It Takes Two Rounds To Tango

I usually read round-per-round post-bout analysis every after Pacquiao’s fight. The reason behind this is not mere curiosity but my relatively short-attention span that I rarely remember what happened in each round or, worse, the fight in general. BBC Sports or Yahoo! Sports are my usual web channels for such articles but I only read brief ones. This kind of length is pretty consistent with what the fight has become–brief.

The usual opening ceremonies were expected. I also expected such devious rendition of our National Anthem by Mr Nievera. National Historical Institute actually approved the version. With this, NHI is inconsistent. The institution requires everyone to sing a marching song version of the anthem: without the drama, without the high note at the end part. I believe that they allowed such rendition because emotion just defeated logic. This is a high time for the nation so is for high notes.

British chants and Hatton-themed songs were bouncing to and fro inside the stadium. I think it’s a nice way to boost Hatton’s confidence but I realized that it’s a little too much. Pacquiao’s vain theme song had its own glory and I thought it’s more than vanity; More than a self-recorded self -theme-song, it’s actually for the nation. (Yeah right). Haha.

Round 1 started with the meeting of the minds, or shall I say, meeting of the fists. Hatton introduced his aggressive self earlier than Pacquiao did. It received applause from the Brit audience but, generally, it’s a harmless stranger. A minute before the first round ends, the Filipino taught the Brit how to properly introduce oneself. Hatton seemed to be not listening so Pacquiao repeated the same lesson seconds before entering Round 2. Two knockdowns for Hatton. First round obviously goes for Pacquiao.

Round 2 started as if nothing happened. If there’s one thing Hatton is deserving for an applause, then that would be showing a poker-face. Apparently, the pain and restlessness are becoming more and more apparent. He throws punches to nowhere; His accuracy is at an all time low. Fifteen seconds after the second part of the tale has started, Hatton restlessly backed off to the ring side, but he still managed to continue. Some seconds before the second round ends (which, actually, did not end), Hatton suddenly fell down.

Wait, what happened?

I thought it was an accident, some foot slip; I thought Hatton consciously fell down because he is just tired like that. I told you, I can’t see details. The devil of the details was explicitly shown during a slo-mo replay. Slam, that was a left-hook. Pacquiao’s death blow, almost literally, made Hatton stare at the MGM Grand Garden Arena’s ceiling (But can he see anything during that time?). A knockdown for Hatton, a knock-out record for Pacquiao. The second round and the bout goes for Pacquiao.

The thousands of Brits in attendance should already start composing a requiem chant. Mayweather Jr, who loves trash-talking, should thrash-talk his self.

Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao if that’s what they feel. [But] I take that away from Manny Pacquiao. (Mayweather Jr).

If Manny Pacquiao wins, I wouldn’t be surprised. The reason why is that I took everything out of Ricky Hatton (Mayweather Jr).

I hate the way Jr thrash-talks. The second quotation is obviously playing safe. He is actually aware of the fact that Pacquiao could defeat Hatton. To continue, Mayweather Sr, who did not show-up during the post-bout conference, should rechoreograph his monotonous boxing dance for Hatton. Lastly, Hatton, err, should take care of his pretty girlfriend. :P