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Malignaggi in ref warning
Other Sports, 15:37, November 20, 2008 ,
Paulie Malignaggi has urged referee Kenny Bayless to crack down on Ricky Hatton's "wrestling" style of fighting on Saturday.
'Magic Man' Malignaggi takes on 'The Hitman' in Las Vegas this weekend and the American star wants Bayless to ensure the pair will be separated if there is excessive holding or clinching - something he feels Hatton has got away with in the past.
"Listen, there's no problems with inside fighting unless there's Ricky Hatton involved," Malignaggi said.
"Nobody complains that a referee is breaking fighters except when he's fighting. Referees want to see action just as much as fans want to see it. They never stop the action.
"If you're wrestling, then you've got to be broken up. They say if one hand's free you're allowed to work. If you're the one being held you can't work and you have to be freed up."
Malignaggi does, however, believe Bayless will be able to handle the fight at the MGM Grand Arena.
"I think Kenny is a good referee," he added. "I watched Cotto-Margarito and he refereed that fight and it was an inside fight almost the whole way.
"But when there was clinching, Kenny instantly said 'break'. When they were throwing punches inside he let it go as he should have done, why would he break that up?
"When there's holding though, Kenny shouldn't think twice about breaking it up on Saturday night."