Hatton turns on the magic

Tommy Platinum · 11-23-2008, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Hitman has too many tricks for out-classed Malignaggi

Ricky Hatton turned on the style against Paulie Malignaggi to prove he is anything but a spent force.

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The Hitman boxed beautifully throughout a one-side contest that came to an end in the 11th round when trainer Buddy McGirt climbed into the ring to call a halt to proceedings.

Malignaggi was furious with his cornerman, but in truth, it simply spared him the inevitable points defeat.

From the second round onwards he was on the receiving end of a comprehensive display that not only turned the clock back but also gave an encouraging glimpse into the Hitman's future.

He had promised us refinement, he had promised us polish, promised us poise, and although there were times when frustration crept in, he delivered on all fronts.

There were clear signs that Floyd Mayweather Snr has already started to work his magic. There was lateral movement on the way in, there were faints and checks and there was an impressive jab-turned-left hook that did the most damage.

It was not the British bulldog that beat Kostya Tszyu and it was not quite the prancing show poodle - yet - but there is certainly life in this old Mancunian dog yet.

Malignaggi's only round was the first of the night as his jab went to work, although as soon as Hatton got in close and out-muscled him, he was on his bike.

His speed is his main asset but even that couldn't keep him out of trouble and the New Yorker showed enough ringsmart to save himself from a first knockout.
Wobbling

With that nervy first session out of the way, Hatton set about his man and grew in confidence with every punch he landed.

Yes, plenty missed but Malignaggi was ducking down low, clinching at every chance and fighting the ugly fight had had feared from his foe.

A straight right in the second set the ball rolling and by the time the bell had sounded, the Magic Man was wobbling thanks to a trademark left that buckled his knees and - not for the last time - had him clinging on for dear life.

It was enough to send him into his shell and onto the backfoot, yet Hatton slowly but steadily stalked him around the ring, missing with a big left hook but finally landing the jab we had all waited so long to see.

Close in there are few better in the world though and two more body shots left Malignaggi in no doubt that he was in trouble, whichever way he tried to avoid it.

Hatton was dictating proceedings by the start of the fourth and was so dominant, he led with the right not once, but twice, landing both - and then reverting to the orthodox jab when before he might have jumped in to finish the job.

It was as if he was working things through in his head as much as the ring and even a third of the way through, the IBO light-welterweight title was only going one way - back to England.

Round five was where Mayweather's work came to fruition. A little faint to the left followed by a jab had Malignaggi swaying off balance, and on at least one occasion he had his man ducking by simple faking another attack. Lateral movement has never been Hatton's major asset, but he showed that you can teach a 30-year-old new tricks, even in the space of a couple of months.

Equation

But when one man is in survival mode it is hard to look good and the conundrum now facing Hatton was how best to unravel the mass of arms, holds, ducks and tucks that was all the Magic Man had in his box of tricks.

Again, the Hitman showed cuteness in his work and as the sixth closed, matched that with two brutal lefts to the body and one to the chin, which missed by a whisker.

Three rapid-fire jabs started the seventh and had Malignaggi back-pedalling before the jab-turned-hook came into the equation and had Hatton picking him off at will.

With referee Kenny Bayless happy to let them punch their way out of clinches, there was no hiding place for the American, and as he had promised Hatton reverted to type to close a one-sided session with a precise left to the liver.

Hatton had promised to be his old self and he was. Good and bad. In the eighth frustration got the better of him and several times he jumped in too eager to get to his man, once looking away disgusted with himself but safe in the knowledge the only reposte coming his way would be a verbal one in the corner.

Loose tape on the right glove gave Malignaggi a welcome breather at the start of the ninth, but a left uppercut, a doubled up left hook and that corkscrew punch, all on the front foot reminded him that Hatton was not about to come unstuck with Las Vegas retribution already in the bag. T

here was even a Mayweather-esque sway to slip a wild left hook and as Malignaggi tottered back to his corner, Hatton strolled back to his with the spring of a man who was now having fun.

Onslaught

The lefts continued to do the most damage, although there was still time for the odd straight right in the 10th, by which time the Hitman could pretty much do as he pleased.

Malignaggi though had never been stopped and proved to be more than just a smart talker by somehow negating the onslaught any which way he could - even if a sterner referee might would have at least warned him for holding.

But there are few shrewder in the sport than McGirt and before the 11th he told his man he wanted to see something in response or he would not let it go the distance.

All he got was a gesture of a jab at the start of the round, although to be fair to Malignaggi, he also copped a low one, just to prove Hatton can still rough and tough it when he wants.

It was enough for the trainer to climb into the ring and call it to a halt with only 28 seconds gone. A livid Malignaggi was able to do McGirt what he couldn't to Hatton and shove him away, but as harsh as it was to deprive a brave man his right to go the distance, it was simply saved five minutes of everybody's time.

Hatton might have been disappointed he couldn't finish the job himself, but deep down will know he can still compete with the very best of them.

He will always love a brawl, but when the fight game was beginning to question him, he proved he can box. And he proved he is anything but finished

-skysports.com

That's what you get for being a cocky prick. >_>

Hatton turns on the magic

This is a discussion on Hatton turns on the magic within the MMA - Mixed Martial Arts forums, part of the Sports Forums category; Hitman has too many tricks for out-classed Malignaggi Ricky Hatton turned on the style against Paulie Malignaggi to prove he ...