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© Tom Hogan / Golden Boy Promotions
IBO Light Welterweight Champion turned back the clock last night in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, pounding out a vintage high-pressure performance against IBF titlist Paulie Malignaggi for ten rounds until the New Yorker’s corner threw in the towel just seconds into the eleventh frame.
Brash Brooklynite Malignaggi backed up his pre-fight boasts in the first round, catching the always advancing Hatton on the way in with sharp jabs but the light hitting IBF beltholder couldn’t deter the Englishman from his pursuit.
In the second, Hatton struck the target with right hands on two occasions that shook Malignaggi badly and also began to mix in trademark left hooks to the body of his surprised foe.
From that point on, Malignaggi basically let go of his gameplan and looked to prevent a repeat of those disastrous sequences of the second by using footwork to stay on the outside and clinching Hatton whenever “The Hitman” got in close.
Aside from a few good moments in the fourth, fifth and eighth frames, Malignaggi appeared to be at a loss and had no answer for Hatton’s marauding, pressure filled style, which featured a very effective left jab, possibly a result of working with new trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr.
By the later rounds, Malignaggi was simply absorbing punishment and while he would catch Hatton with the occasional jab, hook or right hand, the one sided nature of the bout grew as time wore on.
Hatton had a good tenth round, busting up Malignaggi to the body and head and when the eleventh session looked to be more of the same, the New Yorker’s trainer Buddy McGirt threw in the towel after just 20 seconds to end matters, despite Malignaggi’s enraged protestations.
With the impressive victory, Hatton has gained some breathing room from the calls that he should retire following his very tough bout with Juan Lazcano in May and the Manchester icon has his eye on the winner of the upcoming Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao welterweight clash on December 6.
Hatton retains his IBO crown and improves to 45-1 (32) while Malignaggi, who’s IBF title wasn’t at stake, falls to 25-2 (5).
On the undercard, light middleweight southpaw phenom James Kirkland, 24-0 (21), floored limited but steel-tough fellow Texan Brian Vera, 16-2 (10), in the second and then hit Vera with everything in his arsenal for the next six rounds until a body-head combination ended matters in the eighth frame.
Welterweight Matthew Hatton, 35-4-1 (13), picked up the biggest win of his career by outpointing former world title challenger Ben Tackie, 29-11-1 (17), after ten competitive rounds.
Seasoned Mexican Heriberto Ruiz, 40-7-2 (23), had his best win in years by outpointing Rey Bautista, 26-2 (19), who fought most of the eight round bout with a very bad cut.
Ex-WBC Bantam and Super Feather Champion and current PABA Light Welter titlist Sirimongkol Singwancha, 60-2 (34), of Thailand took a majority decision victory against Rogelio Castaneda Jr, 24-15-3 (8), after eight rounds.
