By Ronnie Nathanielsz

MANNY Pacquiao has been warned to watch out for International Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton?s dirty tactics in their Las Vegas showdown on May 2.

The warning came from World Boxing Association featherweight champion Chris John?s Australian trainer Craig Christian.

Australian Web site Sports Nut quoted Christian as claiming Hatton was ?one of the dirtiest fighters out there. Hatton will rough up Pacquiao or try to for sure.?

Christian claimed the British fighter would use the same brawling tactics that led to the knockout over Kostya Tzsyu.

Although Christian said he thinks Hattom is too strong for Pacquiao at junior welterweight and even predicted a Hatton knockout victory in six rounds, the trainer said: ?It will be an action-packed fight, because I don?t expect Pacquiao to back off.?

Christian advised trainer Freddie Roach and Pacquiao?s handlers to expose Hatton?s dirty tactics before the fight, ?to put the referee on alert.?

Roach himself earlier told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that he was watching out for Hatton?s tactics and claimed that the British fighter pushes his opponents against the ropes, throws a couple of punches and then grabs so his opponent can?t hit back.