Juan Diaz VS Paulie Malignaggi/HBO Boxing
Juan Diaz VS Paulie Malignaggi/HBO Boxing.There are big battle between two former champions, Juan Diaz scored a somewhat controversial unanimous decision over Paulie Malignaggi. It was an action-packed battle between two fighters who put it all on the line in front of a raucous crowd at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Although it appeard as though Malignaggi effectively handled the non-stop pressure of Diaz, in the end, the hometown judges felt that the Baby Bull had done enough to be awarded the victory. While there’s no argument that the fight wasn’t close, the 118-110 scorecard of judge Gale Van Hoye was atrocious and hardly indicative of the action that took place. Check out the entire round-by-round to relive the action and judge for yourself.
The fight is not in any way a done deal yet, but there is a good chance, reportedly, that former world champions Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi will clash in the summer. “The Baby Bull,” who is coming off a courageously exciting stoppage loss to the superb Juan Manuel Marquez, is scheduled to fight on August 22nd, in his hometown of Houston, Texas; and there is a good chance his dance partner will be “The Magic Man.”
Diaz, the former WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight champion, can’t be expected to go up to 140-pounds, but a catch-weight bout is very much on the cards. Former IBF light-welterweight champion Malignaggi, himself looking to get his second win since his forced retirement loss to Ricky Hatton, is no big light-welterweight, and as such he could perhaps drop a few pounds and meet the 25-year-old in what would surely be a most interesting and compelling fight..
Malignaggi, now aged 28 and 26-2(5) as a pro, is approx two inches taller than Diaz, but he is no huge puncher, to say the least. If the fight is made, the all-action and aggressive Diaz will no doubt feel he can win – perhaps he will even go out looking to become the first man to legitimately KO the New Yorker? Putting the still slick and speedy Malignaggi away really would be a statement by Diaz, 34-2(17). Catch-weight fights seem to be all the rage as of late, and if this one comes off it will be a good addition to the series. Who would win, though?
Both men took more than enough punishment in their recent defeats – even though Diaz gave a better account of himself against Marquez than Malignaggi did against Hatton. “The Magic Man” was demoralised after trainer Buddy McGirt pulled him out late last year, and though he has won one fight since (out-pointing Christopher Fernandez over 8 rounds in April of this year) it remains to be seen how much ambition and sheer desire he has left inside. Diaz, who had good moments against Marquez before being nailed and TKO’d in the 9th round back in February, may not be the same fighter either, after suffering his own first stoppage loss.
Basically, the loser of this fight would have nowhere to go; whereas the winner would be right back in the title picture – especially if he won in style. Though we will know more if and when an exact weight for the bout is announced, Diaz would have a shot at stopping Malignaggi. A stoppage win for the man who has just 5 KO’s on his record, however, would really be a shocker. No, Paulie’s best chance, clearly, would be to out-box and out-speed the younger man. But with his incredible work-rate, would Juan let him win that way?
Paulie Malignaggi Biography
Paulie Malignaggi Biography.Paulie Malignaggi is an American professional boxer from Brooklyn, New York. He is a former IBF junior welterweight champion.
Malignaggi was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He moved to Syracuse, Sicily and then to Palazzolo Acreide, Sicily when he was a few months old, and lived there until he was six years of age.
On June 26 1997 as a 16 year old Malignaggi began boxing in the legendary. “I ended up loving the gym and have been there ever since,” Malignaggi said. “I still remember my first day there. I remember training with my old trainer, Willie Badillo. He was teaching me a jab and right hand in front of the mirror, but throwing them really slowly to get the form down correctly. I started with a good foundation. I wrapped my hands and thought it looked so cool.”
During Malignaggi’s amateur career, he trained at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. As an amateur, he won the 1998 and 2001 New York Golden Gloves Amateur Championship, as well as the 2001 United States National Amateur Championship.
Malignaggi also won the 2001 Everlast U.S. Championships on March 13-17, 2001 in Colorado Springs, Colo by beating Van Oscar Penovaroff, Antonio Davis, and Luis Merced, all by decision. His record was 40-9.
The “Magic Man” made his professional debut at age 20 on July 7, 2001, and scored a first-round knockout over Thadeus Parker in Brooklyn. He won four more professional fights before his rookie campaign came to an end, including two by knockout. In 2002, Malignaggi went seven-for-seven in the ring, including a second-round TKO over Anthony Simpkins on Aug. 30 in New York City.
“I learned when I sit down on my punches, I do have some power there,” Malignaggi said after the fight. “I just have to keep doing that. I have a tendency sometimes to use my legs a little too much. I kind of stayed calm against Simpkins.”
Prior to his fight against Miguel Cotto, Malignaggi’s fight record was 21-0-0.
He adopts the “Hitman” stance popularized by Thomas Hearns, his left arm is kept beside his waist and he keeps his right hand at the chest level, leaving his head completely exposed. Consequently, he punches from his hips, something few boxers can pull off unless they have exceptional handspeed. Malignaggi moves around the ring well and counter-punches effectively against aggressive opponents. In spite of having very little power, he is able to land clean shots while his opponents come forward.
