Paulie Malignaggi moving to welterweight
by Scott Christ on May 25, 2010 9:16 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
Email
Print
After a bad loss to Amir Khan had talk of retirement floating around former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi, Rick Reeno of BoxingScene.com reports today that Malignaggi will instead target a move to the welterweight division to continue his career.
The 29-year-old Brooklyn fighter was stopped in the 11th round against Khan on May 15, losing the entire fight badly in a purely one-sided affair. Many felt Malignaggi had shown signs of slowing down, especially in his legs, in both that fight and the previous two against Juan Diaz. His team is hoping that a move to 147 won't drain him so much, and will let Malignaggi (27-4, 5 KO) be fresher come fight night.
One potential fight already being talked about is a bout with European welterweight titlist Matthew Hatton (39-4-2, 15 KO). Hatton's brother Ricky, of course, beat Malignaggi in 2008, and while Paulie would love to fight Ricky again, the chances of that happening are remote. From Ricky's side, there's just no need. The win was convincing and there's minimal money in a rematch, especially with Malignaggi being so thoroughly shut down by Khan.
Reeno also says that Malignaggi's co-manager Josh Dubin might work on getting Paulie a fight in Italy in the interim. I never thought about it this way, but man, Paulie could have been dominant on the European level with his style of fighting, and I don't mean that as a backhanded compliment, either.
I think it's good to hear that Malignaggi will give it another go in the ring. He's adamant about not wanting to be a professional opponent or stepping stone, and a crack at welterweight (where I'd pick him over plenty of guys if the move does give his legs some needed juice) is the best option for him. He'll still have no power, but past those top six guys at welter (Mayweather, Pacquiao, Mosley, Cotto, Berto, Clottey), he has the ability to outbox just about anyone.
47 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I don’t see this ending well for Malignaggi.
If a man ain't found something worth dying for. He ain't fit to live.
Ain't that the truth
With so little power at 140, Paulie will become a name opponent that future welters can add to their resumes. The cost to Paulie: countless future futile beatings.
I didn’t really realize that 140 was causing him problems. Hell, he got below that for the Diaz fights, and he looked excellent in both. I really like Paulie a lot, but this just feels like a way to rationalize a bad performance, or maybe the fact that he’s starting to slow down.
Also, I think he’s going to be far more competitive at 140 than at 147. The only guys at 140 that I think he clearly can’t beat are Bradley, Alexander, and Khan. I think he would have a real shot to outbox both Maidana and Ortiz, either of which could be good money fights, and which could set him up for a future shot at a strap of some variety. At 147, I think he’s soundly trounced by any of the six guys you listed, with the POSSIBLE exception of a 39 or 40 year old version of Shane Mosley. Sure, he could go to England and fight Matthew Hatton for a decent payday, with relatively little risk, in a fight that I think he’d win with ease. But then what? The only way this makes sense to me is if he thinks he’s a got a shot to be an eventual opponent for Mayweather or Pacquiao. His name was thrown out there by both guys when he was coming off of the Diaz fights, but I just don’t know how you sell him against either unless he finds a way to get another notable win. Could anyone maybe see Mosley-Malignaggi as a 1) comeback fight for Mosley to see where he is and 2) a fight for Paulie to try and get a big name scalp at 147? Just thinking out loud (though the more I think about it, the more I struggle to see Paulie winning that fight under any circumstances).
In any event, it is going to be interesting, and I wish him the best.
by The Boxer Rebellion on May 25, 2010 9:44 PM EDT reply actions
He’s never going to fight Floyd or Manny unless one of them decides to make one of the least compelling matchups they possibly can.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on May 26, 2010 1:21 AM EDT up reply actions
I think he might actually target the IBF belt — he was their 140 titlist for a while. The WBA belt is also held by a guy he can beat.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on May 26, 2010 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Paulie, despite the goofy image, should be smart enough to be more interested in money than belts at this stage of his career, and fights against those strapholders (I honestly don’t even know who they are) wouldn’t seem to be as lucrative as a fight against say, Maidana or Ortiz would be, both of which could be HBO fights.
Here’s another name: Zab Judah?
by The Boxer Rebellion on May 26, 2010 6:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Here’s another name: Zab Judah?
I’d watch that fight. And the gate would sell in NYC.
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
by Matt Miller on May 26, 2010 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed 100% — just wondering if perhaps Paulie may believe he could position himself into a fight with one of them since his name was floated quite a bit last time around. Clearly, Paulie IS. NOT. A. PAY PER VIEW. ATTRACTION.
by The Boxer Rebellion on May 26, 2010 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s not Paulie’s body that’s changing. It’s his brain.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
No, it definitely hasn't.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
Great move
Only because I enjoy watching Paulie get his ass handed to him. He was a career 140lbs for a reason, he doesn’t have the legs and really that’s all he had. Good luck Paulie you’re going to need it.
Mosley vs Malignaggi in a nice send of into retirement for both. i dont think he’s slowed down so much as he’s probably just not hungry anymore or at all. he has no power and would loss even worse by any of the names in the 147 division and would NOT out box maidana on the count of him being decapitated within the first 3 rounds.
I wouldn’t like Paulie’s chances against Maidana or Ortiz. Maidana is just way too strong, relentless and plain mean. He would treat Paulie with disdain. And Ortiz justifiably gets lots of heat here for quitting against Maidana, but he does have solid offensive skills and would not have to answer the same sort of gut check he did against Maidana.
Maybe Paulie’s best course of action would be to take a few fights at welterweight, hope to lurk around in the rankings and work his way into a mandatory against one of the lesser-known beltholders like Senchenko or Zaveck. If he could pull off a win against one of those guys and wrangle a belt maybe he could get one more payday against a Saul Alvarez, a Mike Jones or someone of that nature.
Maidana is just way too strong, relentless and plain mean.
love this.
by The Boxer Rebellion on May 26, 2010 7:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Your top 6....
I think Paulie could outpoint Clottey…..
Now, Tweek, boxing is a Man sport. There is nothing in the world more Man than boxing. It is Man at his most Man. So when you spar with Ned here, just dig deep into that most Man part of you. (Uncle Jimbo, South Park: Tweek vs Craig)
Yea, Clottey should probably be left on that list
top five sounds more crisp, and I don’t think Clottey could beat anybody in the top 5. Clottey needs to fight someone along the lines of Margarito or Collazo to get back into the top echelon of welterweights again.
And yes, I know Clottey almost beat Cotto, but it was more because of the circumstances than his talent.
Interesting, because I came away feeling the opposite — his talent was equal to or better than Cotto’s, but his heart/desire wasn’t.
by The Boxer Rebellion on May 26, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions
not trying to be an ass, but based on what?
Clottey is not particularly fast and doesn’t have very good power. His combinations are nothing to brag about, and his tempo is aweful. His best attributes are his defense and his chin, so his biggest talent to me is that he’s almost impossible to knock out. He is also a decent counter puncher.
Cotto, in his prime, wasn’t particularly fast either, but threw brilliant combinations that portrayed power through accumulation. His tempo was relentless and he walked through punches to get his shots off. His defense was average, but his chin held up until Margarito destroyed him. Cotto also showed the ability to be a counter puncher in the last rounds of the Mosley fight.
Saying that, I’m not sure what you consider natural talent in a fighter. Obviously, I look for hand speed, combination throwing, chin, power, and tempo. I guess you could throw footwork in there as well, but I consider that more a product of hard work (tempo could be looked upon in the same light as well).
I don't like it.
I agree it never looked like he came in without another ounce to lose. His body didn’t scream out that it was too hard to make the weight. And I also agree with so little power, no opponent is going to give him any respect. Even with his slick movement, he is going to get pressured to max. I don’t like this move for him.
He may be thinking that by moving up, they could match him against slower welters, and get back some of his speed advantage that he had none of against Kahn. But who? And to what end?
I like Paulie. I would like to see him do well, but even at Jr. most of the time he was going into a gun fight with a pellet gun. It would only be worse at Welter.
Hmm. ...
The man has a right to earn a living and to convince himself that “it” isn’t over, but. …
It is.
I never thought about it this way, but man, Paulie could have been dominant on the European level with his style of fighting, and I don’t mean that as a backhanded compliment, either.
I disagree with this. As a matter of fact, I don’t think Paulie could win a single fight in Europe. He would never (obviously) take it out of the judges hands, and those judges would skin him alive in ways that would make Gale Van Hoy look like a saint.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
There are two separate issues for an American boxer fighting in Europe: judging style, and judging bias. I think SC’s point was just that the judging style would have worked well for Paulie. Of course that still leaves judging bias as a potential problem, but (a) that’s a separate issue, and (b) if he fought in Italy (as opposed to Germany or some other country), bias might not play a huge role.
Not in Germany!
Good, so it can’t go any deeper – Arturo Gatti after being told he was cut to the bone
by The Midnight Rambler on May 26, 2010 1:23 PM EDT reply actions
If this doesn't work out
There is always Jersey Shore season 3.
"If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?"
-Vince Lombardi
by kelsquire on May 26, 2010 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
You know, Paulie might be one of those ones who can actually segway into some other entertainment job. Reality TV seems most likely, but he could always give acting a shot. He probably wouldn’t be very good at it, but who knows?
But the welts are gonna kill him. Paulie has a heavyweight chin and lots of guts, but no punch, and his movement is starting to slide as well. If he thought it was tough keeping a 138-lb Juan Diaz off of him, he is in for pure hell up at 147. He will become a punching bag.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
id rather listen to him rather than kellerman on bad.
"Newspapermen ask dumb questions. They look up at the sun and ask if it is shining."
-Sonny Liston
.
by sonofapsycho on May 26, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I went back and re-watched it, and it was even funnier than I remembered. He absolutely crushed it.
by The Boxer Rebellion on May 26, 2010 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions
LITTLE MAC…hey man what’s up
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
by Scott Christ on May 26, 2010 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
yes
there is something else out there for him. His personality is just too big to have to be up and gone when he hangs them up. And on the flip side, as you mention with his chin and guts and if he moves up, his chin and guts could end up having him end up in a real bad place. I would hate to see it.
Ive always liked Paulie
He say’s things like they are, no bullshit (Well, apart from saying he’s gunna knock someone out b4 a fight) After the 1s Diaz fight was brilliant. He’s propa passionate, I like that lots.
Bad idea for Paulie, but I respect it.
I honestly don’t see how making a move to Welterweight will better his chances. I’m not really sure what his future plans are, but I don’t think 147 is the way to go. Then again, I could be wrong and he comes into his first Welterweight fight and completely dominates. Whatever. I’ve watched Paulie for a long time, he’s easily one of my favorite Boxers because I admire his style in the ring and honesty out of the ring.
I could see a fight with Erik Morales, Luis Collazo, Carlos Quintana or Matthew Hatton for him. Is Shambay Micthell still out there lurking? ..I dunno’, I’m just coming off the top of my head.
"Okay, I stay clever like Mayweather, will lay leather 'til your face sever, one of the greatest ever." -- Big Daddy Kane
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fan since 7/12/97 — 41-0-0 (25 KOs)
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Hitlist: Manny Pacquiao, Sergio Martinez
I see Paulie beating all of those fighters except Collazo
Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"
by Matt Miller on May 26, 2010 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Quintana would also have a good chance to freeze Paulie solid. Paulie’s whiskers are very rugged, but I think they are gonna get trimmed up there. Even if they don’t, the punishment would be brutal. When Smoger stops you on your feet and punching back, there is a serious problem.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
Paulie's problem at Junior Welter can only going to get worse at Welter.
No true Welter will have any fear whatsoever of Paulie’s non-existentent punching power. Without that fear, or even concern, there is no deterrent.
Nothing keep opponents from letting their hands go more than pain from a strong dangerous counter. And strong and dangerous are not words that apply to Malignaggi. He will be in full retreat if not helpless once his future opponents take the measure of his power. And then the beatings will ensue.
A couple of “Paulie calls it like he sees it” compliments here. But it’s not necessarily a good thing. Gus Johnson “calls it like he sees it” to. Lots of morons “call it like they see it”; not because they are brave but because they don’t have the ability to switch off their mouths or they just love to call attention to themselves regardless of how shameful a display they put on.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
I’m gonna “call it like I see it.” Paulie Malignaggi got torched by Ricky Hatton, and after seeing Manny Pacquiao tear Hatton limb-from-limb he said: “He must be on something.” Yeah, Paulie. Or maybe you can’t punch your way out of a paper bag, and let jealousy and the need for attention make you say something monumentally dumb.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
I guess I'm not as down on this as everyone else is
He has the chin for welter and he was never going to knock anyone out anyways. I mean, the real problem with Paulie isn’t that he’s moving to Welter, it’s that he’s a B/B+ fighter.
His team is hoping that a move to 147 won’t drain him so much, and will let Malignaggi (27-4, 5 KO) be fresher come fight night.
Boxer are like Politicians & Used Car Salemen, the put a spin on everything. I can still hear Malignaggi’s pre fight comment, “I’m in the best shape of my life”. Well what does one believe? Malignaggi camp need to accept thier man was beaten and also accept their fighter ‘limited’ skills; Malignaggi doesn’t posses the kind of power they are hoping he’ll gain be moving up 7 lbs in weight.
Reading such Dudu talk is like believing those infomercials that air on late night tv.
by higgledy-piggledy on May 29, 2010 1:06 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
