Magic Man - Hatton overrated
IBF champion plans to overshadow Hatton in Manchester
Last updated: 22nd May 2008
Malignaggi during his defeat to Cotto
Paulie Malignaggi v Lovemore N'dou
IBF Light-Welterweight title
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Paulie Malignaggi has poured scorn on the idea that Ricky Hatton is the best light-welterweight in the world.
Malignaggi holds the IBF title at 140lbs and is defending it against Lovemore N'dou on the undercard of Hatton's 'homecoming' bout with Juan Lazcano on Saturday evening in Manchester.
But the New Yorker - nicknamed the 'Magic Man' - believes he will upstage Hatton on his own patch and, in the process, prove himself the class of the light-welterweight division.
He was also critical of Hatton's unsuccessful foray into the welterweight division in December when he was stopped in 10 rounds by Floyd Mayweather.
"If he (Hatton) wakes up every morning and looks at himself in the mirror and believes that, then all power to him," Malignaggi told Sky Sports News when asked if Hatton was the best light-welterweight.
"Come Saturday night I'm going to be defending my world title. He's coming down to 140lbs - a champion needs to stay in his weight class and defend his title, he can't just jumble up and down not giving guys title shots.
"I believe it's Ricky showing he's earned the right to put on his type of show and he's going to be a star on Saturday night.
"But I'm going to put on my razzle and my dazzle on Saturday night and people will know I'm there - I'm going to leave my mark on Manchester."
The solitary defeat of Malignaggi's 25-fight professional career came when he dropped a unanimous decision to WBO champion Miguel Angel Cotto in June 2006.
And the 27-year-old is hoping that victory over N'dou will open the way for a rematch with the unbeaten Cotto.
"Everybody keeps talking about it since I got here - 'Ricky Hatton wants Floyd Mayweather again, Ricky Hatton wants Floyd Mayweather again' - I'm more deserving of a rematch with Miguel Cotto than Ricky Hatton is with Floyd Mayweather," he reckoned.
- Video
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Comments
Texas Pete says...
Mikey Mike you stole my thunder. 'Nuff said.
Posted 12:26 23rd May 2008
Mark Hughes says...
I think Mikey Mike should give himself a break never mind us
Posted 12:22 23rd May 2008
Mikey Mike says...
I dont usually post opinions on these blogs, BUT after reading the utter tripe some people are entering on here, I have had to! First of all Hatton, who is without a doubt the number 1 LW in the division was beaten comprehensively by PBF. Yes he did do a thing or two or maybe three wrong but in my opinion the outcome would never change. U cant give away 7 inches in reach to someone who is as fast and accurate as PBF and expect to come up trumps unless you are lightning yourself, which unfortunately Ricky isnt. Also the weight difference does come into it with on the day floyd looking bigger on the outside and sronger on the inside, which I dont think anyone expected. What also must be remembered is timing and accuracy has just as much to do with KOing someone as power and these are the two things that Mayweather cannot be tested on. I peronally dont like PBF but there is no doubt in my mind that he is the best BOXER in the world today period. Too many idiots on these blogs confuse fighting and boxing. Figtng is what we as fans want to see because its exciting, but the skill of boxing is hitting and not getting hit and with regard to this there is none even in the same league as mayweather. NOW as for all you dipsticks who think that this make up wearing nancy boy, magli-whatever would do ricky are out of your minds. I watched his fight with cotto and while he did show true heart he got beat up and thats exactly what will happen if he fights ricky.....no question. The only way you will beat ricky is to knock him out and the only way PMag would do that would be to make him smell his gym trainers. To even entertain any other thought is just a joke. As for Ricky foghting people past there best would you all say that Oscar is still at his......i think not........5 years ounger Oscar would beat PBF but not now, as much as I hate to say it the guy is mustard.....just too good!!!
Posted 10:44 23rd May 2008
Bomber Walker says...
In response to Colby Breegan saying that Hatton won the first six rounds against Mayweather, well not according to the official scorecards he didn't! Mayweather was ahead 89-81 twice and 88-82. It wasn't even close! Malignaggi only lost by three rounds according to one scorecard (including a point deduction and a knockdown) against Cotto and Cotto acknowledged that it was a difficult fight. Hatton doesn't deserve a rematch against Mayweather. Without doubt he would struggle big time against a classy boxer like Malignaggi and like I said earlier, Cotto would stop Hatton. Mayweather v. Cotto is the fight everyone wants to see, not Hatton getting well beaten again.
Posted 09:33 23rd May 2008
Joe C says...
I watched Paulie get beat by Cotto and the one thing I would say is that Paulie has a lot more heart then anyone gives him credit for. He doesn't bang but he is hard to hit, and ridiculously quick. The first round he got a bad cut, he broke his orbital bone in his face, he looked like he had been hit with a bat. Yet he kept going and the fight was much closer than the score cards suggest. some of the rounds were tight, ultimately Cotto is one of the best out there, but i think it was a god learning curve for malignaggi and i think he would be a little to cute for ricky in much the same way floyd is! Hatton should beat Lazcano quite easily but I think against Oscar, Floyd, Cotto or Malignaggi he would be outclassed. plus the first three of those fights would all be at welterweight. and in my eyes he hasn't won a fight at that weight regardless of the stupid decision in the Colazzo fight.
Posted 09:18 23rd May 2008
Tom Hughes says...
I think that Hatton would have his hands full with this fella, the way he fought cotto despite overwhelming odds. Hatton would not have done so well under those same set of circumstances, end of. If there's one guy at 140lb who could beat hatton, it's malignaggi.
Posted 02:18 23rd May 2008
Shane Cassidy says...
will you guys stop! hatton will win this saturday! and against mayweather the ref wouldnt let the fight go ahead ,he kept on stoping it,and that helped mayweather, from shane in ireland, comon the hitman!
Posted 01:44 23rd May 2008
Lee Nixon says...
paulies right i like the hitman much better than the magic man cos hes down to earth guy and isint big headed. but ricky is no match for floyd he wasnt beatin he was destroyed. all you here ricky sayin is ( i moved up a weight i didnt have to do that) he was outclassed fair and square ii think ricky after the fight on staurday shud fight oscar del o hoya and the winner gets the rematch they both want so much. then ricky shud fight the magic man ii honestly think that ricky would get beat off all of them as my self thinks hes to over rated....
Posted 01:01 23rd May 2008
Ash Bowker says...
A lot of people seem to forget mayweather is the best out there every legend in boxing has jus about lost a fight, rickys lost one in 44 fights thats a very good record. Ricky will prove what a professional he is in he boxing world come saturday night with an explosive return to the ring, malinaggi is right he does deserve a remtach with cotto, more than hatton does with mayeather. the fight everyone wants to see though is cotto vs mayweather. however when ricky wins on saturday night, i hope he takes on malignaggi and gives the magic man a pounding of his life just to prove he is the best light welter around and will be for a while.
Posted 22:06 22nd May 2008
Lee Courtney says...
Hatton would beat Paulie and whilst he did well to last the distance against Cotto he took a serious beating. Paulie is a lovely boxer but a powder puff puncher. As for Mayweather, a lot of people feel that the brutal Cotto would beat Floyd I however am not one of them. Floyd would be far too quick and slick for Miguel and is a far harder puncher than given credit for. Miguel would do better than Ricky because he is relentless fighter and massive at the weight. He would give Floyd a tough fight like De La Hoya but ultimately loses a clear decision. Mayweather like or loath him is a special fighter who is almost impossible to hit cleanly. As for Cotto Hatton Ricky would beat Cotto at light Welter as he had no chin due to weight making but get dominated at Welter as Miguel is so much bigger. I am one of those who truly believe Ricky is a totally different fighter at LW than W.
Posted 20:00 22nd May 2008
Steve Ross says...
I think Hatton will beat Lazcano on saturday night, but i think this will be the last win of his career, that is if he stops fighting bums like he has been through his career, Kostya was well passed his best, Castillo to, if he steps inside the ropes with Cotto Mayweather Malignaggi Torres Margarito he will get beat, getting in the ring with any of these guys will expose Hatton,he just cant cut it with the big boys.....
Posted 19:34 22nd May 2008
Dave Morris says...
i think everyoe is forgetting that hatton is the best in the world!! he lost to a lad in higher weight class who would destroy cotto, if cotto dropped dwn hatton would take him, n he will knock out paule simple, ha some espect for the lad!! ...........
Posted 19:05 22nd May 2008
Muizz Meer says...
i think that paulie needs to stop talking because Hatton will rip him apart im not a paulie or hatton fan.But watching paulies fights he has nothing to stop hatton also he clearly lost his last fight.The commentaters said he clerly lost but still
Posted 19:02 22nd May 2008
Colby Breegan says...
You must be deluded, hatton won the 1st 6 six rounds with may weather granted he lost to the best pound for pound boxer in the world, can you not see the picture of Malinagi above lol that does not look like a guy whoe deserves a rematch. James Black i understand hes a good boxer but can he really live with a hatton now not ballooning up and down in weight. and cotto given the chance would beat may weather and knock out malinagi
Posted 17:08 22nd May 2008
Andy Knell says...
Love Ricky to bits but he was beaten soundly by Mayweather on both the inside and on the outside - a rematch would end Ricky's career with a defeat. He should be happy with being crowned the World's most Popular Boxer and call it a day while he still has impressive stats.
Posted 17:04 22nd May 2008
James Black says...
If hatton gets in the ring with magic malignaggi he will be soundly beaten by a showman who can take the best hatton has to offer and come back begging for more. Paulie is in my eyes next in line to dominate once cotto moves out the way and mayweather knocks ricky out again. I like hatton but he's out of his depths with these 3 guys. cotto paulie and mayweather
Posted 16:02 22nd May 2008
Ozman Mirza says...
Paulie Malignaggi is certainly right about one thing, he is more deserving of a rematch against Miguel Cotto then Hatton is of Mayweather, he should be given the opportunity to redeem himself.
Posted 14:46 22nd May 2008
Paul Regis says...
Can't wait till the Hitman drops this guy!
Posted 13:17 22nd May 2008
Bomber Walker says...
I agree with Paulie. He did a lot better in his fight with Cotto (who would stop Hatton) than Ricky did against Mayweather. Ricky is seriously deluded if he thinks that he can beat Mayweather in a rematch. I do however think Ricky will win on Saturday....just.
Posted 12:51 22nd May 2008
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