On Sat. November 22, 2008 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, Ricky Hatton will be facing Paulie Malignaggi in a junior welterweight clash.
Many believe that Ricky Hatton is taking this fight for a safe and easy win, but Paulie Malignaggi and his corner feel he has just the right style that will help him come up with an upset win.
Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) is a fighter who lacks no confidence and he has held championships. In his mind, he should be one of the top boxers of this century. "The Magic Man" has the same swagger that Prince Ahmed, Hector Camacho, and Hector Camacho Jr. brought to conferences and to the ring.
The one thing he doesn't bring like those guys, is the ability to knock opponents out.
With only five knockouts in 26 fights, Paulie doesn't have the explosive style that fans are drawn too. He also doesn't cause a big threat to opponents that have had their jaw tested like Ricky Hatton did against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The threat he does pose, however, is stamina, speed, and endurance. He is a skilled boxer with a quick jab and fast head movement that can throw any fighter off.
Paulie Malignaggi also proved he can take a punch when he faced Miguel Cotto. Although he lost the fight, Malginaggi courageously took head and body punches from a strong Cotto and ended the fight on his feet, showing amazing heart and confidence.
You couldn't help but notice that Paulie Malignaggi believed he was in the right place at the right time at that moment, fighting the best.
The stakes are high for Ricky Hatton (44-1, 31 KOs) in this fight. Will he make a comeback or a departure like long time former trainer, Billy Graham, did leading up to this matchup? Hatton found a new trainer in Floyd Mayweather Sr., but the big question is what will be the out come of the merger?
Hatton had a great run with Billy Graham in his corner, with their father and son-like relationship.
They only saw one defeat and that was against the aforementioned Floyd Mayweather Jr., which was expected, since many claim he as the best pound-for-pound at the time.
"The Hitman's" bully-type style has worked against many opponents, and has stopped big time fighters such as Kostya Tszya and Jose Luis Castillo. Fighters who were willing to stand toe-to-toe with him.
However, when he has gone against fighters who relied on boxing ability and not strength, Hatton struggled.
He barely came out with the win against Luis Collazo because of the slick movement and jab Luis fought with, and last I checked Paulie Malignaggi was just that type of fighter.
Ricky could have worked on his jab and head movement with Mayweather Sr., but your not going to get that much change of style from a veteran fighter like Hatton.
You’re most likely to see frustration in Hatton's corner when Floyd Sr., is screaming for the jab and for Ricky Hatton to move side to side. Especially if Ricky can't find the rhythm or the posture he needs to throw that jab.
Hopefully if Mayweather did change Hatton’s training method, it was the conditioning and stamina to go 12 rounds.
My prediction is Ricky and Paulie will do what they to best.
Paulie will jab and move as much as possible and try to get into Ricky Hatton's head. His conditioning and experience with fights going the distance will give him an advantage in the late rounds.
Ricky Hatton may try to jab and show some boxing ability until he realizes he will need to immobilize Paulie to get some affective contact to happen. Ricky Hatton will need to bully and wrestle Paulie to be effective, if he makes it a boxing match he's setting himself up for defeat.
Style will make the fight. The winner will be the one that can make it his type of fight a brawl or a hit and miss.
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about 1 month ago
Well I didn't expect that Ricky would have such an easy night with Malignaggi. I mean what happened to Paulie? Did Ricky throw him off of his game THAT much? I'm taken aback at how easy Hatton's night actually was. I figured Ricky would be far too strong for him but I expected Paulie to stick and move more than he did. If his right hand is to blame and he is that gun shy he should hang up the glove right now.
about 1 month ago
I agree completely with you Paulie blamed it on how short Hatton is and slick head movement . But lets be serious Ricky Hatton is no sly devil and I didn't see no major bobbing and weaving going on. I believe the Magic Man didn't expect the power of Ricky Hatton to be what it was. He took strong hits from Cotto and felt that Ricky wouldn't have nothing better then that in was wrong. Thanks for the comment and reading the article.
about 1 month ago
Yeah I agree same Hatton in fact Buddy McGirt said that between the 1st and 2nd. While I'm at it I was really disturbed at the lack of concern Vega's trainer had for him in the undercard. He was getting beaten from pillar to post while landing a few punches here and there but still. This is how fighters die, the ref totally did the right thing but it should have happened sooner and by the corner. My opinion of course but I'm a bit on the cautious side.
about 1 month ago
Agreed Vega was hurting and had no business going that deep into the fight getting hit with the shots he was taken. The corner should know more then anyone when to call the fight, and everyone knows when a boxer smiles every time a clean punch lands that just means I'M HURT!
about 1 month ago
That was one of the most one sided bouts I have seen. Hatton had it all the way.
about 1 month ago
Strongly agreed know what is next for the Hitman?
about 1 month ago
Quick question here, as a Brit, can you guys in America understand Ricky's Manchester accent? Oh and I'm glad Ricky won, I stayed up till 6 a.m for the bloody thing!
about 1 month ago
No, I don't have a problem understanding what he is talking about. And that's one way to show your loyalty. Great job showing your love for the sport and fighter.
about 1 month ago
malignaggi hung on to ricky like a drunk onto a lamppost,and speaking of corners not tking care of their man the ref should have stopped the hatton fight alot earlier.....paulie was doing nothing but taking a beating right from the start,(he won the 1st round) i am glad it went the way it did because of all the pure bs talk about malignaggi veating hatton(never in a million years by the way) in the run up to the fight. hatton outclassed outboxed and exposed malignaggi for the overhyped bum that he is. another point
that boils my blood is this bs about look how good cotto is and how bad he beat malignaggi,nut people said hatton couldnt do that or outbox him,wrong and wrong again,paulie won 5 rounds against cptto and only one against ricky,the yanks should stop disrespecting him and making out their fighters are sooooo good when its obviously just not true....hatton would destroy cotto at 140 fact! and the way he beat paulie better than miguel is proof
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