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Malignaggi left seething

I was losing but not hurt, insists the Magic Man

Last updated: 23rd November 2008

Malignaggi: baffled by stoppage

I had the sense it wasn't my night and Ricky fought a great fight, but I was hurt worse against Cotto.

HATTON v MALIGNAGGI
IBO Light-Welterweight title
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Paulie Malignaggi was left seething by the first stoppage of his career at the hands of Ricky Hatton.

The New Yorker was halted in the 11th round of his IBO light-welterweight title clash when trainer Buddy McGirt climbed into the ring.

McGirt had warned the Magic Man he needed to see something coming back at the end of the 10th, but waited only 28 seconds before he had seen enough.

Malignaggi pushed him away and even after talking it through with his cornerman, was still baffled as to why he was left with a TKO on his record.

"I understand I was behind in the fight, but I'm better than being stopped," he told Sky Box Office.

"Ricky fought a great fight, I tip my hat to him, but I am better than being stopped.

"It'a knockout on my record and I was hurt worse in the Miguel Cotto fight two years ago and they didn't stop that fight, so I couldn't understand why they stopped this."

Height

Malignaggi was honest enough to admit he was beaten by the better man.

He said that Hatton's size and skill had shocked him and forced him to abandon the gameplan he was so sure would bring him victory and secure his place at the top of the 140lbs rankings.

"He's short and I thought I could use my height against him, but he moves in well with his height and comes up with his up-jabs," he said.

"He was making me pull back a bit and get a little bit out of position, with a couple of feints and stuff.

"He fought a good fight, I take my hat off. It's not that I thought I was winning the fight, I'm not mad about that, it's just that I'm better than being stopped.

"I had the sense it wasn't my night and Ricky fought a great fight, but I was hurt worse against Cotto."

Muscle

Hatton now looks like he will leave the light-welterweight division in search of a megabucks showdown with Oscar de la Hoya, assuming the Golden Boy beats Manny Pacquiao on December 6.

But Malignaggi says the Hitman is taking on too much and that in this instance, size does matter.

"I think Ricky's a good fighter but I don't know whether he can match up with his size advantage," he said.

"I wish him the best if the fight comes off, but I just think Oscar's too big like he's too big in the Pacquiao fight, not because I don't think Ricky's not talented.

"Ricky's a strong guy inside, but if a guy is too big for him, I'm not sure he is able to use that muscle."