^ yep Hatton cherrypicked Paulie for an easy win. sure going into the fight Malignaggi was ranked #1 by the Ring .. but outside of a good jab and speed .. IMO Paulie had no realistic shot of winning the fight.
remember malignaggi's afterfight interview. He'd have to be the opponent. fighting a champ in their back yard on their terms and with the short money. He is smart to fight diaz again- if he wins he is in the drivers seat again and if he loses he can take alexander up on his offer. If he has to be an opponent - he will be an opponent- but if he can set the record straight- why wouldnt he?
If it isn't in one guys back yard how they gonna sell tickets to this thing after the first one? Seriously. Better have a killer main event.
I like Paulie... but theres ALOT of guys at 140 who would beat him. Bradley, Khan, Ortiz, Maidana, Holt, Alexander, Judah, just to name a few. Having said that... he'll beat Diaz... AGAIN. Only this time they'll give him the decision.
I thought Paulie won the first match, but there is no way in hell I would watch these two again. It was way to boring (and frustrating) watching Diaz try to come in all night and get circled and jabbed to death. Paulie won, but it was in no way exciting. It was a performance that Floyd and Wlad would be proud of.