Hmmmm gotta pull you up on a few things here (IMO of course):
Floyd Mayweather Sr.? Best trainer on the planet? That is hugely debatable. His brother lays claim to that mantel more so and even it's arguable with him. Roger Mayweather has a gem of a boxer in Floyd Mayweather Jr. so much in fact that I reckon a blind dog could 'train' him. I would place several other current and recently 'retired' trainers before him...Roach, Steward and McGirt to name but three.
Secondly if there are two areas the 'Magic Man' can exploit with Hatton it's his defence and strategy. It's like PBF said "He just comes forward in straight lines"...and lo and behold that's exactly what he did when they fought. Now Malignaggi isn't Mayweather..He is neither as quick nor as gifted but he's a very good technical boxer nonetheless with a ****ing good jaw. Cotto couldnt knock him out and is the only man to put him on his ass...He hits harder than Hatton does.
Yes Malignaggi is brash and gobby. He is an Italian-American for christs sake thats what he's like but he does have the technical skills, if not the record or calibre of opponents, to back it up. He'll give Hatton a run for his money so much in fact I will have a cheeky punt on him...That said with a gun to my head I will also plump for Hatton to win. Probably on points.
Last point I have to take reference with is the comments regarding Pavlik. He is not a gobby brash American, in fact many in the business regard 'The Ghost' as a very pleasant amiable person. A certain amount of self assureance is necessary for any boxer and he was in a good position to be calling out JC and for my money still is. His loss to a seasoned pro in BHop was not great in the short term but will only do his career a world of good. IMO Hopkins should have at least earned a draw out of JC also. In light of the fight between the Executioner and Pavlik it has been reported that Pavlik had bronchitus in the week leading to the fight and in fact it should have been postponed. This is something the Pavlik camp admit as their mistake and do not take anything away from Hopkins' win at all. Bare it in mind also that Pavlik knocked out, then beat, Jermaine Taylor twice; this is the man that had previously beaten Hopkins twice on the spin. I feel that either a rematch with Hopkins OR better still for JC to fight someone who isn't generally regarded as past it. A stigma that will be attached to his career and what stops him being the best P4P fighter around at the mo...An opinion that a partially share despite recognising Calzaghe as a great champion.
