Hatton v Malignaggi - Predictions

i think either 2 things will happen

1. the hatton that fought lascano turns up and tries to get inside but just gets hit out the way and loses a desicion

or

2. a new invigorated hatton turns up and forces he fight to malignaggi and gets inside and backs him up constantly and getting a late stoppage win

i think 2 will happen

 

There are question marks over exactly what Hatton has left and anything below a top performance from him could let Paulie in to give Ricky all sorts of problems. I'm not 100% confident Hitman can deliver, but I'm willing to believe he will and pick up a comfortable points victory.

 

I can usually play fights out in my head but its not happening for me in this fight.

 

hatton by split decision, may be controversial.

 

Paulie points. Hatton to lose at least 1 point for holding.

 

Malignaggi split decision. Think Ricky's lifestyle is going to catch up with him and his decline will accelerate. Malignaggi seems better motivated and is desperate to put the Cotto defeat behind him and restore some pride. Also think Malignaggi is tougher than people give him credit for. Hatton better pray his numbskull fans don't boo the Yank anthem and **** the ref and judges off. It could tip things against him.

 

Hatton stops ****** first half of the fight.

 

I want Hatton to win but part of me thinks Pauli on points.

 

The fever for this fight is hotting up - which is cool.

 

Hatton to stop Malignaggi 9th or 10th

 

Magic man embarresses ricky wide UD

 

Here's mine for the record guys. This will be appearing on another boxing site later, but not sure if I'm allowed to plug otherwise my account might be deleted.

Shorn of the Dread?

You know IBF Junior Welter champ Malignaggi is serious about a fight when he gets his prize locks cut especially. But has the brash New Yorker got what it takes to upset the Hatton applecart? British correspondent Andy "TKO" Houghton looks at a fascinating matchup from Las Vegas

You've got to hand it to Paulie Malignaggi. Not only has the tough Italian-American from the streets of Brooklyn worked his way up to become world 140lb champ with two successful defences. Not only has he amassed an impressive 25-1(5) ledger and become the first man to last the distance with Puerto Rican wrecking ball Miguel Cotto in a world title fight. Nope, not content with that, Paulie set a new best in May on the undercard of Hatton's last bout when he became the first fighter in living memory to have a mid-fight haircut, his braided dreadlocks substantially impairing his vision.

When he's not more concerned with being a one-man pugilistic fashion statement, Malignaggi can fight a bit as well. The defending IBF belterholder looked in great shape at the weight in where he made the 140lb limit with a pound to spare. Hatton weighed in on the button, but looked gaunt though unarguably ripped. Nonetheless, the calls of let's hair it for the champ fell slightly flat, with his few supporters drowned out by the estimated 4,000 Hatton followers who had made the trip. The challenger is expected to have 2-3 times that number cheering him on when they step into the ring tonight.

From a purely boxing perspective, both men will feel they have something to prove. Following on from his career first loss up at welterweight to Floyd Mayweather last year, Hatton failed to sparkle in his unanimous decision win over Juan Lazcano in May, though he won the fight comfortably. Nonetheless, his popularity remains undiminshed, with 55,000 tickets sold for that fight in a matter of days. As for Malignaggi, he was lucky to keep his belt that night with a split verdict over Lovemore Ndou whom he had previously outpointed to win it. Mix in another close call with Herman Ngoudjo in his previous outing and you've got a fighter desperate to showcase his wares on the biggest stage of all.

Quite how good Malignaggi actually is, at the moment, is much of a muchness. Brave and impressive against Cotto and superb in easily outboxing Ndou the first time, recent outings have caused some judges to question what he brings. Never noted for his power with only 5 stoppage wins, Malignaggi's reputation as a slick boxer seems somewhat misguided. In truth, whilst the American's hand and foot speed is blurring and he has good variety and a stout chin, he has never been a Mayweather, James Toney or Bernard Hopkins with mastery of every fundamental going. His game is built around using his combinations to get off first from middle distance and get out before his opponent can fire back.

In Hatton, 43-1(31) he faces what may well be a stylistic disadvantage. The diminutive Mancunian is noted as a pressure fighter who's game is built around closing the range and working his opponents over on the inside. Hatton's own footwork is deceptively good - he was able to get close to Mayweather the best technician in boxing for the first few rounds. Whilst Hatton is noted for occasionally being reckless and leaving himself open in his eagerness to get inside, you do not get the feeling that his rival tonight has the dynamite in his fists to make him think twice about doing it. Rather like a ******* child, Paulie has no pop.

The intangible factor in this bout is the impact of Hatton's new trainer Floyd Mayweather snr, the father of the man who handed him his only pro defeat. Hatton has looked good in training with a new emphasis on slipping punches and working his way in with educated pressure. There are some who feel he had got away from this approach following the night he won this title against Kostya Tszyu in favour of raw brute force. Mayweather's approach seems very much to focus on technical subtleties rather than the fitness and power training of Billy Graham.

There is always the suspicion, though, that when push comes to shove Hatton will revert to type. Which, in this of all fights, may not be such a bad thing. Whilst a more thoughtful approach undoubtedly prolongs careers, against Malignaggi, being over ponderous may allow the American to launch his flashy combos whilst Hatton thinks, as he did with some success against Cotto. On the other hand, reckless abandon from Hatton could see a messy fight for the fans, with him rushing to get close while Malignaggi gets on his bike.

From this writer's perspective, we are likely to see something in between, with Hatton taking his time more to size up the openings. Nonetheless, when one arises, we are likely to see him whipping away to the body of Paulie on the ropes. Hatton under Mayweather is likely to use his jab more and could have considerable success were he able to master the lead right that Mayweather Jnr uses to such effect. Malignaggi has looked open to this punch in the past, never more so than in the 7th round against Ngoudjo. Nonetheless, Hatton has always been more of a left hooker and at 30 (Malignaggi is 27) you have to wonder how much scope there is for the old dog to learn such new tricks.

The other major intangible here is the question of how easily Hatton made the weight. Whilst he usually appears pale at the weigh-in before rehydrating in the hours leading up to the fight, stories were flying round about Hatton being 3 1/2 pounds over the day prior to the fight. Whilst this is not a huge amount and he is likely to come into the ring at around 155, you have to wonder whether it is as easy for him to make the limit at 30 and whether his well-documented out of the ring lifestyle may be taking its toll.

Mayweather has stated that he has made his views well known on this and required his charge to knuckle down prior to training camp. Hatton may require his stamina here as his opponent is unlikely to be found wanting if the going gets tough. Whilst an inch taller, Malignaggi is more comfortable at the weight and despite his pretty-boy image has a mental strength which may be needed in the championship rounds, as he showed by going 12 with Cotto despite a broken jaw.

For Hatton, the IBF belt held by the New Yorker is a minor consideration. Hatton is Ring Magazine champion and ranked as the division's top dog, with Malignaggi immediately behind, though he holds no alphabet belt. He was won this title twice before, from Tszyu and Juan Urango, each time giving it up to avoid meaningless mandatories. Hatton has also held WBA and WBU honours in a glittering 11 year career, in addition to the WBA welterweight strap he won in a close call with Luis Collazo who has sparred with Malignaggi.

The real motivation is to show he can still do the business. Hatton has never really come close to losing at his preferred weight, but there is a first time for everything and the popular Brit has more career years behind him than in front at this stage. Former cruiserweight champ and current heavyweight contender David Haye is on record as saying that a loss here would probably signal the end of Hatton's time as a massive stage fighter. The reality may not be too far from that assessment.

So who wins? I can see Hatton getting off to a strong start, eager to show that he still has it and what he has learned. Malignaggi may come back into it in the middle rounds as he did with Cotto. Nonetheless, his brittle hands and lack of genuine knockout power at the best of times are going to be a problem. The champion will be heavily reliant on his footwork to prevent Hatton getting close. On the inside, he cannot beat Hatton at his own game the way Mayweather was able to at time. We have to assume here that Paulie will be ready for his big chance and will be significantly better than he has showed in his last two outings. Nonetheless, I think Hatton's workrate and superior power will put enough rounds in the bank to shade a close but justified verdict with Malignaggi complaining about the scoring. A late stoppage would be an unexpected, though possible, bonus.

Any comments on this story? Andy "TKO" Houghton can be reached by email at

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Hatton wide UD

A decent fight for Hatton to make, but no way am I buying it.

 

i'm with you on this one. i can't see hatton being outclassed thoroughly enough by malignaggi to lose a decision.

hatton will get the nod if the fight is close. a hatton win is much better for vegas than a mallignagi win.

 

Hatton TKO 10.

All this depends on the new trainer/training methods though, it may confuse him and force him to adopt the old style mid-fight which may be to late or it may just work out for him.

Either way it should be an interesting fight.