Can the Hit Man silence the Magic Man? Can he make some magic of his own?

That’s the theme surrounding Ricky Hatton’s November 22 match-up against Pauli Malignaggi at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Hatton has become a local fixture in the past two years, notching some of his biggest victories and also suffering his lone defeat—a high-profile setback against Floyd Mayweather—in Las Vegas.

He’s also infused the city with capital and with fiery British fans, emboldened by the pound’s buying power versus the dollar, storming Nevada for his past few fights. Buoyed by drinks, they sing loudly enough to resemble a soccer game back home. Bizarre songs, like “Blue Moon,” have become a staple surrounding the Hit Man. Have they begun to become cliché?

“I’m a little freaking sick of it now,” he said, bringing laughter to a room of reporters. “But it’s all fine with me.”

Hatton (44-1 with 31 KOs) made an interesting pronouncement for his 30th birthday: Just three more fights—Malignaggi, Oscar De La Hoya or Manny Pacquiao, then perhaps Juan Marquez. One more big year and that’s it.

We’ll see.

Unlike many performers, Hatton has thrived outside of his own country. He scored a close, controversial decision over Luis Collazo in 2006 by scoring a knockdown just 10 seconds into the fight. That fight occurred in Massachusetts. In 2007, he waged three Las Vegas showcases.

Hatton defeated Juan Urango and then delivered a terrific left hook to the liver, crumpling Jose Luis Castillo. Hatton inflicted the first stoppage upon Castillo’s illustrious career, but later bit off more than he could handle. He called Mayweather, boxing’s top performer, out of imminent retirement. That backfired. Mayweather again proved unbeatable, and stopped Hatton before finally retiring early this year.

Oddsmakers, however, give Hatton a pass. Anyone who fights Mayweather barely has it count against him. Hatton is slightly more than a 2-1 favorite against the fast-talking, light-hitting Malignaggi.

Before training camp began, however, Hatton ballooned up severely in weight. He often does that, but the tactic tempts fate. Has he gone too far?

Malignaggi, meanwhile, has maximized his potential. He has gained worldwide attention despite scoring only five knockouts in his 25-1 career.

The mystique really began in defeat. Malignaggi was outslugged and beaten by Miguel Cotto in 2006, but obtained respect for standing and slugging with one of boxing’s premier performers. Malignaggi eventually captured a junior welterweight title, outpointing Lovemore N’Dou in 2007. He secured a close decision victory over Herman Ngoudjo in Atlantic City, and then defeated N’Dou in a rematch.

Malignaggi faces Hatton one day before his 28th birthday and is not awed by the British slugger.

“I have the big speed advantage in this fight,” Malignaggi said. “Sure, Hatton is powerful, but he has never faced anybody with the kind of speed I am going to throw at him. He has not done well against fighters who have the edge in speed on him.”

Malignaggi, based in New York, has the perfect personality to embrace Las Vegas. This is his first appearance here. He welcomes the media blitz and big lights that have intimidated others.

“It does not bother me that people say I can’t punch,” he said, grinning. “I’ve shown what the benefit of speed will do. I will show it again when I face Hatton.”

Look for Malignaggi to try piling up points and for Hatton to try out-muscling him.

Hatton-Malignaggi is the second boxing showcase of the month for Las Vegas. Nonito Donaire faces Moruti Mthalene November 1. Two weeks later, Mandalay Bay hosts a UFC showdown between Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture. Richard Steele’s promotional company has a November 25 event at the Silver Nugget.

Who Do We Appreciate?
It happened again. The New England Patriots are just another team. Yet another Super Bowl runner-up struggles and must claw for the playoffs. Seven of the last 13 Super Bowl bridesmaids haven’t made the playoffs the following year. Their struggles bring more focus to the incredible hill they nearly climbed last year.

Theories abound regarding free agency and the Super Bowl hangover. But here’s the real rub: the emotional investment for coming so close. For the last 10 weeks of their regular season, the Patriots were being hyped for 17-0 perfection. They swept the entire regular season, went 16-0 including the league championship games and really were better than the 1972 Dolphins, football’s last unbeaten team. They were simply stunned by the single greatest play in Super Bowl history.

Eli Manning’s ability to dodge a game-clinching sack and David Tyree’s catch pinned against his helmet turned season-long perfection into bitter defeat for New England. A near certain interception that wasn’t preceded that play. After the long haul and the near miss, it was too much for New England to regroup from.

Even had Tom Brady played this season, the emotional commitment for New England did not figure to reach full pitch until December. That’s the tough task for Super Bowl losers. They were closest to the flame and thus burned the most.

How could this team possibly regard November games as life-and-death? Now they can and they must because the Patriots have slumped. They are just another NFL team.

One more factor involving the dropoff concerns the small margin of caliber between teams. A couple players slump, some become injured, and you are going backwards.

A little 2007 retreat caused wasted seasons for Chicago and New Orleans, the NFC finalists from 2006. They had similar personnel, but did not reach the previous year’s performance.

Wranglers Host Four
The Wranglers have a limited home schedule in November, with four dates. They host Bakersfield November 7, Phoenix November 8 and Idaho on the 14th and 15th. All events take place at the Orleans Arena.

Casino Connection sports editor Dave Bontempo, who broadcasts major boxing matches throughout the world, will call Hatton-Malignaggi for HBO’s worldwide television audience.

By Dave Bontempo

Casino Connection Sports Editor Dave Bontempo is an award-winning sports writer and broadcaster who calls boxing matches all over the world. He has covered the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs, as well as numerous PGA, LPGA and Seniors Golf Tour events, and co-hosted the Casino Connection television program with Publisher Roger Gros.

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