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WBA welterweight champion is hoping for a 2013 rematch with Ricky Hatton after he scored a split decision victory over tough Mexican Pablo Cesar Cano in Brooklyn last night.

"The Magic Man" was knocked to the canvas from a right hand in the eleventh round, but got back up and hung on to take a tight verdict.

Two of the judges scored it 114-113 in the American's favour, while a third had it 118-109 the other way.

"I thought I won the fight. I thought I won pretty handily," said Malignaggi, afterwards. "He was pressing the action but he wasn't laying a lot of shots.

"I got a little bit lazy. I was controlling the action. He came over the top and he got me good. But I felt like I won the fight."

Even if he had have won, Cano wouldn't have become the champion because he failed to make the 147lbs weight limit.

Malignaggi added that it would be "an honour" to face Hatton again, who stopped him in 11 rounds in late 2008.

21/10/2012 16:50:58