Paulie Malignaggi starts baiting Hatton

There's always a plan in boxing and Paulie Malignaggi is in Manchester preparing for the next defence of his IBF light-welterweight title, because he's part of the big plan. Malignaggi defends his title against Lovemore N'Dou, the Australian he won it from last year, at the City of Manchester Stadium on Saturday. If the mouthy New Yorker wins and Ricky Hatton beats Juan Lazcano in the top of the bill, the plan is for them to meet in the autumn in the United States.
Malignaggi is not short on opinions and not slow in sharing them. And his opinions of Hatton are none too flattering. Hatton is "solid", "lucky" and dirty.

"He's solid and has been lucky to get away with what he has been  getting away with," Malignaggi said of Hatton. "You can't hold a guy with one hand and work with the other – it’s illegal so it is no use people saying that Ricky is not allowed to fight.

"I heard Billy Graham [Hatton's trainer] in the fourth or fifth round of the Mayweather fight telling Ricky in the corner 'If you have him on the ropes nullify him'. What does that mean? I think that means hold him. If he wins or loses, it is all just a matter of what the referee lets him get away with."

And when it comes to the top boxers in the world today, Malignaggi does not place Hatton too highly. "He is not a great fighter, he is a solid fighter," Malignaggi said. "The best fighter I have fought is Miguel Cotto and he would knock Ricky out.

"One thing is for sure, Ricky Hatton will not fight Floyd Mayweather ever again because when he gets in the ring it's over.

Comments

[Omid Bahreini]

Paulie is a smug piece. In the fall I predict Hatton by ko

[Wobbly]

I saw Paulie's last bout at least I think it was his last and he lost. noone gave it to him bar the judges so he should not really comment on Hatton until he's proved himself

[alfred]

Paulie will make N'Dou look bad again and will beat Hatton in MSG this fall.....

[theboyrico]

If only Paulie's fists were as fast and as relentless as all his talking!

He's brilliant though, he's a character. I wish him all the best in Manchester. He'll need it. N'dou was unlucky first time round.

[Crashing Dashing Kid]

Poor Paulie. Probably the least entertaining fighter in the world has to resort to bad mouthing his opponents. Surely he has learned by now that he can run but he can't hide?