Paulie on course for Hatton

Malignaggi: Healing well

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Paulie Malignaggi is ahead of schedule in his race to be fit for his November light welterweight showdown with Ricky Hatton in November.

Malignaggi required surgery on a fractured bone in his right hand he suffered back in May, when he fought on the undercard at Hatton's homecoming bout in Manchester.

The 'Magic Man' is well ahead of schedule in his recovery and is training lightly already at Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn, and is out running three times a week.

Hatton and Malignaggi will fight in Las Vegas on November 22, and the IBF light welterweight champion is, as always, supremely confident.

Malignaggi (25-1) can return to punching in a few weeks and is ahead of the normal healing process for this type of injury, according to hand specialist Dr Stevens Margles.

"I can start punching in a few weeks," an ecstatic Malignaggi said after last week's evaluation by Dr Margles.

"I'm building a base now and excited about soon starting training camp (with head trainer Buddy McGirt in Vero Beach, Florida).

"After I beat Hatton I will be universally recognized as the top junior welterweight in the world."

Dr Margles said he was impressed with the speed of Malignaggi's recovery, saying he is well ahead of schedule.

"I'm impressed with how the bone has healed," said the doctor.

"It looks great and is way ahead of normal healing schedules.

"Paulie will be able to punch the light bag (probably by the end of next week) and two weeks later punch with more resistance."