Referee will have a fun job with this one. Close fight. Maidana certainly has the power to stop Hatton, but I would actually favour Ricky at 140, basically going to town on Maidana body and eventually stopping him, or winning a competitive but clear decision. Maidana was defensively lax to be charitable and his looping shots are more effective against guys pulling away. If it was at 147, then the bigger Maidana would probably win by stoppage.
Maidana at 140 before he hooked up with Robert Garcia wasn't the same animal who gave Floyd a hard night's work. Ancient Morales was giving Maidana hell and Khan was a whisker away from stopping him with that peach of a left hook to the liver. Maidana wasn't great at backing up and against Hatton he would have to at certain point. His biggest strength - his work-rate - would even be matched here by someone just as busy and who could target his body better than anybody he ever faced. I think Hatton takes a decision here where Maidana might have to get off the floor if Hatton lands effectively to the body.
Hatton wins this one going away. Maidana really wasn't very good. The guy lost to Amir Khan and Devon Alexander in his prime for Christ's sake. People try to pump Maidana up because he ran close with Mayweather, but, there is little to support it.
Hatton vs Urango and Maidana vs Alexander fights came to mind immediately. Hatton could box a bit in that ugly - move, punch&clinch - stylem, while Maidana was very succesfully limited by similar tactics from Devon. Maybe if Maidana landed something big early, hurt or cut Ricky seriously, He would have a chance - but Ricky wins this on most occasions, I'm pretty sure.
