MANILA, Philippines—Ricky Hatton, no matter what Freddie Roach predicts, will not convert into a brother or distant cousin of Manny Pacquiao’s last two victims.

Remember Pacquiao’s sensational knockout wins, against David Diaz and Oscar de la Hoya, last year?

Diaz was stunned and reduced into an immobile target, a statue no less.

De La Hoya suffered from cold feet, unable to box as he stood frozen like a paralytic.

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Well, it’s easy to blame those two mismatches on Pacquiao’s vaunted power and speed.

In fact, these gifts were last time superbly enhanced by newfound mobility and deceptiveness.

The Diaz case was forgivable.

He prepared hard and was visibly at his best.

Just too bad that Pacquiao turned into a perfect storm that lashed with fearful, numbing fury at the sound of the bell.

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The De La Hoya devastation was a totally different case.

The Golden Boy had to bluff and lie in order to sell the promotion.

He bragged and vowed he would show up in perfect fighting form.

He instead came at his ugliest best.

He also ended up taking boxing with him to the emergency room.

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Correction: Oscar did show up looking at his best—but only for a TV segment shoot.

He loaded up on cheap make-up and contributed singly in turning the match into an athletic oddity.

De La Hoya also brought boxing down to its knees.

Of course, they no longer needed an ambulance to help prizefighting back on its feet.

They no longer had to borrow a cure from Larry Merchant, the original proponent of the awful Dream Match.

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For one, how would’ve Merchant ever suspected that De La Hoya, with his shameful mask, had turned shallow, dishonest and unfit?

Repeat: Hatton is not even a distant relative of Pacquiao’s last two KO victims.

Freddie Roach had himself claimed that Pacquiao, this time out, will be clashing with somebody who can pull the trigger.

Just the same, Roach did come out ahead with a vow that Pacquiao would stop Hatton.

Roach said the stoppage would be in the latter rounds, maybe the ninth or tenth, when Pacquiao catches Hatton.

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Roach did call Hatton a live-wire, a red-hot slugger who seldom takes a step back.

That was as good as saying Hatton is a willing target, perfect for the sensational world pound-for-pound king.

As a result, initial postings at the Hilton Las Vegas sports book on Friday placed Pacquiao a minus-215 favorite.

That means a $2.15 bet on Pacquiao would net only $1.00 if they fought today.

Based on Pacquiao’s phenomenal soar to all-time greatness, the odds could just go out of hand as the fight nears.

Of course, there are a few who would put their beer pennies on Hatton.

Among them is noted boxing chronicler Geoff Poundes, a prizefight seer from Britain.

“Without question, Hatton is sure to KO Pacquiao, no matter what the world says,” he says.

He singled out Pacquiao’s body, “a weak spot,” which has not been fully exploited.

(More of this in the next column)