By Rick Reeno
Paulie Malignaggi (23-1, 5KOs) is eager to provide Ricky Hatton (43-1, 31KOs) with a super-fight for 2008. According to Hatton’s trainer Billy Graham, Ricky will immediately resume his career in the land of junior welterweights. Hatton took a chance on December 8 in Las Vegas, moving up to 147-pounds to challenge the best fighter in the sport, Floyd Mayweather Jr, for the WBC welterweight title. The end result came in the tenth round, where Mayweather would land a perfect check-left-hook to the chin, and Hatton never recovered. Two knockdowns later, referee Joe Cortez waved off the contest while Hatton's corner simultaneously threw in the towel.
Hatton, absorbing the first blemish on his record, vowed to "die, rather than retire on a loss." A few days later, members of Hatton's team would begin mentioning Malignaggi as a possible comeback opponent in 2008, with Madison Square Garden as the venue of choice. Junior Witter, the WBC 140-pound champ, is also making a play for Hatton.
It all comes down to money. Hatton challenging Malignaggi at New York’s Madison Square Garden is a worth a lot more to American networks like HBO or Showtime, than a British grudge match between Hatton and Witter.
The first order of business is Jan. 5 in Atlantic City, where Malgnaggi defends his IBF junior welterweight title against mandatory Herman Ngoudjo.
In a conversation with BoxingScene.com, Malignaggi promised to pick up where the tenth-round of Mayweather-Hatton left off. The Brooklyn based fighter was not impressed with Hatton’s performance against Mayweather.
“I still have a fight on January 5. That’s the first thing. If Hatton wants it, I’ll give him a super fight in 2008, Paulie Malignaggi vs. Ricky Hatton in Madison Square Garden. It’s going to be Maliganggi vs. Hatton, because I’m the champion. My name is going first, his name can be second…..Malgnaggi vs. Hatton. If he wants it, he’ll get it. I’ll just pick up where Floyd left off,” Malignaggi said.
