On Saturday in Las Vegas, Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton returns to the scene of his only career defeat to face Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi in a battle of World Class Light-Welterweights. In a Puncher vs. the Boxer affair, Hatton has been installed as a -260 favorite that will likely swell to over three dollars once the Hatton traveling posse hits the windows.

Hatton (44-1) was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather in his last trip in. It’s his only career defeat and certainly no shame there. Hatton got back on track with a unanimous decision over Juan Lezcano in his hometown of Manchester, England in May. He’ll be trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr. for this fight.

Malignaggi (25-1) is a boxer in the same vein as Pretty Boy Floyd but has no power (has suffered from several broken hands) and couldn’t break an eggshell. The Magic Man is slick, elusive, and showed great heart and chin in his lone loss, a 2006 unanimous decision to Miguel Cotto fighting the majority of the fight with a broken cheek bone.

Both fighters are viewing this as a stepping stone to another big money fight.

A self-admitted partier, Hatton has a reputation of putting on large amounts of weight between fights then cutting. In England, he’s known as Ricky Fatton. Rumor around town here in Vegas is that Hatton’s conditioning may not be there. Malignaggi is the more skilled fighter but it remains to be seen whether he can work out a ratta-tat-tat decision against the bigger man.

A friend of mine made a very astute point. Hatton is out of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy stable. Call me cynical but ….. Malignaggi probably can’t win a decision here in Las Vegas. Fortunately, we don't have questionable decisions in Las Vegas.

Hatton is physically much bigger and will pressure Malignaggi throughout. Hatton by unanimous decision.

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