Ricky Hatton’s next opponent Paulie Malignaggi told Bunce’s Boxing Hour on Setanta Sports News that the ‘Hitman’ has not looked comfortable being hit since the night he became a world champion by beating Kostya Tszyu and believes he will take advantage of this when they meet in November.
No date is fixed for the two to meet yet, but the IBF light welterweight champion says Madison Square Garden is the most likely venue, adding that he would not consider taking money to step-aside for a potential box office record-breaking meeting between Hatton and Manny Pacquiao.
“There?s no confirmed date but it should be in November sometime,” Malignaggi told Steve Bunce on Setanta Sports News. “I?d go to Vegas for it but I think it’s better for Ricky and me to do it in New York.
“I?ve heard Ricky wants to fight in Madison Square Garden, I?m a New Yorker and I think it would be a mega event in New York.
“Ultimately it’s where ricky wants to go. I?ve heard that rumour [about him stepping aside for Pacquiao] but I don?t see the necessity for it.
“I?m going to fight Ricky in the fall there?s no need for me to take step-aside money, it?s an opportunity I?ve been waiting for and if I took step-aside money I?d basically be selling out and not giving my own self the opportunity I?ve always craved.”
Speaking about the prospective fight itself, the ‘Magic Man’ feels it will be a classic clash of styles between a boxer and brawler.
“The fight could play out in many different ways, but I?ll have a great preparation for the fight and have a few things in mind that I?d like to do with Ricky,” Malignaggi added. “I?ve been watching Ricky for years and I always knew I would end up fighting him.
“You can guarantee that the fight will be entertaining, it?s Ricky?s pressure against my boxing skills.
“Every time you have that clash of styles it make for an entertaining fight.”
Many observers were perturbed at Hatton being wobbled by the relatively light punching Juan Lazcano but Malignaggi feels the Manchester fighter’s punch resistance has looked suspect since the memorable night three years ago when he beat Tszyu to win the same title he will challenge the New Yorker for later this year.
“Some people might say ‘Paulie?s being arrogant’, but I just see with Ricky everytime he gets hit he gets hurt lately,” Malignaggi went on.
“Whether he gets hit to the body or the head, he never reacts well and even if he doesn?t wobble, when he takes a good punch he doesn?t look comfortable.
“I didn?t notice it in the Kostya Tszyu fight so I don?t think it?s always been like this. In the Tszyu fight he was taking punches and like an animal, he was like a man possessed attacking Kostya constantly.
“But ever since that fight I?ve noticed it. I was at the Luis Castillo fight, he’s a good friend of mine, when they fought in Boston, Massachusetts, I felt like he was reacting the same way.
“Punches would come his way and he would look very uncomfortable.”
