressure. While I give Floyd the upper hand in many things…& while I honestly see Floyd as the superior fighter…this is where they differ. Floyd usually does really well with pressure fighters…but Hatton’s going to be different I think. Honestly…with what’s riding on the table…I believe that Floyd will bring out a side in Hatton that none of us have ever seen. I think Hatton will blaze out against Floyd in the first round & roll out each round the same way that he does the first…nonstop & ruff as hell. He’ll hit Floyd in the ribs, the chin, the cheeks, the hips, & probably the balls. I think that Hatton’s going to hammer Floyd like a nail (see Factor #2 above for Floyd) all night long. I’m just not sure that Floyd will be able to take it for the full 12 rounds unless he totally utilizes his defense & counters Hatton in between blasts. Definitely a factor in Hatton’s favor.

Factor 3: Defense. Honestly…I think that Hatton’s an open book to someone like Floyd. Against Kostya, Collazo, & Urango Hatton was a punching bag…no other way to call it. Watch those bouts again & picture someone with three times the speed & skills of all those fellars…if Floyd is game…Hatton’s fwocked. Factor in Floyd’s favor.

Factor 4: Stamina. Not sure…but I’m gonna lean towards Floyd. Against Collazo & Urango Hatton had issues. The weight seemed to really bother him against the skilled & able Collazo…I honestly can’t see him fairing better against Floyd unless of course…dancing with all those stars…turned Floyd soft in the end. Tuff call…honestly…I’ll just have to wait till the 4th round or so.

Factor 5: Chin. Not sure here...but I honestly have to believe that Hatton's got a solid noggin. Even up.

So there there it be me bwoyo’s…my thoughts hammered out in ink…as unbiased as I can be concerning a bout with my most favorite fighter of all time…all that devotion & dedication pushed aside just for you…to rip apart, mutilate, dissect, & discredit as I know you all will…this being the fight of the decade…this being such a diverse forum…I know you’ll all be screaming to the tops of your lungs for your favorite fighter.

By all means…let it all hang out with yer wangs out!!!

Now…with all that horse sheet outta the way…let’s get it on!!!

Toss the remote, settle in on the couch, pop the tops on your favorite brew...or pour up your poison of choice...bust open that bag & let’s break out the chips & salsa…it’s fight night!!!

Cheers bitches…oh…& koneecheewah.