Hatton, whose record now stands at 45-2, had been all business as he entered the ring while Pacquiao, now 49-3-2 (37 KOs), walked into the arena with a big grin on his face before reaching his corner and kneeling to pray.

Pacquiao had plenty of reasons to smile after a first round in which he launched an all-out assault, twice sending the Englishman to the canvas.

Hatton had started brightly, landing his jab as promised but he was soon on the backfoot as the Filipino warmed to his task.

In a torrid final minute, a right hook caught Hatton on the chin and sent him to the deck. He took the majority of the count from referee Kenny Bayless on his knees before rising calmly to his feet but with 40 seconds left to the bell he was quickly in trouble again.

A straight left sent Hatton onto the floor in front of his corner and this time he rose he had the relief of hearing the bell.

Hatton again began the second round well and appeared to rock Pacquiao back on his heels early on but he would not have the Filipino in trouble again and when the end came it was brutal.

Pacquiao sent a crushing left hook to Hatton’s chin and this time he was poleaxed, out before he hit the ground.

Bayless took one look at the prone Mancunian and immediately ended the fight as Hatton’s corner rushed into the ring to attend to their fighter and pandemonium broke out inside and out of the ring as his corner and thousands of fans went wild with delight.

Hatton stayed on the canvas for at least three minutes before he was helped onto a stool brought into the middle of the ring. He was also well enough to walk unaided from the ring back to his dressing room, albeit minus his IBO and Ring Magazine title belts.