Ricky to turn boxer for Malignaggi... recipe for disaster?

[johnswan1]

I was planning on backing Malignaggi @ 5/2 prior to Graham getting the boot. This gives me even more reason to do so. I can just imagine Ricky going out to box, only to get outboxed by a quicker and more skilled opponent, before reverting back to his old "bulldozing, come-forward style" before getting knocked down, and possibly out. I honestly don't believe that Hatton has enough left in the tank at this stage of his career after the way he has treated his body over the years and I think this was clearly evident in the Lazcano fight where he was shaken badly (in the seventh or eight if I can recall correctly) by an opponent who barely hit back. Despite Paulies lack of KO wins, I wouldn't rule him out notching one up against Hatton. He still managed to drop Ndou who is known to have a good chin, and reproducing that should be plenty enough to hurt Hatton.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 76,00.html

Ricky Hatton believes a change of trainer and tactics will help prolong his career.

The Hitman will team up with Floyd Mayweather Snr for his November 22 showdown with IBF light-welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi, having ended his long association with Billy Graham earlier this year.

Having built his career on his bulldozing, come-forward style, Hatton believes that Mayweather Snr will refine his approach to fights by making him more of a boxer than a brawler.

"I'm not saying I'm ready for my pipe and slippers yet but as you get a bit older with a lot of miles on the clock and tough fights behind you, you don't change your style, but you've got to tweak it and be a bit more cautious," said Hatton.

"Look at Marco Antonio Barrera; in some of his fights he turned from fighter to boxer had some wonderful fights and wins in doing so and Arturo Gatti was another one.

"I've shown my boxing ability a number of other times and even people close to me have said 'Why don't you do that more often?'

"In working with a coach who is a bit more safety-first, if that helps that then it should make me a better fighter."

Despite a change of tactics, Hatton admits that he will still have to go hunting for Malignaggi when they meet at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"With someone like Malignaggi you've got to cut the ring down, get in close," said Hatton.

"But with the things I'm working on, along with the boxing ability I had in the first place, I've now got a coach who is going to bring that out of me a bit more and I expect to out-box Paulie."

Malignaggi remains unimpressed with Hatton's new approach, with the New Yorker claiming: "I'm sure he'll come with a couple of different things but I'm a firm believer in, 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks'."

[Captain Hook]

Bad move IMO, he should play to his strengths before they disappear altogether and he retires to grow his beer gut..

[sweetscience]

im having £20 on Hatton to get stopped

[jamesmcdonnell]

I fancy an upset too. I still make Hatton favourite, but I think there has to be value in a bet for stoppage 9-12 for Malignaggi. Hatton has tired late in fights over the last couple of years, and can be frustrated.

[johnswan1]

im having £20 on Hatton to get stopped

16/1 with Ladbrokes for Malignaggi to win by KO, TKO or DQ at any time. Very nice odds.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Eff me! Really, that's tasty.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

im having £20 on Hatton to get stopped

16/1 with Ladbrokes for Malignaggi to win by KO, TKO or DQ at any time. Very nice odds.

5kos/tkos in 25 fights, and he's going to do what Tyszu/Collazo/Urango couldn't, rather your money than mine

[johnswan1]

Eff me! Really, that's tasty.

Yes, very tasty indeed. And odds in excess of 25/1 by backing Malignaggi by stoppage in rounds 9-12, by combining odds of 100/1 in each of 9-11 and 125/1 in round 12.

[sweetscience]

im having £20 on Hatton to get stopped

16/1 with Ladbrokes for Malignaggi to win by KO, TKO or DQ at any time. Very nice odds.

nice... skybet are only 10/1

hatton is past it big time, got knocked out last year, new trainer, new conditioner, older, more of a keg head, ridiculas amount of cash, & has looked shit for the last 4 years

in my book 16/1 are fookin quality odds

[johnswan1]

im having £20 on Hatton to get stopped

16/1 with Ladbrokes for Malignaggi to win by KO, TKO or DQ at any time. Very nice odds.

5kos/tkos in 25 fights, and he's going to do what Tyszu/Collazo/Urango couldn't, rather your money than mine

No doubt he has a very low KO ratio, but apart from the Cotto fight, this is the biggest fight of Malignaggis career, a genuine chance to receive wide recognition as the best light Welter in the world (or at least recognition as the linear champion). At age 27 he will be at the peak of his powers and I expect him to be hugely motivated. This fight for Malignaggi will mean to him what the Tszyu fight meant to Hatton.

As for Hatton, he has already been at the top. He had his big win against Tszyu and rolled the dice against Mayweather. Despite being aged 30 by fight night, his body will not be in anywhere near as good condition as it was in past fights and I don't think Ricky really realises this yet himself. I honestly felt he was terrible in the Lazcano fight and I don't expect him to be properly motivated for this fight whilst possibly still being troubled over the Mayweather defeat, and perhaps the Graham break up too (especially if camp doesn't go to plan).

Even if Ricky were to beat Malignaggi, where could he go from there? We all no there isn't anything for him at Welterweight and nobody would give him a realistic chance against either of Mayweather or DLH; two fights that unlikely to happen. I just can't see what will motivate Hatton for this fight & not buying into him wanting to exercise the demons of his KO defeat last year. This will be Rickys last big fight IMHO, one which I believe he will lose, and maybe in brutal fashion. He is there for the taking and I don't think Paulie will have to be very good to beat him.

[jamesmcdonnell]

On the other hand, are we getting carried away here?

Malignaggi after all isn't exactly a power puncher, and hasn't ever stopped anyone decent, I wouldn't go lumping too much on this.

[Wales]

I'd say so. Riickys got a solid enough chin and Paulie has looked awful in his last 2 outings. Couple that with the fact he cant punch his way out of a wet paper bag and the best, no only, chance he has of winning is on pts.

I wonder how easily Ricky will make 140 though, without Kerry and the intense training reigieme of Billy.

[Tykemania]

Notwithstanding my views of Hatton expressed elsewhere, I don't quite agree that he is heading for a brutal beating here - if he is stopped (and I admit that at 16/1 I'm sorely tempted to have a punt because the rewards are greater than the actual likelihood) it will be tiredness rather than power shots that does him in.

Set against that, I think even a shot Hatton ought to have enough gas behind his shots to cut Malignaggi's brittle skin up badly, which would mitigate in favour of him being able to ride out any late tiredness on this occasion.

I agree that there are really very few fights out there for him - he hasn't the size for De La Hoya, the workrate for Pacquaio or the heart to face Witter (which would be less box office than he is used to milking anyway). A last hurrah?

[banjo]

I'd say so. Riickys got a solid enough chin and Paulie has looked awful in his last 2 outings. Couple that with the fact he cant punch his way out of a wet paper bag and the best, no only, chance he has of winning is on pts.

There's always the chance of a cut stoppage with Hatton, however I expect Hatton to walk through Malignaggi to be honest. As you say Paulie has looked awful in his last 2 and i'm still of the opinion that he only lasted the distance against Cotto because Cotto was weak at the weight.

If Hatton loses this fight then I think he'll retire.

[DG.]

im having £20 on Hatton to get stopped

16/1 with Ladbrokes for Malignaggi to win by KO, TKO or DQ at any time. Very nice odds.

I am having some of that!

[sweetscience]

after reviewing the odds

im having a £5 on hatton to get stopped in round 6-11 @ 100/1 & £5 in the 12th at 125/1

i think its worth the risk

[DG.]

im having £20 on Hatton to get stopped

16/1 with Ladbrokes for Malignaggi to win by KO, TKO or DQ at any time. Very nice odds.

5kos/tkos in 25 fights, and he's going to do what Tyszu/Collazo/Urango couldn't, rather your money than mine

This is the 2008 version of Hatton.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

5kos/tkos in 25 fights, and he's going to do what Tyszu/Collazo/Urango couldn't, rather your money than mine

No doubt he has a very low KO ratio, but apart from the Cotto fight, this is the biggest fight of Malignaggis career, a genuine chance to receive wide recognition as the best light Welter in the world (or at least recognition as the linear champion). At age 27 he will be at the peak of his powers and I expect him to be hugely motivated. This fight for Malignaggi will mean to him what the Tszyu fight meant to Hatton.

As for Hatton, he has already been at the top. He had his big win against Tszyu and rolled the dice against Mayweather. Despite being aged 30 by fight night, his body will not be in anywhere near as good condition as it was in past fights and I don't think Ricky really realises this yet himself. I honestly felt he was terrible in the Lazcano fight and I don't expect him to be properly motivated for this fight whilst possibly still being troubled over the Mayweather defeat, and perhaps the Graham break up too (especially if camp doesn't go to plan).

Even if Ricky were to beat Malignaggi, where could he go from there? We all no there isn't anything for him at Welterweight and nobody would give him a realistic chance against either of Mayweather or DLH; two fights that unlikely to happen. I just can't see what will motivate Hatton for this fight & not buying into him wanting to exercise the demons of his KO defeat last year. This will be Rickys last big fight IMHO, one which I believe he will lose, and maybe in brutal fashion. He is there for the taking and I don't think Paulie will have to be very good to beat him.

Simple fact is Malignaggi can't break an egg with a sledge hammer, so backing him by stoppage is money down the drain, I don't care how hard he trains he can't punch. Now maybe you think he'll win, outside chance, but by stoppage, no way.

Why is Hatton shot/past it because he suffered 1 defeat to the numero uno in the sport? Not to mention Hatton won 3rounds on my card. Oh he got shook by Lazcanno. Oh wait he's going to be worse because he's trained by Mayweather Snr who will tighten up his defense, make his shots tighter and pick his punches better and possibly speed him up. Isn't Hatton going to be in better shape than the Lazcanno fight anyway?

Now compare Hatton's last 2 to Malignaggi's last 2 - arguably lost to Ndou a poor man's Hatton. Lost to Herman Ngoudjo getting the worst gift in a while and got hurt in the process.

Malignaggi may be in tip top shape, but when has Hatton not being in tip top shape? Hatton throws around 40powershots a round, Malignaggi may be able to match his workrate but he isn't matching the strength/power ratio so physically Hatton has Malignaggi beat and Malignaggi is forced to outbox Hatton.

So what does Malignaggi do better? Speed and thats about it, he thinks hes slick but hes not, his defense is poor

Also bare in mind I AM NOT A HATTON FAN, I've been known as a Hatton hater on these boards. Honestly I think its laughable that the same people who were backing Hatton to beat Mayweather 9months ago are now picking Malignaggi over him

Oh if you want to hear something funny skip over to BS. Hatton says 'Mayweather Jr hasn't been loyal to the people who brought him where he is today' and 'Mayweather Snr told me he hadn't talked to his son in 3years and he thinks I can beat Jr in a rematch' (a bit of a laugh that 1 as Jr said he asked papa who to fight next last year, and papa said Hatton should be the easiest fight )

[DG.]

after reviewing the odds

im having a £5 on hatton to get stopped in round 6-11 @ 100/1 & £5 in the 12th at 125/1

i think its worth the risk

I might have to get an account with those guys!

[johnswan1]

I don't think it's power shots that would be required to KO Ricky, it's more the fact that he will be hit with more speed and accuracy than he is used to. These are also the type of shots that are more likely to cut his face up, which we all know has happened in the past. I don't think it requires a big powerful punch to put Hatton on wobbly legs, more so punches he doesn't see coming, particularly when they are in succession or thrown in combination, and I expect that Malignaggi should be able to provide him with plenty of them.

[sweetscience]

i dont expect mallifaggi to win by KO

but by TKO there is a significant difference

[Asterix]

i dont expect mallifaggi to win by KO

but by TKO there is a significant difference

What are you thinking? The ref to wave it off? Stoppage due to cuts?

[DG.]

I don't think it's power shots that would be required to KO Ricky, it's more the fact that he will be hit with more speed and accuracy than he is used to. These are also the type of shots that are more likely to cut his face up, which we all know has happened in the past. I don't think it requires a big powerful punch to put Hatton on wobbly legs, more so punches he doesn't see coming, particularly when they are in succession or thrown in combination, and I expect that Malignaggi should be able to provide him with plenty of them.

And body shots. PM can hit hard enough an often enough to stop Hatton.

[sweetscience]

i dont expect mallifaggi to win by KO

but by TKO there is a significant difference

What are you thinking? The ref to wave it off? Stoppage due to cuts?

i think by about the 10th Hatton will be fucked and the ref/corner will stop it cause he has nothing left

i dont for one minute think PM is going to one arrow him

[Asterix]

i think by about the 10th Hatton will be fucked and the ref/corner will stop it cause he has nothing left

i dont for one minute think PM is going to one arrow him

His stamina was okay against Lazcano.