The man known as Hitman was ultimately done in by a vicious left hand that connected at the base of his jaw, turning the former champion off like a light switch in the middle of the ring. While it's still early, I'm pretty confident calling the punch knockout of the year. After brief exam in the ring Hatton walked off on his own power, presumably on his way to the hospital for a night of various scans.

For Pacman the future is as bright as ever. The pound-for-pound champ can now add the junior welterweight's lineal title to his collection, with eyes on a future fight versus the winner of July's Mayweather-Marquez showdown. Pacquiao has already defeated Marquez twice (one was scored a draw), although he was pushed to the limit in both contests. The tougher test at this point would likely come from Mayweather, who is the naturally bigger fighter and one of the best athletes on the planet. Regardless, we're talking about the top three fighters in the sport today.

If Hatton is going to have a future in the sport he's going to need to get over this knockout like he did the last time around against Mayweather. While his career as a pay-per-view headliner is likely over it doesn't mean he can't return as a competitive fighter, albeit one on the sport's second tier.

There's a video up on Sox and Dawgs.

Getty Image via Yahoo! Sports

Pacquiao enters tonight's fight as a significant favorite over his British foe. For Hatton this is a second, and possibly final chance to take down a pound-for-pound champion like Pacman. It's been two years since Hatton's aggressive and unrefined style was exposed by one of the sport's true greats, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Since that time Hatton has teamed up with the father of the only man to beat him, Floyd Mayweather Sr. The slightly insane trainer is confident in his abilities, and they shined through in Hatton's most recent fight, an easy win over the slick Paulie Malignaggi. However tonight's opponent is a completely different fighter, and if Hatton has any hopes of winning he'll need the best effort of his career.

For Pacman tonight should be business as usual. The Filipino sensation is ready to get back in the ring for the first time since his dismantling of a haggard Oscar de la Hoya, this time at a more comfortable 140 pound weight. Longtime trainer Freddie Roach will once again man the corner for Pacman, and both men appear supremely confident going in to tonight's contest. And well they should, seeing as how both men are at the top of their professions.

As far as predictions go you can put me down for a Pacquiao win, and let's call it a ninth round stoppage for fun.

For more extensive previews of tonight's action allow me to direct you to Queensberry Rules where the coverage has been superb all week. You'll also want to to take a look at the collected works of Large at No Mas and The Sporting Blog. And for those of you who are more visual learners, here are some highlights of tonight's pugilists via Bad Left Hook.

The Hitman from Manchester has come a long way since being put down by his new trainer's son last year, and now he can control his own destiny in the 140 pound light welterweight division. He's recently been called out by undefeated American Timothy Bradley who did Hatton the favor of silencing Junior Witter. So you think it's the least he could do to fight him. Of course what really matters is the money, and Hatton will be looking to cash some big checks in his next three fights.

Undefeated challenger James Kirkland earned the 24th win of his young career and his 21st knockout at the expense of a rugged Brian Vera. The self-proclaimed Mandingo Warrior crushed Vera with left hands until the referee made a wise stoppage. Kirkland took his fair share of shots, but that's to be expected as he faces more legitimate opposition. He's one of the top young stars in the light middleweight division along with fellow knockout artist Alfredo Angulo, and both should be challenging for major titles soon. Vernon Forrest and Verno Phillips are on the downside of their careers, and soon somebody of significance will need to face Paul Williams.

Mayweather is definitely taking trash talk to a new, odder level.

he Pretty Boy got the party started with this comment to Ricky Hatton: "I wish I was in prison with you. I'd make you my bitch."

Sticking with the prison theme, Hatton says Mayweather wanted to get OZ close and personal with him: "What Floyd doesn't know is that I don't get insulted. But he was very offensive. He told me he wanted to buttfuck me."

Well then. We're not sure how much we want to watch that Mayweather/Hatton 24/7 show now. It's not like "Cathouse," is it? We hope not.

Floyd Mayweather Wants To Pound Ricky Hatton [You Been Blinded]

If that company and travel schedule isn't enough to make you a drop a couple F-bombs on live television, I don't know what is.