Time to crown King Manny

(and boom goes the dynamite)

Wow.

Simply wow.

When Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao faced British fighter Ricky Hatton last Saturday, I – along with nearly every boxing analyst I saw and read – predicted that it was going to be a long, hard-fought bout (I had Pacquiao winning with a ninth-round knockout). This was only the Pacman's third bout above 130 and Hatton had an undefeated record at light welterweight.

In fact, the only person I saw who predicted anything short of a drawn-out battle was Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, who said it wasn't going to go past three rounds.

It didn't even get to round three. In fact it was absolutely lopsided as Pacquiao utterly dominated Hatton, knocking him down twice in the first before taking him out with a devastating left with a second left in the second. Hatton's trademark bullying tactics could not work against someone so fast, so strong and oh so accurate.

Any doubts that he's not big enough to compete at this weight has been erased. Those who questioned his beating of an over-the-hill, malnourished Oscar De La Hoya can't argue with his results against Hatton, who before this weekend was the reigning king of light welterweights.

All hail, King Manny.

When Pacquiao beat Erik Morales, he was considered one of the best fighters the Philippines had produced, alongside Flash Elorde. When he won the world title at 135 and then beat De La Hoya at 147, he was seen as the best boxer Asia's produced and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. With his domination of Hatton, he now has to be placed among the greatest of all time.

This from a 98-pound 16-year-old who lied about his age and placed metal weights in his pockets so that he could participate in his first fight 14 years ago.

But like most boxing fans, I want to see him face Floyd Mayweather Jr., the former pound-for-pound champion. If Mayweather beats Juan Manuel Marquez in July, it's almost a certainty that their paths will clash in a December or January fight.

Mayweather has shown that he has problems against fighters who are faster and stronger than him. Against Zab Judah, he struggled early on as Judah pushed him. But Judah has no stamina and once round three started, Mayweather was in his rhythm.

But Pacquiao's no Judah. He's faster, more accurate and has some of the best footwork in boxing. Mayweather relies on speed and accuracy, too, so it'll be fun to watch.