Paulie Malignaggi portrayed himself as Ricky Hatton's nemesis as the pre-fight build-up intensified on Tuesday ahead of their light-welterweight encounter at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night.
Malignaggi, the fast-talking ring stylist as comfortable with public speaking as the Mancunian folk hero is with after-dinner stand-up comedy, hails from an Italian-American neighbourhood in New York which has produced several of boxing's renowned fighters, including middleweight champions Jake LaMotta and Rocky Graziano. Like both LaMotta and Graziano, popular and brutal in the ring in the Forties and Fifties, Malignaggi had a tough childhood in which he was often in trouble with the NY Police Department as a teenage miscreant. That all ended the day his grandfather and uncle first took him to a boxing gym at the age of 16.
The athletically gifted Malignaggi immediately excelled, his motormouth self-confidence and arrogance finally channelled and controlled.
Pulling no punches, Malignaggi, known as 'The Magic Man' for his ring skills, has marketed his good looks and Italian background under promoter Lou DiBella, working away from the ring as a clothes model in Esquire and Playboy magazines, developing a considerable profile on television and radio, and is now one of the most popular New York fighters. Displaying a propensity for changing hairstyles and Roger Federer-style headbands, Malignaggi's good looks belie a canny ring brain.
The fighter, who is 28 on Sunday, might have chosen a less visceral profession as the son of Sebastiano Malignaggi, a former professional footballer in Italy. He moved to Sicily when he was a few months old and lived there until he was six years of age, before returning to Brooklyn. Fluent in Italian, his large following now regard him as the fighting 'King of Brooklyn'.
After a fine amateur career, Malignaggi opted for the professional ranks seven years ago, possessing some power early in his career until he developed hand problems. Malignaggi's five KOs in 26 outings is testament to the pin he has in his troubled right hand, which has required significant surgery. From a heavy-hitting orthodox fighter early in his career, the New Yorker has been forced to transform his style to that of a dancing, fast-footed stylist, confusing opponents with his movement, intent on using his great fitness to outscore combatants in championship contests.
The underlying question for Malignaggi, who represents Hatton's greatest rival in the 140lb division, is whether his slick movement and boxing ability will be enough to defeat Hatton. The Mancunian is so confident he has insisted this week that he will retire if he loses to the American. In Malignaggi's favour, his counter-punching style relies on fast hands, with aggressive opponents like Hatton suiting him.
Nonetheless, the question is whether Malignaggi possesses the wherewithal to sustain 12 rounds against the bustling Hatton, who forced former IBF light-welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu to retire on his stool, outgunned WBA champion Carlos Maussa in 2005, battled the powerful Juan Urango for the IBO belt, and stopped former lightweight world champion Jose Luis Castillo inside four rounds.
Malignaggi was unbeaten, 21-0, until he faced undefeated Miguel Cotto in June 2006 at Madison Square Garden for the WBO light-welterweight title. That night, Malignaggi suffered his only career loss, yet showed he is made of steel. After being felled in the second round, he lost in a punishing 12 round contest by unanimous decision, sustaining a fractured eye socket, which disfigured his face, a bloody nose, and cuts around the eyes. He came back to win the IBF title and then defended it at the City of Manchester Stadium in May – as chief support to Hatton – beating Lovemore N'Dou in a rematch by split decision.
It was a close, close fight. That night, Malignaggi, sporting dreadlock hair extensions, had them cut off during the fight on his stool after they left him fighting effectively through a curtain of hair.
Significantly, Malignaggi suffered a fractured right hand in the fight. Malignaggi vacated the IBF title in September, but now covets Hatton as a 'W' on his record. Malignaggi believes Hatton is underestimating him and has been open in his criticism of the Mancunian's well-documented enjoyment of drinking between fights. "Hatton leads the wrong lifestyle to be a great fighter, and he does not have what it takes to be one of boxing's best," he said.
The Brooklynite is determined to de-rail plans to stage a Hatton fight against the winner of Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya, which he labelled "a joke", and which, he insisted, will be consigned to history come Saturday night after he has retired Hatton. Malignaggi said: "I'll throw a wrench in the works. Hatton is going to find it very difficult to outbox me. I've been waiting for this opportunity, and I'll take it with both hands." The key could be whether his hands hold up.
Source Daily Telegraph
Turns out Ricky Hatton didn't need to change much to take care of Paulie Malignaggi.
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