Malignaggi's mad for it

Magic Man eager to sign two-fight deal with Hatton

Last updated: 8th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Malignaggi's mad for it

Malignaggi: coming to Manchester

I'm ready to sign on the dotted line and prove to the Hattons and everyone else that Paulie Malignaggi is ready and up for the task of making this the biggest and best promotion that it can be.

Paulie Malignaggi
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Paulie Malignaggi says he cannot wait to join Ricky Hatton's Homecoming.

The Magic Man, holder of the IBF light-welterweight title, is poised to be the chief support for the Hitman's emotional return to Manchester on May 24, live on Sky Box Office.

It will be the first of a two-fight deal which will see Malignaggi face off against Hatton later in the year in America.

And although the details have yet to be finalised, the flamboyant New Yorker is confident he will be heading to the City of Manchester Stadium, probably to take on Lovemore N'Dou - the man he beat for the IBF title last June.

"I'm really grateful that Team Hatton looks like they'll give me the opportunity to fight on Ricky's big card in Manchester in May and then against him in the Fall in the United States," he said.

"I want to thank Ricky, his father, Ray, his lawyer, Gareth (Williams), who I met in Vegas, my team and everyone at Golden Boy and DBE for working so hard on this.

"I know I'm not always the easiest guy to deal with because I get so emotional over stupid stuff and open my mouth. I want to hype things up and get my chance to prove to everyone that I can walk the walk with the best.

"I'm ready to sign on the dotted line and prove to the Hattons and everyone else that Paulie Malignaggi is ready and up for the task of making this the biggest and best promotion that it can be."

Malignaggi is refusing to get ahead of himself and focus on their eventual meeting but could not contain his excitement about coming to England for the first time.

A stunning 45,000 tickets for Homecoming sold out in just 36 hours last week and his rival cannot wait to sample the special atmosphere that only the mix of Hatton and Manchester can create.

"Everyone was blown away when they heard Ricky was going to fight at City of Manchester Stadium. It's going to be crazy over there!

"They've had a lot of quality fighters in Great Britain - Joe Calzaghe, David Haye, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank. They also had Lennox Lewis, but nothing like what Ricky means to them."

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Comments (1)

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Brian Hickey says...

I think Ricky should put up against Juniort Witter. I have personally boxed Junior twice as an amateur, I think it would be an excellent fight and would redeem Ricky's credibility by banging this fella out who has disrespected him on so many occasions. I think Rixky will have too much to offer Paulie and should dispose of him easily in the mid rounds, he will be too strong and busy for te charasmatic New Yorker. Once he has regained his old belt I think Ricky should look to unify the devision with his first objective to remove the outspoken Witter. Brian Hickey Sheffield

Posted 10:36 23rd March 2008
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