With a Bit of "Magic," Paul Malignaggi Can Gain Many Titles
Former IBF junior welterweight champion Paul “the Magic Man” Malignaggi defeated past unified WBA, WBO and IBF world lightweight titlist Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz by unanimous decision in their rematch Saturday night at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago.
Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KOs), a Brooklyn native who was awarded Ring Magazine’s comeback of the year in 2007, dominated Diaz (34-2, 17 KOs) and all three judges declared him victorious by the identical score of 116-111.
In their initial encounter this past summer at the Toyota Center in Diaz’s hometown of Houston, Texas, the “Baby Bull” won a highly-controversial unanimous decision over Malignaggi.
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Malignaggi, 29, justifiably claimed that the three judges were biased and he contended that their scoring blatantly favored Diaz, 26, strictly because he hails from “Space City.”
To legitimize Malignaggi’s outcry, impartial and, unfortunately, unofficial HBO scorer Harold Lederman had “the Magic Man” winning the contest 115-113.
This weekend, the flamboyant Malignaggi sagely pressed ahead and refused to allow the smaller Diaz to get inside to land combinations.
As evidenced by the paltry number of opponents that he has knocked out in his career, Malignaggi badly lacks power in both of his fists.
Nevertheless, Malignaggi employs slick footwork in the ring and he is an effective counter-puncher who consistently lands clean blows when his opponents barge forward.
After the fight, Malignaggi mentioned WBO world light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs), WBA world light welterweight champ Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KOs) and WBC light welterweight titleholder Devon Alexander (19-0, 12 KOs) as potential future foes.
Malignaggi is absolutely a polarizing prizefighter and it is understandable that many boxing fans consider him to be a scorching hemorrhoid.
Still, Malignaggi deserves ample credit for the way that he remained focused on his fight with Diaz despite the curious manner in which their last battle was decided.
Malignaggi is a talented pugilist and with diligence and a touch of “Magic,” he may continue to accumulate belts for years to come.
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