Ricky Hatton: “I enjoyed it this time much more than last time. I just came to a new camp. I’m working on some new things, me and Floyd [Mayweather Sr.] have been together probably seven or eight weeks, so it doesn’t happen overnight. I think I’ve showed glimpses of the what I can do. I think the frustration was getting into it. Paulie [Malignaggi] is even tougher than he fights and is known for his speed. He’s a lot tougher than he looks. And I think I hurt him too early in the fight. The first punch I practically hurt him with. From there on in, I out my foot on the gas and at times went back to the old Ricky Hatton.”
“But surely Floyd will get me completely out of that. I was a little more patient. Me and Floyd said I would be my usual aggressive self. I was picking off shots a little bit better, but I left my chin out a couple of times. But I was picking off shots a little better, using my jab a little bit better and using head movement a little more.
It could still get a damn sight better all in all, I’m under no illusions, with the shots Paulie picked me off with. But I think before the fight if you said which opponent would cause Ricky Hatton the most, which style would cause Ricky the most, you’d probably say Paulie but I think when the stoppage come, Paulie was looking a bit spent.
Maybe the stoppage came a little bit premature. I know Paulie did. I haven’t seen the tape yet, but you could see in the 2nd round, I think I hurt him. And I began to start cocking my punches a bit too much and telegraphing them, and that’s what you can’t do against some as fast as Paulie. Floyd was telling me in the corner, listen, you know, you have plenty of time to do it.
I think if you stick Paulie in with any other fighter, with his style, loads of jabs to counter with, drops his shoulders, spins off the ropes. A lot of my punches were going over the top of him. He was going very low at times, which was awkward at times. I’ll probably have to make more feints a lot more. I think if Paulie fought anymore, he’d give them massive problems. He’s a good fighter. He’s a lot tougher than he looks, definitely.“
When asked if he’d like to fight the winner of Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao, Ricky said “Bring it on. I’ve had 46 fights now, and I’ve only lost one, and that was to Floyd Mayweather and he’s the best pound for pound. No one will ever beat me at junior welterweight, nobody. I really believe that. What kind of champion would I be if I stayed at my normal weight class and didn’t accept the challenges. Bring them on, that’s what Ricky Hatton is all about.
Paulie Malignaggi:
“Nothing surprised me. I expected a couple of different looks from Ricky because the new training system and he did. I got a couple of different feints maybe, stuff like that. But you know, I couldn’t into a rhythm. He’s he got an awkward head movement, so my jabs were missing. He was coming under my jabs. He uses his short height very well.
He kind of maneuvers his way inside. You know, he did a good job with that. I just want to say, maybe I would have lost the fight on points if they had let it continue, but I’m better than being stopped. They didn’t stop the Cotto fight and I was way worse hurt in the Cotto fight than I was in this fight. I wasn’t never really hurt in this fight.
He buzzed me, I think, in the 2nd round. I’m better than being stopped. Ricky fought a great fight, I’m not taking anything away from him. He’s a terrific fighter. It just that it’s a knockout on my record and it shouldn’t be. You know, I was worse hurt in the Cotto fight, I was worse hurt in the Cotto fight. But, and I know the British fans are booing me.
You guys are great regardless of whether you’re booing or cheering me, whatever, You guys always make the festivities more fun. I hope I put on a good enough fight to entertain you guys. I know you guys are happy that your guy won, but I was better than getting stopped, that’s all I’m saying. Give yourself a round of applause. Thank you.”
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