LAS VEGAS--The United Kingdom's Ricky Hatton stopped Paulie Malignaggi in the 11th round moments ago to retain the world light welterweight title.
Hatton, cheered on by his rabid British fans, used out of this world pressure fighting to prompt the corner of Malignaggi to stop the carnage at the 28-second mark of the eleventh round.
Hatton started like a house on fire, putting the pressure on Malignaggi right at the opening round, and the pattern never changed until the eleventh round.
Hatton's trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr seemed content with the performance of his ward.
In an interview, Hatton said that a bout with pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao would be interesting.
Hatton threw a total of 516 punches of which 124 landed, while Malignaggi only threw 342 where only 91 landed.
Malignaggi threw more jabs, 209 to 139 but managed to land only 66 of them.
The main difference was in the power punches connected, as Hatton threw 377 of them with 99 finding their mark. Malignaggi unleashed only 133 power punches, and only 25 landed.
Hatton was so dominant he won all rounds in two judges' scorecards, while the third judge only gave one round to Malignaggi before the stoppage.
Top photo: Ricky Hatton, right, of England, lands a right to the face of Paulie Malignaggi in the third round of a 12-round junior welterweight boxing match in Las Vegas, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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