Hatton earned an 11th round TKO after Malignaggi’s corner conceded the bout with their man comfortably behind on the judges’ cards, retaining the Ring Magazine and IBO title belts.
Malignaggi was furious with that decision, but it merely accelerated the Mancunian’s inevitable victory.
And despite sustaining his the only defeat of his career last time he stepped up a division to face Floyd Mayweather jr - whose estranged father Floyd snr trained Hatton for this contest - the 30-year-old is ready to confront those demons once more.
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“I’ve had 46 fights now and only lost one - and he was the best pound for pound in the world,” he told Sky Box Office.
“No-one will ever beat me at junior-welterweight, no-one. But what sort of a champion would I be if I didn’t take them (De la Hoya and Pacquiao) on next? That’s what Ricky Hatton is all about.
“I’ve certainly put myself in the shop window, and after another training camp with Floyd, I think I’ll get even better.
“If I’m going to have another two years left, I want big fights. If I have to move up to 147lbs again, let’s do it.”
Hatton was as measured in his assessment of the fight as he was in the ring, insisting that although he was pleased with his best performance for some time, there was still more to come from his fledgling partnership with Mayweather snr.
Glimpses
“I enjoyed it better than last time I was here, that’s for sure,” he said.
“I’ve just come into a new camp and I’ve been working on new things. Floyd and I have been together for seven or eight weeks and it doesn’t happen overnight.
“But I showed glimpses of what I can do. And after being with Floyd for seven weeks, I think that’s pretty impressive.”
He continued: “Frustration crept in; I think I hurt him too early in the fight.
“The first punch I threw, I hurt him and at times it was slightly back to the old Ricky Hatton, but Floyd will see to that.
“I was a little more patient, I was picking my shots a bit better and using my head a little more. But it can still get a damn sight better, that’s for sure.”
The vanquished Malignaggi admitted he was heading for defeat but was distraught with the decision to end the fight prematurely.
He told Sky Box Office: “Maybe I wasn’t going to win, I accept that but I’m better than being stopped.
“I’m better than that. Ricky fought a great fight and I’m not taking anything away from him but it’s a knockout on my record and it shouldn’t be.
“I was hurt worse in the (Miguel) Cotto fight and they didn’t stop that.”
In response to the travelling British support, who gave Malignaggi a rough ride before, during and after the bout, he said: “Boo me or cheer me, whatever. You guys always make the festivities more fun.
“Give yourselves a round of applause.”
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Good on ya Ricky, a champion through and through.
Look foward to having in a pint in the Lamb when you get back.
my gran would have put a better performance up than Malignaggi what a poor fighter he was, seems like the British public been ripped off again hatton should let his fans watch for free next time and stop conning his fans.
Reply to 'power to the people uk' - I will fight you and your gran anytime you want.
does paulie have any thing to say now he had a severe beating,paulie whats it like to hold on to ricky power shots to stay up.lol whos holding on now.
i watched the fight, as you can belive the pubs were bangin and the fight was mint! hatton did us proud but fair play to mallanagi he stayed in the fight and dint wanna give up! i rate paulie as a boxer but hatton was to impressive to lose! bring on the pac man or de la hoya or with any luck mayweather jnr rematch! cus if hatton fights like that again hell be hard to beat!!!
awesom fight hatton back to his best watch the fight in the boozer and the atmosphere was top notch! i rate paulie as a fighter but it just wasnt his night ricky went back to boxing rather than the gung ho style and really impressed me! floyd mayweather snr done good. bring on de la hoya, the pac man, or a rematch with mayweather jnr if hatton fights like that again i cant see any one stopping him.
Well done Ricky, lets hope the British fans see him in against the winner of the Golden boy and Pacman fight next,staged over here hopefully, we deserve it! Its then time to say goodbye, i feel, so you can enjoy your retirement in one piece. What a fight it will be to see him in against either of those guys and what a way to sign off a fantastic career.
Can't think of a better guy to have so much success. Peoples champion.
How many final paydays does this guy want or need?
I'll fight him, albeit get knocked out but i could do with the money before christmas !
was mallignaggi ever going to stop Hatton with his 5 kos in his record?!people who know anything about boxing will know then that malignaggi didnt have the firepower to keep Ricky off him.a predictable result, you have to be something special like an Ali to be a non- puncher and outclass a pressure fighter who hits hard like Hatton.Hatton will rule in his division as he is the best about, there is no one who can beat him at lightwelter. Dont go up in weight again Ricky, if Dela Hoya etc cant make your weight which they probably cant, it would be foolish to give away such an advantage again. we saw the difference in size between mayweather and Hatton when Ricky moved up a weight. it would be a hige handicap again and fighting Dela Hoya is hard enough without this.Ricky should clean up his division, one or two more fights and although less money he would be regarded the best light-welter for many years, perhaps all time even surpassing pryor etc
Ricky is out just for the money now he stepped up once losted so a good big en beats a good little en