hno:
LAS VEGAS -- Turns out Ricky Hatton didn't need to change much to take care of Paulie Malignaggi.
Looking much like the fighter he's always been, Hatton dominated the junior welterweight fight from the second round on Saturday night before Malignaggi's trainer stepped into the ring 28 seconds into the 11th round to spare his fighter any further damage.
Fighting in the same ring where he suffered his only loss against Floyd Mayweather Jr. a year ago, Hatton stunned Malignaggi early and dominated him the rest of the way in a fight that was never really in doubt. In winning easily, he staked his claim once again as the best 140-pounder in the world.
Hatton brought in Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr., to help him with his defensive techniques for the fight, but he didn't need much defense against the light-hitting Malignaggi, who could never find an answer to Hatton's all-out fighting style.
Hatton had won nine out of the previous 10 rounds on all three ringside scorecards when the fight was finally stopped. Though Hatton never managed to put Malignaggi down, he hurt him several times during the fight.
"I enjoyed it this time better than I did last time -- that's for sure," Hatton said. "Nobody will beat me at junior welterweight -- nobody."
Malignaggi never seemed the same after the second round when Hatton hit him with a right hand that buckled his legs and forced him to hold on to survive the last 30 seconds of the round. From then on it was all Hatton, much to the delight of several thousand British fans who cheered and sang their countryman's praises from the opening bell on.
Looking much like the fighter he's always been, Hatton dominated the junior welterweight fight from the second round on Saturday night before Malignaggi's trainer stepped into the ring 28 seconds into the 11th round to spare his fighter any further damage.
Fighting in the same ring where he suffered his only loss against Floyd Mayweather Jr. a year ago, Hatton stunned Malignaggi early and dominated him the rest of the way in a fight that was never really in doubt. In winning easily, he staked his claim once again as the best 140-pounder in the world.
Hatton brought in Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr., to help him with his defensive techniques for the fight, but he didn't need much defense against the light-hitting Malignaggi, who could never find an answer to Hatton's all-out fighting style.
Hatton had won nine out of the previous 10 rounds on all three ringside scorecards when the fight was finally stopped. Though Hatton never managed to put Malignaggi down, he hurt him several times during the fight.
"I enjoyed it this time better than I did last time -- that's for sure," Hatton said. "Nobody will beat me at junior welterweight -- nobody."
Malignaggi never seemed the same after the second round when Hatton hit him with a right hand that buckled his legs and forced him to hold on to survive the last 30 seconds of the round. From then on it was all Hatton, much to the delight of several thousand British fans who cheered and sang their countryman's praises from the opening bell on.
