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Malignaggi: Floyd's bad move

New Yorker slams decision to team up with Hatton

Last updated: 9th October 2008

Malignaggi: I'm number one

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Paulie Malignaggi believes both Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Snr have made a mistake by teaming up with each other.

The trash-talking New Yorker insists he will make the veteran trainer pay for taking on Hatton, who he says is too one-dimensional to change after a decade with former tutor Billy Graham.

Malignaggi will fight Hatton on November 22 in Las Vegas and maintains that he will prove himself to be the best light-welterweight in the world.

"Floyd Mayweather Snr is putting himself in a tough situation and putting a lot of pressure on Hatton," Malignaggi said. "You can't teach dogs new tricks.

"He can teach him a few things in two months but Hatton doesn't have the talent, natural speed and defensive ability.

"Mayweather's been opening his mouth and when I beat Hatton, everybody is going to say he shouldn't have gotten rid of his trainer and blame Mayweather.

"When they lose it's going to cost Mayweather a lot of jobs."

Malignaggi also slammed Hatton for talking up a potential fight against the winner of Oscar De La Hoya v Manny Pacquaio, adding: "I'm focused on Ricky Hatton, not De La Hoya or Pacquiao.

"It's goig to be a very frustrating night for Ricky Hatton. He'll be catching a lot. I'll prove that Paulie Malignaggi is the number one 140-pounder in the world."