Hatton promises ‘crash, bang, wallop’ despite new trainer
Hatton, 29, will be trained by the American for the clash with IBF light-welterweight champion Malignaggi on November 22 after parting company with long-time coach Billy Graham earlier this year.
The Mancunian lost a fight for the first time last year — ironically against Mayweather’s son Floyd Jnr — and has admitted his tendency to try to “bulldoze” opponents proved costly on that occasion.
He has vowed to utilise his boxing skills from now on under the guidance of defensive expert Mayweather Sr.
But with tickets for the fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas selling quickly — nearly 13,000 have already been snapped up — Hatton insists he will keep faith with his exciting style.
He said: “I’ve just got to refine my style. I’m not going to change my style, but when things like the Mayweather defeat happen you’ve got to tweak things.
“Think about Amir Khan getting knocked out recently; Amir hasn’t got to change his style, because that’s what makes him Amir Khan, but you learn you can’t fight certain ways and you go back to the drawing board to tweak it a little bit.
“It’s a great position to be in. Sometimes change is good. When you’ve been working on new things, different training methods, I suppose you enjoy it that little bit more, you’ve got a bit more spring in your step.”
Hatton added: “Paulie’s going to expect the ‘crash, bang, wallop’ but you might see a few different things from working with a new coach.
“I’ve always been able to box but, typical Ricky Hatton, when the red mist sets in, sometimes it can all go out of the window.
“The best performances of my career have been when I’ve slowed it down a touch and that’s what we’ve worked on a bit. But needless to say it will still be the usual ‘crash, bang, wallop’ Ricky Hatton, because that’s why people love me.”
Hatton has such faith in his new trainer he revealed he is even willing to forego the famous ‘body belt’ regime, in which he used to hammer away at a heavily-padded Graham for 15 excruciating rounds.
“The 15 rounds on the body belt was my way of doing it but training with a new camp there are new training methods, a different approach and I’ve got to put my faith in Floyd as a trainer,” Hatton said.
“I have no problem with that because the results speak for themselves, look what he has done with Oscar De La Hoya, Joan Guzman and different fighters in recent years.”
Malignaggi, whose IBF belt seems unlikely to be on the line due to typical boxing politics, insists titles are unimportant in a fight of this magnitude and is unconcerned by Hatton’s new tactics.
“I’m sure he’ll come with a couple of different things but I’m a firm believer in ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”’, said the New Yorker.
“I’m excited about the fight, this is the one I’ve been waiting for.
“You don’t need extra motivation for this fight. In everybody’s eyes this is a fight for the position of number one light-welterweight in the world, no doubt about it.”
