Paul Malignaggi v Ricky Hatton: Will it be real “ magic”, or just an illusion of sorts?
Posted on | October 23, 2008 | No Comments
MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas.
When Paul Malignaggi walks the short walk from the dressing room to the biggest stage of all, fighting arguably, the most popular fighter in the sport today, one can only imagine what he’ll be thinking. Fighters all have different ways of dealing with the prospect of fighting. Malignaggi is so wrapped up in himself, and his own ability that nothing else matters.
I remember seeing him go through his routine, shadow boxing , in front of the mirror at “Gleasons Gym” a couple of years back, and to me, it was a kind of magic.
At the time myself and a few other guys in the gym were getting wrapped up ,after running the Brooklyn bridge, preparing for our own individual workouts, and as usual , when I go to these places, all I do is listen to the stories of the past, take notice of any standouts for the future, and live, sweat and breathe, the sport at its purest. [ for as long as my body will allow]
As Malignaggi focused, twisted, and unleashed all flurries of punches, at the mirror, never once shifting his gaze from the person he was facing, he was again so wrapped up in his own magic, that he was the only one in the gym. Apart from a few “hey Paulies”, that was it. He finished up and was down the stairs and away.
After 21 fights, boxing his way up and down the east coast, working his way up the rankings, he finally got his shot. Miguel Cotto was the WBO junior welterweight champion of the world .
It was never going to be easy, but he was always going to give it all he could, and on the night, at the garden, he did just that.
After starting well, he was knocked down by Cotto in the second, but got up and fought back to go the distance with the power punching champion from Puerto Rico. This fight earned Malignaggi, a lot of respect and it also set him off, on the next stage of his career. After a good points win over Edner Cherry, next up was Lovemore Ndou, for the IBF junior welterweight title. Many favoured the muscle bound strong man from Australia, but Malignaggi out boxed him all night long to win his first world title.
After defending his title in Atlantic city in January, 2008, all the talk was him fighting Hatton.
Hatton had just been knocked out by Floyd Mayweather , a couple of months earlier in December, and many thought it would be a good fight for the banger from Manchester.
Later on, it was announced Hatton and Malignaggi would both be in the same ring together, but each man fighting other opponents. Hatton needed a big , confidence, boosting, comeback fight, and next up for the “Blue Moon” chop was the small but tough, Juan Lascano.
Malignaggi had to put up with Ndou again.
Both Hatton and Malignaggi won, but neither boxer, managing to raise any real burning desire to see each other together, in the ring, anytime soon.
Since that time, Malignaggi has healed, rested, and had plenty of time to get ready for Hatton.
Life on the other side of the pond, was good but not all that great. Hatton took time out to be with his friends and family, and try to take care of the business that has made him a multi millionaire.
Later in the year, it was announced that Hatton would be finding a new trainer, to prepare him for his next fight [ which was Malignaggi] in November. Then , just as the thought of that prospect, just started to register with me [ and the whole of greater Manchester] it was announced that Hatton’s long time conditioning coach, Kerry Hayes wouldn’t be hanging around either. Initially, I thought, was Hatton losing the plot?
After numerous phone calls, trying to find out the reason from Hatton’s manager, Paul Speak, I read that Billy Graham apparently, just couldn’t [ physically ] train Hatton anymore. It was starting to make sense.
I specifically remember seeing Billy in a lot of pain before one of Hatton’s sessions. So much pain, that he had to have pain relief injected into his hand. People don’t realize how much it takes out of a trainer. They don’t see the black and blue marks on their wrists from taking huge shots on the focus pads, day after day. They don’t see the aching joints, in the elbows, the shoulders. They don’t see the back spasms. All they see is their fighter, doing what they do.
What now seems , ages ago, the realization of Hatton without Graham and Hayes still seems strange to me. Will it be to Hatton ?
What is strange to me is Hatton’s choice as replacement . Floyd Mayweather.
After 45 fights, 31 ko’s, and a career spanning 11 years, what is Mayweather going to teach him, now, at the twilight of his career.? Sweet fanny f#@k all. Maybe in the gym, but once he gets in the ring, Hatton will fight the way he has always fought. No doubt, Hatton can box well when he chooses to, but to try and change him now is ridiculous. This fight can be either , another Collazo fight for Hatton, or it can be a Castillo all over again. Malignaggi is a points man, a boxer. It’s what he does.
Hatton left for Las Vegas last week, and had been sparring with his brother, Matthew. Steve Forbes was in the line up of sparring partners for Hatton, and with connections with Golden Boy Promotions, you can be sure he will get the best possible sparring for Malignaggi. If Mayweather is going to work on anything, it has to be the defence, and Hatton’s lunging in. What he got away with with Tszyu, wont cut it with Malignaggi. It definitely didn’t with “ little Floyd.”
With Malignaggi having the gift of a stiff jab, lightning combinations, loads of courage, but not too much in the way of explosive power, can this fight conjure up some real “ magic” or is it, in fact, an illusion of sorts.
Gary Todd is an international best selling author, with his book on world champions, “Workouts From Boxings Greatest Champs” He has been involved in all aspects in the sport of boxing for over 25 years and he is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association Of America. Look out for his follow up book, “Workouts Volume II”