By WIRE SERVICES

Manny Pacquiao is hoping to do what he did his last time in the ring, which is give his opponent a real beating. Oddsmakers feel he will, making the Philippines’ national hero a 2-1 favorite over English challenger Ricky Hatton in their 12-round light welterweight bout Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. HBO will televise it on a pay-per-view basis.

This is the first fight for Pacquiao since sending Oscar De La Hoya into retirement with a savage beating.

Considered the best fighter pound-for-pound in the world, Pacquiao takes a record of 48-3-2 with 36 knockouts into the battle of 140-pounders. Hatton is 45-1 with 32 KOs.

If he wins, as expected, he will have claimed world titles in six divisions starting at 112 pounds.

“If that happens, people will want to put my name in boxing history and that will be my legacy,” Pacquiao said.

Hatton wants to use this fight to dispel some notions about him.

“People say (I’m) over-hyped, overprotected, a fat, beer-drinking Englishman,” he said. “Well, I’m going to shock the world again.”

Hatton’s lone defeat was at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who stopped him in the 10th round in 2007.
In his most recent fight, Hatton stopped Paulie Malignaggi a few weeks before Pacquiao did the same to De La Hoya.

The two met Wednesday at the final news conference before the fight.

Hatton expressed confidence he can pull off the upset.

“Manny has not fought anybody that’s going to put as much pressure on him with as much force and strength and power and hand speed,” Hatton said. “I’d like to think I’ll be too much for him, but I think it’s going to a wonderful fight.” read more