Daniel Herbert (Assistant Editor)

When this fight was first announced, I leaned slightly towards Hatton because 10st is his best weight and he can maintain formidable aggression for 12 rounds.

But the more I have thought about it, the more I have veered towards Pacquiao, who unlike Hatton has the ability to vary his tactics – can either swarm all over an opponent or move in and out, using his speed to pick someone off. And Manny's hardest fights have come against boxers very different in style from Ricky, such as Juan Manuel Marquez, a smart boxer who wastes few punches.

It may be hectic while it lasts, with both being rocked early on before Pacquiao busts Ricky up to prevail in about eight rounds.

Tris Dixon (Senior Writer/Web Editor)

Well, if this fight even makes it to the middle rounds then there is a good chance that, by then, one fighter is in control and should be able to maintain it. Either Pacquiao’s speed and mobility will be the difference or Hatton’s strength and power will have him in the ascendency.

However, as great at this fight could be I have a bad gut feeling that someone could be cut and we could be in for an early night. After re-watching their last two fights, both jump in (in a generally controlled manner) but if heads clashed between southpaw and orthodox sluggers you would not be surprised.

It would be a real shame if that would be the case and Hatton fans will argue he has not been cut for a while. But that could mean – using the law of averages – he is due one and Pacquiao’s a slashing puncher even if heads don’t bump.

Still, I like Hatton’s short right against a portsider and his left hook to head and, more to the point, body should find their home regularly. The things that concern me, however, are Hatton’s form against lefties and cuts. He was dropped by Eamonn Magee, had a torrid time with switch hitter Jon Thaxton and was fortunate to get a decision against Luis Collazo in Boston at welterweight. Southpaw pads would have helped his preparation but you have to think that if Hatton’s been having as much trouble against his southpaw sparring partners as we have been led to believe then he could be in for a very, very rocky night.

I have a feeling there will be blood, and plenty of it. Whether or not it affects the outcome remains to be seen but, providing it does not, I am going for Pacquiao to win a war that could last five minutes, five rounds or even go the distance.

It is never good to change your mind the week of the fight, I liked Hatton to win – and still think he’s in with a great chance – but after some serious thought I have switched. If Hatton is to lose, though, he will go out on his shield. That much is a certainty.

Nick Bond (Art Editor)

AS Cus D'Amato famously once said "square pegs don't die round". I don't buy into all the talk of a new and vastly improved Ricky Hatton. Sure, he showed adjustments in his first fight with Mayweather Snr – took his time, more

jabs, more educated approach etc – but when push comes to shove he will always be an aggressive, strong, pressure fighter. This is no disrespect to Hatton, he's proved, so far, unbeatable at this weight.

His game is to maul and to hunt you down, cutting off the ring and look to land his Rolls Royce of a left hook to the body, but Pernell Whitaker he's not.

I'm still not sure Mayweather Snr is the right trainer to suit Hatton's style. Whereas Pacquiao and Freddie Roach look made for each other and have been together for years – Roach knows Pacquiao inside out and how to get the best out of his man – Hatton and Mayweather don't.

When looking at Pacquiao I have to disregard the De La Hoya fight – De La Hoya was so horribly weight-drained and vastly inferior to his brilliant best – it's a mirage in as much as it wasn't even a fight. It was that one-sided. I didn't give him a prayer against Oscar beforehand, but nobody could've foreseen the problems De La Hoya had with making weight.

But Pacquiao is an awesome fighter with blistering hand speed and genuine one-punch power. He's like a combination of Henry Armstong, Jimmy Wilde and Aaron Pryor! Like Ricky, he likes to go to the body and with great success – he nearly broke Erik Morales in half with his body attack in their rematch.

There's only one fighter I'd pick to beat Ricky at 10st or below and unfortunately for Hatton it's Pacquiao. Hatton will need a Kostya Tszyu-sized performance to win on Saturday night, but I don't think he'll ever match

that night in 2005 when he was irresistible halting the great Russian-Australian.

Speed beats strength for me – Pacquiao has it in abundance and will catch Hatton coming in with spearing southpaw lefts and right hooks. Hatton will have his moments and I see it being a gruelling fight.

Pacquiao on points or possibly a late stoppage.

Danny Flexen

This contest fully deserves its superfight billing. Hatton is back in good form, with a proven trainer - thought Mayweather Snr has confessed to there being problems in camp - and has reintroduced some guile into his aggressive repertoire.

Pacquiao is proven to be one of the top two fighters - he has yet to convincingly beat Juan Manuel Marquez - outside of Floy Mayweather Jnr in the last few years. He is super-fast, produces a high workrate and uses his feet to give him opportunities. Hatton may indeed be the physically stronger man at 10st but I doubt he'll hit harder and if Ricky thought he got hit often against Mayweather, he will get hit a whole lotmore against the Pacman, just by virtue of the amount of shots thrown by the Filipino buzzsaw. Hatton has to push Manny back as Pacquiao is not as effective on the back foot and I've rarely seen opponents laucnh a consistant body attack against him; this Hatton will do. But against mayweather, his lack of discipline let him down. Tiring in the later rounds, Hatton digressed from the gameplan and reverted to what was natural: going in face-first looking for the big shots. No amount of minor changes to his style will alter his natural instincts when weary. And if this fight goes beyond six rounds, as I believe it will, both men will begin to tire. I expect Pacquiao to handle that better and stop and exhausted Hatton around the ninth.