Team Hatton pictured above in victory.
By: Pete Goldthorpe
Latest Boxing News: On Saturday night we saw a fantastic end to November for British Boxing with Ricky Hatton (45-1-0) wrapping up a month of trilogy wins over American Boxers for Calzaghe, Haye and now the worlds biggest ticket seller Ricky Hatton.
With legendary trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr now in his corner Hatton took on Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi (25-2-0) on boxing biggest stage the MGM Grand Las Vegas and the bout also being featured on HBO television. Both fighters successfully made weight on Friday with Hatton dead on the limit at 140lbs compared to Malignaggi’s 139lbs.
Hatton’s put his Ring Magazine and IBO World Championship belts on the line while Malignaggi had to give up his IBF World Championship Belt in order secure this bout. Malignaggi was aiming to get his name recognized with the elite boxers of the world and a victory over Hatton would have gotten him a step closer.
While Hatton was looking to get by Malignaggi and set up a mega fight with the winner of the December 6 clash between De La Hoya and Pacquiao.
Hatton with his usual large entourage of fans who made another trip to Vegas demonstrated a disciplined game plan executed to perfection. After a first round jab fest by Malignaggi, who connected several times causing slight swelling to Hatton’s left eye, Hatton dominated the rest of the fight.
In the second round Hatton landed a big right hand hook visibly dazing Malignaggi who immediately held on for survival. Malignaggi suffering a small cut under his left eye, it was evident that Malignaggi would have difficulty dealing with the stronger Hatton. Hatton was now starting to get into the angles showing his improved technique under Mayweather Sr.
The two spent several weeks in Vegas training, with Hatton running four miles a day up Mount Charleston in order to the lose the thirty pounds he gained between fights.
Malignaggi in the forth round kept distance between himself and Hatton by using his jab and was also able to land a rear right hand. Malignaggi wanting no part of Hatton’s power and not wanting to mix it up with Hatton did most of his fighting at a distance. During the round it appeared Hatton’s left eye was slowly starting to increase swelling from the jabs absorbed from Malignaggi.
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about 1 month ago
On the undercard of this fight, James Kirkland from Austin, TX looked great against Gilbert Vera, also from Austin. James boxed better than ever, with more attention to defense. He didn't rush in for the knockout, letting it happen in round 8. He moved his head a lot and didn't provide an easy target for Vera's punches, and mixed it up to the body and to the head. He still needs to slip more right hands, which he could have easily seen coming from the plodding, single-minded Vera, so that he doesn't get caught by a heavier-handed puncher once he makes it to his title shot. After a couple more fights at the most through Golden Boy Promotions, I hope to see James getting a title shot.
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