By Mark Vester
Ricky Hatton plans to show a whole new side of himself when he takes on Paulie Malignaggi on November 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. With trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. in his corner, Hatton plans to showcase his boxing skills against Malignaggi, regarded by experts as a very good boxer. Hatton was angered by Malignaggi's recent comments, which called him a flawed fighter who never faced a high level of world-class competition.
"I've had 45 fights and 44 wins - four world titles, two weight divisions and fought the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world in Floyd Mayweather," said Hatton to The Guardian. "It didn't quite come off against Mayweather but I think Paul is deluding himself if he doesn't think I've ever fought any world-class fighters. He thinks he's a good talker but he tends to come out with a lot of bull. Can anybody take these comments seriously?"
Hatton says that he is confident that knockout will happen in the fight, but prior to the KO, he plans to surprise Malignaggi with his newfound boxing skills.
"I'd be a liar if I didn't thing I could knock Malignaggi out, because I think I can," said Hatton. "But I just want to get the win. I don't intend to just beat him up like everyone associates with Ricky Hatton. I expect to outbox him and then knock him out inside the distance. That's how it will go if I could write the script. Floyd arrives over here next week and we already are working on one or two different things in the new camp and I think Malignaggi will get a surprise."
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com
