Fight Insight

Boxing Predictions

Hatton Will Chase Down Malignaggi Over Twelve

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Styles make fights. This is true, but my concern here is that this fight will be coyote ugly. Ricky "the Hit Man" Hatton (44-1-1, 31 KOs) often does more holding than his nickname would suggest.  His opponent Paulie Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) is known as the "Magic Man," but often moves around so much in the ring that you think he’s trying to disappear. Despite my criticisms of each fighter’s style, the linear 140 pound title that Hatton holds will be on the line!

This fight pits the "not-so-classic" boxer (Malignaggi) against the "not-so-classic" brawler (Hatton).  I say "not-so-classic" because the Magic Man is more slapper than boxer while Hatton is more mauler than brawler. I tend to lean towards the boxer in these matchups, all things being equal. However, I do not feel that all things are equal in this fight.  Hatton has more advantages; especially his physical strength and level of competition.

Don’t get me wrong, both fighters are very accomplished and have each lost only once.  Hatton’s one loss was to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. while Malignaggi’s lone defeat was to Miguel Cotto. Herein lies the difference: Hatton’s best wins came against future Hall of Famer Kotsa Tszyu (RTD 11), slick welterweight Luis Collazo (UD 12), and a past-prime Jose Luis Castillo (KO 4) while Malignaggi’s best wins came against Lovemore N’dou (twice) and Herman Ngoudjo.

Not only do Hatton’s wins trump anything that Malignaggi has done, but he’s done it against much naturally better (Tszyu), bigger (Collazo) and faster (Mayweather) opponents than Malignaggi has ever faced at the professional level.

Malignaggi’s speed and movement will pose problems for Hatton, but Hatton’s effective aggressiveness and rugged in-fighting tactics will serve him well as he tries to slow down the elusive Malignaggi. Malignaggi’s light-hitting style will also do him no favors in the judges eyes, especially with a pro-Hatton crowd likely to be in attendance at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Hatton by coyote ugly decision over Malignaggi.

Filed Under: Boxing Predictions

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About Ja Dawes

After years of debating via email with my buddies on topics ranging from who the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world is to who is going to win the upcoming heavyweight title fight, I wanted to create a forum where I could share my opinions on such topics. Enter FightInsight.com. You can also follow me on Twitter: fightinsight

Comments

  1. Sniferneal says

    I see where you are coming from. But I believe Hatton is past his prime, showing his decline (Lazcano fight), and showing a vulnerable chin (Collazo, Mayweather, Lazcano). The problem Malignaggi does not have decent punching power to put him away or maybe keep him off and has a tendency to break his hands. However, Paulie is faster (speed kills), can take a punch (cotto fight), and has the footwork, which is the best way to beat a pressure fighter, to beat Hatton. I still think its a 50/50 but I always like going with the underdog, so there you have it.

  2. darren says

    I actually had Lovemore N’Dou winning the Second fight with Malignaggi, but of course decision went to house fighter. Given that N’dou gave him fits I’ll go with Hatton TKO 10-11.Peace & enjoy the fight…(-:

  4. Gabriel says

    I love watching Malignaggi fight, but I think he may be in over his head with Hatton who just has too much power for him. Still, I have to cheer for the underdog. Good luck to you Paulie! May your speed be the deciding factor.

  8. chris says

    Hatton will probably win if he doesn’t smother himself to lose. I am pretty sure we are quaranteed an ugly fight tonight.

  12. darren says

    Williams-Phillips…Hmmm..You know Phillips hasn’t been stopped in over TWENTY Years..Very underated fighter that has been on the wrong end of a lot of close calls by the judges..I’ll go Willams by close UD…I’ll say this definate distance fight..