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“They seem to think it’s going to make a difference, having a new trainer,” says the flashy Brooklyn boxer. “But he is what he is. He’ll fight the way he fights.
“Everyone has a game plan until he gets punched in the mouth—and, come Saturday night—he’s gonna get punched in the mouth.”
Having trained under the defensive-minded tactician, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., Hatton has promised a “new and improved” version of himself in his bout with Malignaggi.
“I don’t think he’s ready for a boxing match,” Malignaggi scoffed yesterday. “You can’t teach that much defensive wizardry if you haven’t been born with that natural defensive radar.
“Hatton has no absolutely no defense. He’s horrible.”
Hatton’s offense has also been written off by the Malignaggi camp, as a concern.
“People get caught up in punching power,” said Malignaggi’s promoter, Lou DiBella, yesterday. “We have one key to victory: Listen to Buddy McGirt and don’t let balls overcome your brain.”
McGirt—Malignaggi’s trainer—also doubts his fighter will be up against a boxing Hatton.
“Let’s be real, he’ll come out and put on the pressure,” said McGirt. “And, judging from his last two fights, if he does that, he’s in trouble.”
With hand injuries behind him now, as well as a less-than-spectacular performance for the “Magic Man” in his last outing—a split win over Lovemore N’dou in England—Malignaggi says he’s a different fighter than the one who lost to Miguel Cotto in 2006.
“I’m just as motivated for Hatton as I was for Cotto,” he says. “But I was inexperienced then . . . I went in there to win that fight, but if I learned anything from that fight, it should show Saturday.”
Though he’ll be fighting for the lesser-regarded IBO belt, and the nebulously-sanctioned Ring belt, Malignaggi, who sacrificed his IBF version of the 140-pound title to get at Hatton, says he’s not worried about belts anymore.
“It’s a disappointment I had to lose my belt,” he said. “I worked hard to get it. But you have to make the right decision here—it’s a no-brainer—and I didn’t think twice about it.
“I don’t know who decides who is champion anymore, but I think consensus says I’ll be the No. 1 140-pounder in the world after Saturday night.”
The basic plan to beat Hatton?
“The basic plan is to beat his ass,” says Malignaggi. “He’s gonna get his ass beat, and it doesn’t matter how I do it.”
“Everyone has a game plan until he gets punched in the mouth—and, come Saturday night—he’s gonna get punched in the mouth.”
Having trained under the defensive-minded tactician, Floyd Mayweather, Sr., Hatton has promised a “new and improved” version of himself in his bout with Malignaggi.
“I don’t think he’s ready for a boxing match,” Malignaggi scoffed yesterday. “You can’t teach that much defensive wizardry if you haven’t been born with that natural defensive radar.
“Hatton has no absolutely no defense. He’s horrible.”
Hatton’s offense has also been written off by the Malignaggi camp, as a concern.
“People get caught up in punching power,” said Malignaggi’s promoter, Lou DiBella, yesterday. “We have one key to victory: Listen to Buddy McGirt and don’t let balls overcome your brain.”
McGirt—Malignaggi’s trainer—also doubts his fighter will be up against a boxing Hatton.
“Let’s be real, he’ll come out and put on the pressure,” said McGirt. “And, judging from his last two fights, if he does that, he’s in trouble.”
With hand injuries behind him now, as well as a less-than-spectacular performance for the “Magic Man” in his last outing—a split win over Lovemore N’dou in England—Malignaggi says he’s a different fighter than the one who lost to Miguel Cotto in 2006.
“I’m just as motivated for Hatton as I was for Cotto,” he says. “But I was inexperienced then . . . I went in there to win that fight, but if I learned anything from that fight, it should show Saturday.”
Though he’ll be fighting for the lesser-regarded IBO belt, and the nebulously-sanctioned Ring belt, Malignaggi, who sacrificed his IBF version of the 140-pound title to get at Hatton, says he’s not worried about belts anymore.
“It’s a disappointment I had to lose my belt,” he said. “I worked hard to get it. But you have to make the right decision here—it’s a no-brainer—and I didn’t think twice about it.
“I don’t know who decides who is champion anymore, but I think consensus says I’ll be the No. 1 140-pounder in the world after Saturday night.”
The basic plan to beat Hatton?
“The basic plan is to beat his ass,” says Malignaggi. “He’s gonna get his ass beat, and it doesn’t matter how I do it.”
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