Amir Khan and Paul Malignaggi: King vs. the Magic Man in 24 Hours

WBA world light welterweight champion Amir “King” Khan, will fight WBO and NABO light welterweight titlist Paul “The Magic Man” Malignaggi, Saturday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

 

Khan (22-1, 16 KOs,) a British Pakistani boxer who became the youngest Englishman to win an Olympic medal when he captured a silver as a lightweight at the 2004 games in Greece, is a prizefighter with unlimited potential and abilities.

 

“I could have stayed in the UK,” said Khan, 23, the third youngest Brit in history to ever win a crown. “But I want to make a name for myself and Paulie is the guy I’m going to use to be a big star over here.”

 

Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KOs,) an Italian-American from Brooklyn, who is the former IBF junior welterweight champ, is absolutely a polarizing prizefighter and it is understandable that many fans consider him to be a scorching hemorrhoid.

 

Nevertheless, Malignaggi is a defensive wizard in the ring and he is a legitimate prizefighter who possesses exceptional hand-speed and quick reflexes.

 

“Me with a world title, I bring notoriety and a championship to the table,” said Malignaggi, 29, whose three losses as a professional came at the respected hands of Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs,) Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs) and Juan Diaz (35-3, 17 KOs.) “I become a cash cow.”

 

Malignaggi is a slickster and he will be a formidable foe for Khan to trump.

 

However, Malignaggi’s feathery punches couldn’t knockout “Glass Joe” and he has no chance to upset Khan this weekend.

 

So, Khan is now seriously being considered as a future opponent for Floyd Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) should “Pretty Boy’s” negotiations to battle Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) again hit a bypass.

 

Khan is a precocious talent and he will ultimately prove himself to be a force as a prizefighter.

 

Still, he is simply not prepared at this juncture to scrap an icon like Mayweather and such a match-up would again expose boxing for the disgusting mockery of a sport that it is.

 

“Who the hell is Amir Khan?” wondered Mike Cardello, 29, a resident of Quincy. “Nobody cares. All everybody wants is ‘Pac-Man’ against ‘Money Mayweather.’ Anything else is a yawn.”

 

Khan will be a “King” versus “The Magic Man” in 24 hours.

 

Sadly, he will be downgraded to a peasant if, and when, he meets Mayweather.