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The Top 50 light-heavyweights ever (16-20)

The latest part of our look back at the best light-heavyweights in history brings us one name from the very early days of the sport, an Irish hero and a boxer regarded by many as the most talented to ever come from Britain.

As always comments, stories, memories, strong opinions and top tens are very welcome.

Jim Watt remembers his old conqueror Alexis Arguello

The tragic death of Alexis Arguello from an apparent suicide at the age of 57 has been greeted by shock across the world of boxing. Arguello, from Nicaragua - he was mayor of that country's capital, Managua, at the time of his death - was a true legend of the sport, a world champion at featherweight, super-featherweight and lightweight. He came incredibly close to being the first ever four-weight world champion with two epic battles against Aaron Pryor. 

Jim Watt, whom he won his third world title from, says that he was one of the sport's true greats.

"He was the hardest man I ever fought and one of the nicest men I ever met," Watt, who now works as a co-commentator on Sky Sports, said. "He was a brilliant boxer and a complete gentleman outside the ring.

Believe it or not - there is going to be a fight!

Anyone suffering withdrawal symptoms from a lack of top class action need not worry - there are now only 19 days to wait. Yes, believe it or not, there is going to be a big fight this year. Amir Khan is facing Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA light-welterweight title at the MEN Arena, Manchester, on July 18. And fear not, the fight is still on.

If you are following boxing at the moment, you have every reason to be a cynic. Fights are falling like flies. Nikolay Valuev-Ruslan Chagaev, Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye, Floyd Mayweather Jr-Juan Manuel Marquez and those are just the biggest ones. Any number of decent Friday Night Fights headliners have fallen by the wayside recently, the Tony Quigley-Brian Magee British super-middleweight title fight, which should have been next Saturday, got called off when Quigley was injured, although the demise of Setanta may have done for the show anyway, while even Paul McCloskey has pulled out of his vacant European light-welterweight title fight against Souleymane M'Baye in Paris on Friday, with a hand injury.

Fans rally round after Setanta's collapse

So farewell then Setanta, your stay was all too brief. And your departure leaves boxing in a much more fragile state. In the short-term this means no broadcaster for what would have been a wonderful double-header from Germany and Atlantic City this Saturday night featuring Arthur Abraham (above) and Juan Manuel Lopez, but the long-term effects could be serious. If no one steps into the breach, boxing's future in Britain could be one of decline.

With ITV planning to pull the plug in December, Sky are the only broadcaster at present with plans for boxing beyond 2009, a quite ominous situation.

As well as the live boxing, the loss of Setanta also means the loss of Setanta Sports News. While people may ask was there really a demand for a second 24-hour sports news channel, Setanta's news values were not determined by what they had the broadcast rights to. I remember that the Calzaghe-Kessler fight in 2007, probably the biggest bout in the UK this century, did not get a mention on Sky Sports News, where football stories, no matter how banal, rule. Why? That is was shown on Setanta, is perhaps not a coincidence.

Can Klitschko become a great heavyweight champion?

The reaction was mixed, when Wladimir Klitschko is involved, the reaction is almost always mixed. But it is difficult to imagine a more one-sided heavyweight fight than his win over Ruslan Chagaev in front of 61,000 fans at the Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen, on Saturday night. Had the victor been a Larry Holmes, rather than a Wladimir Klitschko, would we know be bestowing greatness on the winner?

Chagaev was no mug. He was no fat American come over for the paycheque. He was unbeaten (the only blot on his record was a no contest against Rob Calloway, after Calloway was cut by a clash of heads when on the verge of being stopped anyway), he had become WBA champion by beating Nikolay Valuev, as an amateur, where he was a world amateur champion, he had been the only man to twice defeat Felix Savon, the great Cuban. He was also fit, having been preparing for the cancelled rematch with Valuev. "The best heavyweight outside the brothers Klitschko," was how Wladimir described him.

Klitschko v Chagaev round by round

Wladimir Klitschko stopped Ruslan Chagaev in the tenth round to retain his WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles in Gelsenkirchen. Here's how the action went.

Lee finds Latvian harder work than facing Klitschko

Sparring Wladimir Klitschko seemed to be an easier task than a routine six-rounder for Andy Lee, who was cut and caught by far too many punches as he beat Olegs Fedotovs, of Latvia, on points on the big fight undercard in Gelsenkirchen.

“It wasn’t my best performance, but it was a big opportunity for him and he came to win,” Lee, who floored Fedotovs with a straight left in the last round, said. “I caught him in the end and I went for the knockout, but it wasn’t to be. But a win’s a win."

Just a little neighbourhood rumble - notes from Gelsenkirchen

Probably not since the hey-day of Madison Square Garden can one city have held so much sway of the world heavyweight title. And that city is not Las Vegas, it's Hamburg. Despite coming from former Soviet republics, both Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev, who contest the WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles tonight, call the northern Germany city their home and they live just ten miles apart.

I was trying to think of the last time two boxers from the same city fought for the heavyweight title. My first thoughts were Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Ellis from Louisville, although they didn't actually box for the title. Then I thought Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis, although Frank lived in Essex and Lennox in Hertfordshire when the pair clashed.

I should have been thinking much more recently - like three months ago, when Vitali Klitschko defended his WBC heavyweight title against Juan Carlos Gomez in Stuttgart. Both of those live in the same city - Hamburg.

Universum: Chagaev is healthy

Universum, the promoters of Ruslan Chagaev, are trying to stamp out stories in the media claiming that Chagaev is unfit to face Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday. Chagaev was denied a licence to box in Finland three weeks ago against Nikolay Valuev, but he has been passed fit by the German federation.

"Repeatingly there are irritating and false informations about WBA World-Champion Ruslan Chagaev in the media," the statement said. "Universum Box-Promotion once again wants to point out the following: Even the Statement of the Association of Professional Ringside Physicians is obviously based on incorrect information.

Kotelnik suffered injury in sparring - notes from Gelsenkirchen

The injury suffered by Andreas Kotelnik that delayed his WBA light-welterweight title defence against Amir Khan by three weeks was somewhat more serious that the "toothache" that has been described in various quarters, I understand. Kotelnik was injured during sparring and one story I heard was that he had two teeth knocked out, another that he had a tooth knocked back which damaged his jaw. The situation was then worsened when the injury became infected. "No one is saying who he was sparring with," one source told me.

Kotelnik is trained by Michael Timm, who also trains Ruslan Chagaev, and I understand that he is now back in full training and will be ready for the new date of July 18. The bout had to be switched from the O2 Arena, London, to the MEN Arena, Manchester, because Michael Jackson is playing the O2 on July 18.

Lee spars Klitschko - notes from Gelsenkirchen

When Andy Lee, who boxed for Ireland at the 2004 Olympics, decided to choose Emanuel Steward as his trainer when he turned professional, he probably did not expect to be put in the ring with many 6ft 7in heavyweights. But that's just what Lee has been doing, after getting given the job of Wladimir Klitschko's chief sparring partner for his WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight title defence against Ruslan Chagaev on Saturday.

Lee is a regular member of the Klitschko team, but when David Haye pulled out with a bad back and was replaced by Chagaev, a southpaw, Lee was thrown in. "They have sparred together before," Steward said. "Wladimir likes to use Andy in the last week because of the speed. Andy is 6ft 2in, so he's actually taller than Chagaev, he's a natural southpaw and his is much quicker than Chagaev."

Steward also said that Klitschko does not hold back, despite sparring a boxer 6st lighter than himself. "It is pretty competitive when they get in the ring," he said. "Wladimir doesn't open up completely, but they have pretty good workouts."

Khan's big night moved back three weeks

OK, Manchester is not Las Vegas, but the focus of the boxing world will switch from Nevada, where Floyd Mayweather Jr was to have been making his comeback against Juan Manuel Marquez, to Lancashire on July 18, after Amir Khan's WBA light-welterweight title challenge against Andreas Kotelnik was shifted back three week and moved to the MEN Arena.

But much as the scrapping of the Nikolay Valuev-Ruslan Chagaev fight saved the day for Wladimir Klitschko, the rib injury suffered by Mayweather turned into an opportunity for Khan and Frank Warren, his promoter. Kotelnik has suffered a tooth infection and the bout, which will be shown on Sky Box Office, was in doubt, with substitutes for Kotelnik being considered. The freeing up of the July 18 date (which was also going to be on Sky Box Office) gave Khan a fall back date.

"Firstly, I'm delighted that my World title fight against Kotelnik is still on," Khan, who must have been wondering who he would end up facing, said. "And when July 18 comes I will never be more ready for him although, the postponement of the fight is a pain. In boxing these things happen so I have to be professional and stay focused. However, when I'm the victor and I am finally crowned World champion it will make up for it.

"Freddie Roach is adjusting my training accordingly so that I'm ready for the new date and I'm at my peak both physically and mentally."

Mayweather comeback on hold

Floyd Mayweather Jr's comeback bout against Juan Manuel Marquez has been put on hold after he injured his ribs in training. Mayweather, who retired after knocking out Ricky Hatton in December 2007, was due to face Marquez on July 18 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. No new date has been announced.

"I am extremely disappointed that this fight has to be postponed," said Mayweather.  "I was training very hard and looking forward to getting back in the ring on July 18."

The Top 50 light-heavyweights ever (21-30)

They used to fight rough! The picture above was taken in New York in 1970. The man on the left is Jack Dempsey and, on the right, is Georges Carpentier, who, 49 years earlier, had battled for the world heavyweight title in front of 80,00 fans in New Jersey. Carpentier is perhaps showing off some of the dirtier tricks he tried that night, although whatever he did, it didn't work.

The French legend makes the next part of our list of light-heavyweights, which has a bit of a global feel about it. As always, comments, suggestions, stories and lists are always welcome. To view the previous sections and the previous featherweight and middleweight lists, click here.

Moore and Munroe get rankings boost

Jamie Moore's long hunt for a world title shot could be nearing a conclusion after he was pushed up to No 3 in the WBC rankings. Moore, 30, in unbeaten in five years but has been frustrated in his bid to move up the rankings. Yet, winning the European light-middleweight title by knocking out Michele Piccirillo in March has proved a breakthrough with Moore now earning his highest ever ranking. 

There was also good news for Rendall Munroe, the European and Commonwealth super-bantamweight champion who, like Moore, is promoted by Frank Maloney, who has been installed as No 2 in the WBC rankings.  "Both fighters are in a great position to get themselves world title fights in the next 12 months," said Maloney, who plans to visit the WBC convention in South Korea in November to lobby for his fighters. 

TV troubles could mean tough days for boxing

It may be a reasonably quiet week in the ring, but this promises to be a serious week outside as the recession threatens to bite boxing particularly deeply. With two of the three television companies that presently show boxing under threat, the consequences for the sport could be serious.

Last week, there were stories that ITV was pulling out of boxing - again - when the ITV contract with Mick Hennessy runs out at the end of the year, while there seem to be endless crisis talks at Setanta. Sky remains the biggest broadcaster of boxing in this country, but a monopoly for that company is hardly good news for anyone. With only one pot to claim for, promoters can expect to be squeezed, some boxers are likely to be frozen out.

Witter title fight delayed

Junior Witter will not now be facing Devon Alexander for the vacant WBC light-welterweight title in Sunrise, Florida, on July 11. Mick Hennessy, Witter's promoter, had reached an agreement with Alexander's promoter, Don King, for the bout to be staged on that date. But King has now pulled the fight from the show, which is topped by Vic Darchinyan's challenge for Joseph Agebeko's IBF bantamweight title. There had been reports that Alexander would not be ready for July 11. The bout may now have to go out to purse bids, although there are rumours that King wants to stage it on August 1.

When boxing can be one huge letdown

It has been a bad few weeks for big fight disappointments. I has checked in online for my flight to Helsinki when I received a text message from the promoters telling me the fight was off. Then, last Wednesday, a group of journalists were with Wladimir Klitschko when it was announced that David Haye (pictured, on Monday) had pulled out of their heavyweight fight. Boxing can being one big letdown at times.

The problem with boxing, of course, is that it relies on individuals. The Cup Final will still go ahead on a set date, whoever is injured, the Olympic 100 metre final is already set in stone, while talk of an injury to Rafael Nadal does not mean that the Wimbledon Championships will not happen. The closest it gets to is a concert - you can't really expect to see U2, if Bono goes down with a bad throat.

Chagaev the obvious replacement for absent Haye

Wladimir Klitschko was slumped forward on his chair in the first-floor conference room at the Hotel Stanglwirt in Going, Austria, answering a whole host of questions that were essentially a variation on 'tell us just how pissed off you are right now?' "How about Nikolai Valuev or Ruslan Chagaev?" I said, "they're both fit and looking for a fight." Klitschko's face lit up.

After more than a month already in camp in Austria, Klitschko, who said he was already on the biggest break of his career, says he wants to fight on June 20, whoever he faces. It is difficult to imagine that anything good could have come from last weekend's chaos in Helsinki, but that could just be the case.

Chagaev-Valuev cancellation a black eye for the sport

It was supposed to be a fight to give some clarity back to the heavyweight division, but it ended up being another black mark for the sport. The ridiculous situation that had Nikolay Valuev holding the WBA title and Ruslan Chagaev being an active "champion in recess" was supposed to be sorted out in Helsinki, leaving us with "only" three world heavyweight champions. But, instead, the WBA have said they will not make their mind up for seven days, leaving us to a week of claim, counter claims and threats of lawsuits.

Pacquiao planning to be ringside for Khan

Manny Pacquiao is planning to be ringside in London on June 27 to cheer o his training partner Amir Khan when he challenges for the WBA light-welterweight title. Khan is presently training with Freddie Roach in Hollywood, but says Pacquiao, who knocked out Ricky Hatton last month, has said that he want to see Khan take on Andreas Kotelnik. 

"Manny is back in the Philippines at the moment, but he's said that he would like to come to the fight, and we'll look after him," Khan said. "It will be good to have him there." 

Valuev-Chagaev called off

Saturday's WBA heavyweight title bout between Nikolay Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev in Helsinki has been called after Chagaev is believed to have tested positive for a mild form of hepatitis B.

Kotelnik does not fear a hometown verdict against Amir Khan

You could forgive Andreas Kotelnik for thinking people in the UK were out to get him. He has twice been on the wrong end of contentious decisions here and when he was making plans for his upcoming defence of his WBA light-welterweight title against Amir Khan, he struggled to obtain a visa. All that is in the past now, though, as the fresh six-month visa in his passport will attest. But it stands to reason that he could still be a bit fearful when it comes to facing the hometown man in Britain.

Mayweather madness

OK, so who never saw that happening? Floyd Mayweather Jr's two-day trip to the UK culminated in an open workout at the Peacock gym at Canning Town, East London, on Friday afternoon. For those that don't know, the Peacock can probably comfortably hold 200 people - about 3,000 turned up.

What resulted was a dangerous crush. When I got there, at about 3pm, the doors were already shut and there were several hundred people locked outside, with plenty more still arriving and some already leaving. I talked my way through a side gate (I was on an official list, honest), but inside it was crowded and sweltering. Floyd didn't arrive for another 90 minutes, having had to make the last bit of the journey on foot because his car could not get through the crowd.

Now the cynical part of me has a hunch that the organisers got exactly what they wanted - a big scene. All the goings-on were being filmed for HBO's latest 24/7 programme. It will be Mayweather's third version of the show and - like many shows in their third season - the storyline could be running a bit thin. So was this merely an elaborate ruse to get a good scene for TV?

Junior Witter headed for Florida

Junior Witter will head to the United States as he bids to regain his WBC light-welterweight title. Witter lost the title to Timothy Bradley last May, but the American vacated the title after winning the WBO title from Kendall Holt, leaving Witter to face another American, Devon Alexander, for the title. 

The promoters of Witter and Alexander, Mick Hennessy and Don King, reached an agreement on Friday for the bout to go ahead on July 11 at the BankAtlantic Centre, in Sunrise, Florida, which is close to Fort Lauderdale. It will be on the same bill as Australian-based Armenian Vic Darchinyan, who is bidding to win his third world title when he challenges Joseph Agbeko for the IBF bantamweight title, as well as the vacant IBF lightweight title fight between Yuri Romanov and Fernando Angulo.

DeGale enjoying his humble pie

James DeGale followed up his second professional bout in Belfast on Friday with a three-day trip to Argentina to take part in a celebrity edition of the BBC One show Total Wipeout. Such is the life on the modern-day Olympian, DeGale gets to spend more time on light entertainment shows than in the ring.

Recently DeGale has been on Beat The Star, The Feelgood Factor and also filmed a boxers edition of The Weakest Link. The appearances have an important role apart from merely providing a few appearance fees (The Weakest Link for one was a charity event), because, while Audley Harrison and Amir Khan got to build their careers on terrestrial TV, DeGale has so far boxed on Sky. Vastly more people will have watched DeGale driving a car round a track on Beat The Star than saw him destroy Jindrich Kubin on Friday and DeGale needs to keep up his public profile.

Kubin lasted 142 seconds against DeGale. It was a raw novice against an accomplished boxer and there was the usual ridiculous rush to draw conclusions on how far DeGale can go in his career based on that. But just as they did in his safety-first debut against unambitious Vepkhia Tchilaia, people will draw conclusions and they will make comparisons.

Mayweather opens workout to the public

Seeing Floyd Mayweather Jr in training something to behold and the returning former five-weight world champion is opening a workout to the public in London this week.

Williams-Chisora falls through

Talks for Danny Williams to defend his British heavyweight title against Derek Chisora have collapsed after Frank Warren, Chisora's promoter, refused to meet Williams's demands. Warren planned to stage the bout at the O2 Arena, London, on June 27, on the undercard of Amir Khan's challenge for Andreas Kotelnik's WBA light-welterweight title.

A press conference was called for Wednesday at the RAF Museum, Hendon, but rather than announce that the fight was on, Warren said it was off.

"Danny Williams agreed the fight last week, but then he came back and asked for double the money," Warren said. "He can forget it. We are not doing that after his last two snoozathons. Derek will have to get himself into a mandatory position to fight for the title."

Buchanan comeback? Don't hold your breath

Ridiculous story of the week No 1 - Ken Buchanan is making a comeback at 63. What's next? Joe Calzaghe making a comeback? That really would be daft.

The Top 50 light-heavyweights ever (31-40)

I really enjoy reader feedback, positive or negative, particularly on these lists, but once in a while I receive the kind of advise that makes me generally think 'what's the point?' Such a message was recently left by someone calling himself "Straight Left", who responded to the Top 100 British Boxers list (15 months after I finished it) by making such claims as "Joe Calzaghe should not be in the top 100... would be lucky to last a round with Jock McAvoy and Len Harvey....you know little....write about what you know... blah, blah, blah ". Mr Left, who didn't bother leaving an e-mail address, also made some points about Jim Driscoll and Naseem Hamed, adding that because there were so many more boxers pre-war, it stands to reason that the standard was much higher.

Anyway rather than merely rubbish Mr Left's opinions, they do raise an important question, were things really better in the old days? Now, however old Mr Left is (he'd have to be about 90 to have seen Harvey-McAvoy in the flesh), I'm pretty certain he never saw Driscoll, nor any decent film of him. So what do we go on? The answer is legends. We all grew up with them, but that doesn't mean they are true. And much like the esteemed national newspaper colleague who downgraded Calzaghe's achievements in the US compared to Tommy Farr (who failed in all four attempts to win there, a fact he probably didn't know), putting things in perspective is not the same as repeating old stories. Just because Britain is more successful in boxing now, it does not necessarily follow that boxing as a whole is worse.

Besides which, these lists are not in any way definitive. They are an opportunity to put a bit of history in the blog. Perhaps Mr Left would be happier if old-timers were completely forgotten. I don't believe that, one of boxing's great strengths is it's history. And what's more, they're just my opinion. And sometimes I don't even believe my choices, there are some that are there just to be controversial and create debate.

Anyway, back to this list, which brings us back to Calzaghe. A big test was where to rate Calzaghe - or indeed Bernard Hopkins - in this list. In the end, I rated neither, as two fights against Jones and Hopkins just doesn't make a light-heavyweight. But if I ever get round to the super-middleweight list, he'll be pretty high up. Thomas Hearns is in there, however, which I don't know if I fully understand either.

Mayweather and Marquez heading to London

Floyd Mayweather Jr and Juan Manuel Marquez are due in London next week as part of their media tour to promote their bout on July 18. The fight - the first of Mayweather's comeback, was announced in Las Vegas (where it will take place) on the day of the Hatton-Pacquiao fight. There will be three stops on the media tour - Los Angeles, New York and London, kicking off on Sunday.

Chisora gets his shot at Williams

Derek Chisora is barely past a novice as a professional but he talks big and now he is getting his chance to make his case. Two weeks ago Frank Warren, Chisora's promoter, threw out a challenge to Danny Williams, the British heavyweight champion. Never one to duck a challenge, Williams said yes and today, the British Boxing Board of Control approved the bout.

Chisora is likely to get his shot at the O2 Arena, south-east London, on June 27. It is an already crowded bill, with Amir Khan challenging Andreas Kotelnik for the WBA light-welterweight title, Matthew Macklin defending his British middleweight title, the interesting clash between Anthony Small and Matthew Hall for the vacant British light-middleweight title, plus James DeGale, Frankie Gavin and Billy Joe Saunders, providing the last three come through their fights in Belfast on Friday night unscathed.

It is a big step up for Chisora, who has only had nine bouts as a professional. The 25-year-old Londoner, who won the ABA super-heavyweight title in 2005, last time being taken the distance by Norway-based Russian journeyman Daniel Peret. His best win was last June, when he stopped Sam Sexton with just 26 seconds of their six-rounder remaining. It is the only defeat on the record of Sexton, who went on to win the second Prizefighter series and challenges Martin Rogan for the Commonwealth title on Friday night.

Williams, 35, first boxed for the British title more than a decade ago, losing to Julius Francis at the Albert Hall. But he won the British title the next year and has held it on and off since. His most recent defence was just 12 days ago, when he beat John McDermott on a split points decision in Sunderland.

Chisora is due to have a warm-up fight at York Hall on May 22. Should he beat Williams, Chisora would become the least experienced British heavyweight champion in history, beating the record of 12 bouts, jointly held by Michael Holden and Matt Skelton.

Amir Khan settling back into his LA lifestyle

To some, Freddie Roach might just have seemed an extravagant choice as the new coach of Amir Khan. Some believe trainers are just the guys who get the boxer fit, the boxer is the one who does the fighting, so why train in Hollywood when you can train in London or Manchester. No one is saying that now. Not only did Roach get a huge, gaudy trophy for being the world's best trainer, when Manny Pacquiao knocked out Ricky Hatton, he got everyone believing it too. Pacquiao's mastery of Hatton was not just a case of Hatton being knocked out by a better fighter, Pacquiao beat him tactically too.

Having started his training camp in Las Vegas for his challenge for Andreas Kotelnik's WBA light-welterweight title, on June 27 at the O2 Arena, London, Khan is back in Hollywood now and working hard.

Big Enzo leaves little Enzo

Enzo Maccarinelli, the former WBO cruiserweight champion, has split from his trainer Enzo Calzaghe. Maccarinelli, 28, will now be trained by Karl Ince in Manchester. 

The move comes after Maccarinelli lost his bout for the interim WBO title against Ola Afolabi in Manchester in March. He was stopped in the eighth round after being heavily knocked down, but admitted afterwards that he had barely done any sparring, while Calzaghe had been missing from training for two weeks while attending his son High Court action against Sports Network Ltd, the promoters.

Debate: should Hatton retire?

More Boxing debate: where does Pacquiao stand among the greats?

The days ahead for Ricky Hatton will give plenty of opportunity for reflection. A trip to hospital prevented him from attending the post-fight press conference after his two-round defeat to Manny Pacquiao, while his team decided that it was best for him not to do his traditional morning after sitdown with the British press either, perhaps because they wanted to protect him from making any knee-jerk decisions on his future. But Hatton must now take some time to ponder the biggest question of all, should he retire?

Debate: where does Pacquiao stand among the greats?

More boxing debate: should Hatton retire right now?

Manny Pacquiao can start ticking off the plaudits. Greatest Filipino boxer - no doubt. Greatest Asian boxer - very probably. But where would he stand in an all-time list?

Pacquiao has been compared to Henry Armstrong, the remarkable American who held world titles at featherweight, lightweight and welterweight at the same time when there were only eight world titles. So by that reckoning, Pacquiao should come in very highly.

Hatton knocked out in two

 

Ricky Hatton was knocked out cold by Manny Pacquiao inside two rounds in Las Vegas, as the Filipino underlined his status as the world No 1 pound-for-pound fighter. Hatton was knocked down three times, the final time for a long time, as he simple could not cope with the speed of the Filipino.

Hatton was down twice in the first round and, while he tried to battle back in the second, he just did not seem to see Pacquiao's shots coming. The finishing left hook was a sickener as Hatton. The Mancunian seemed to be out cold before he hit the canvas where he lay, motionless, on his back. Kenny Bayless, the referee, quickly dispensed with the count. The official time was two minutes 59 seconds.

Matthew Hatton lines up IBO title shot

Matthew Hatton cleared the way for a shot at the IBO welterweight title as he was a clear unanimous points winner over Ernesto Zepeda, of Mexico, at the MGM Gran in Las Vegas. It was a fight mostly lacking in highlights, but Hatton forced the pace for the whole eight rounds, claiming a unanimous decision with scores of 78-84 (twice) and 79-73.

Murray impresses in Las Vegas

Joe Murray made an impressive Las Vegas debut as he won a wide unanimous points decision over Missael Nunez, of Los Angeles, on the Hatton-Pacquiao undercard. The featherweight from Manchester dominated the entire four rounds, using the ring well and showing a good variety of punches.

Hatton and Mayweather split rumours denied

Ricky Hatton's father and manager, Ray, has denied that Floyd Mayweather Sr is to be dumped as Hatton's trainer. Stories have been circulating that all is not happy in the Hatton camp, with Mayweather's erratic timekeeping and love of the spotlight causing discontent. But Ray Hatton says that a split is not on the cards. 

"Splitting with Floyd has not come up," Ray said. "We are concentrating on the fight against Pacquiao. I have not heard even any kind of suggestion at the moment that Ricky and Floyd will split. No one is even thinking about the next fight because if things go wrong in this one there might well not be a next one."