Malignaggi has branded the information printed in yesterday’s British media as untrue. Ironically, Golden Boy announced the New Yorker’s first defense of the WBA welterweight belt he won in Ukraine last April on the same day.
“Everyone knows you can’t fight back to back fights,” Malignaggi told World Boxing News.
“I am fighting October 20th, so how can I fight in November? It wouldn’t work out – but I hope the rumors are true for Hatton coming back.”
The 31-year-old also denied that a potential offer to fight Hatton later this year would have any bearing on him facing challenger Pablo Cesar Cano at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, as scheduled.
“I am already signed to fight Cano, and that’s who I am training for now. He is a dangerous fighter, and I am not looking past him. If I don’t beat him, there is no (possible) Hatton,” he stated.
“Nothing (can happen with Hatton) as of right now. I have to focus on Cano first. He’s in front of me right now, and that’s what I have to handle on October 20th.”
Malignaggi revealed to WBN that he is as in the dark as the rest of the boxing world on whether Hatton is planning to reignite his career but remains enthusiastic about the possibility of avenging his eleventh round loss in 2008.
“I don’t know (if Hatton will fight again), I hope he does, he is a great fighter, and it would be big for boxing if he came back.
“It would be an honor (if the fight happened). That is one fight that doesn’t sit well with me, so I would like to revenge that loss. Ricky is a great fighter. He won fair and square, but like any fighter, I would like a rematch.”
On whether Malignaggi would be willing to return to England for the fight, he replied: “I would like my soil, then the third fight in England.”
Hatton, 33, is yet to comment on the possibility of him lacing up his gloves for a 48th professional fight. However, his team has declared that the Mancunian is just keeping himself in shape and getting healthy…I guess only time will tell.
