Hatton beats Malignaggi after trainer stops fight in 11th round

LAS VEGAS -- Turns out Ricky Hatton didn't need to change much to take care of Paulie Malignaggi.

Ricky Hatton wins in the same ring where he lost his only fight. (AP)

Looking much like the fighter he's always been, Hatton dominated the fight from the second round on Saturday night before Malignaggi's trainer stepped into the ring 28 seconds into the 11th round to spare his fighter any further damage.

Fighting in the same ring where he suffered his only loss against Floyd Mayweather Jr. a year ago, Hatton stunned Malignaggi early and dominated him the rest of the way in a fight that was never really in doubt. In winning easily, he staked his claim once again as the best 140-pounder in the world.

Hatton brought in Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr., to help him with his defensive techniques for the fight, but he didn't need much defense against the light-hitting Malignaggi, who could never find an answer to Hatton's all-out fighting style.

Hatton had won nine out of the previous 10 rounds on all three ringside scorecards when the fight was finally stopped. Though Hatton never managed to put Malignaggi down, he hurt him several times during the fight.

"I enjoyed it this time better than I did last time -- that's for sure," Hatton said. "Nobody will beat me at junior welterweight -- nobody."

Malignaggi never seemed the same after the second round when Hatton hit him with a right hand that buckled his legs and forced him to hold on to survive the last 30 seconds of the round. From then on it was all Hatton, much to the delight of several thousand British fans who cheered and sang their countryman's praises from the opening bell on.

Malignaggi's face was bruised and his eyes puffy midway through the fight as Hatton's punches began showing their effect. By the eighth round, Hatton was chasing Malignaggi and taking wild swings at him, clearly unimpressed with the power of a fighter who had only five knockouts in his 26 professional fights.

Hatton, though, said it was harder than it looked.

"I was getting frustrated during the fight because Paulie was a lot tougher fighter than you would think," Hatton said.

At the end of the 10th round, trainer Buddy McGirt warned Malignaggi that he would stop the fight if he continued to take a beating, and it didn't take long for him to follow through on his promise. McGirt came into the ring and the fight was stopped, much to the displeasure of Malignaggi, who shoved his trainer away when he tried to embrace him.

"I was worse off in the Miguel Cotto fight," Malignaggi said of his only previous loss. "They didn't stop it then, they shouldn't have stopped it now."

McGirt was unapologetic