Paul "Paulie" Malignaggi (born November 23, 1980) is an American professional boxer and commentator. He is a former two-weight world champion, having held the IBF junior welterweight title from 2007 to 2008, and the WBA welterweight title from 2012 to 2013.
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Early life
Malignaggi was born in Brooklyn to Sicilian immigrant parents. He spent most of his early days in Syracuse, Sicily. Six years later, after Paulie's brother Umberto was born, the family decided to settle back in Brooklyn, but Paulie's father stayed for only a few weeks before returning to Italy. Paulie's mother remarried and the two brothers didn't get along with their new stepfather. In 1996 the pair got into a fight with their stepfather and not long after, they were kicked out of the house. Paulie then lived with his grandparents until he got his own home years later. Paulie got into trouble often at school, and was regularly in street fights, taking knives and even a gun some days. He was eventually expelled from high school for getting into fights and ditching classes. His grandfather took him to work each day until Paulie pleaded that he be allowed to take up boxing. He was eventually given the chance, and never looked back.
Brooklyn Boxing Video
Professional career
Light welterweight
Malignaggi vs. Cotto
Upon turning pro in 2001, Malignaggi won his first 21 fights before suffering his first loss in a grueling battle with multiple-division champion Miguel Cotto in June 2006.
Malignaggi vs. Cherry
Malignaggi got back on track with a unanimous decision victory over Edner Cherry at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, February 17, 2007.
Malignaggi vs. N'dou
On June 16, 2007, Malignaggi defeated Lovemore N'dou via a 12 unanimous decision to win the IBF Light Welterweight Championship at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The bout was one sided with one judge awarding the bout a 120-106. Lennox Lewis, who was commentating at ringside for HBO, described Malignaggi's performance as a "boxing clinic." After this win and the victory over Edner Cherry earlier in the year, Malignaggi was awarded the Ring Magazine comeback of the year award at the end of 2007.
Malignaggi vs. Ngoudjo
On January 5, 2008, Malignaggi defended his title against Herman Ngoudjo in a highly competitive match held at Bally's Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Malignaggi controlled the fight with his jab until he was stunned in the 7th round, but Ngoudjo failed to finish the job. After the seventh, Ngoudjo became ineffective with his aggression and came up short and lost a wide unanimous decision, which although fair, did not reflect the competitiveness of the fight.
Malignaggi vs. N'dou II
On May 24, 2008, Malignaggi beat Lovemore N'Dou in a rematch by split decision to retain his IBF title at the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England. Malignaggi was in control for the first half of the fight, boxing behind his faster and crisper jab. Prior to the fight, Malignaggi was sporting hair extensions which proved to be a problem throughout the fight until his trainer Buddy McGirt cut them off in his corner between rounds eight and nine. Malignaggi appeared sloppy in the second half of the fight as N'Dou came back to make the fight close. In the end, Malignaggi pulled out a close victory and also suffered a fractured right hand in the fight. Malignaggi vacated his title on September 19, 2008.
Malignaggi vs. Hatton
On November 22, 2008 in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Malignaggi fought The Ring and IBO Light Welterweight Champion Ricky Hatton. It was billed as the boxer against the brawler. Hatton dominated and won every round but the first. Hatton rocked Malignaggi in the second and several other times during the fight, leaving Paulie to hold on, doing exactly what he publicly said Hatton does. With Malignaggi way behind on points, his trainer Buddy McGirt threw in the towel during the 11th round. Paulie to this day adamantly blames the training style of Buddy Mcgirt for the loss. He says Buddy was responsible for the negative changes in Paulies style of boxing leading up to this fight. A loss in which he believes he would not have suffered otherwise, pre Buddy Mcgirt or post.
Malignaggi vs. Díaz
On August 22, 2009 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Malignaggi fought former lightweight titlist Juan Díaz for the vacant WBO NABO Light Welterweight title at a catch-weight of 138½ pounds. Unofficial HBO scorer Harold Lederman scored the fight 115-113 for Malignaggi, but none of the three judges saw the fight this way. Gale Van Hoy had it by an 118-110, Raul Caiz had it 115-113 and the other Judge, Dave Sutherland scored it 116-112, all in favor of Juan Díaz. In the post fight interview of the Juan Díaz fight (interviewed by Max Kellerman, HBO boxing analyst), Paulie was furious, stating that "boxing is full of shit." He also stated that the only reason he is continuing to fight is because of the good pay day.
A rematch with Juan Díaz occurred on December 12, 2009 in Chicago on HBO. This rematch went in Malignaggi's favor when he defeated Juan Díaz by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight 116-111 in favor of Malignaggi. In the fight, Malignaggi threw more punches but only landed 21% of them while Diaz landed 28% of his, but threw fewer.
Malignaggi vs. Khan
Malignaggi's next fight was against Amir Khan in Madison Square Garden in New York on May 15, 2010. The press conference took place in London on March 12 while another press conference was held in New York City, United States on March 16. Malignaggi was stopped in the eleventh round by the referee. As the fight progressed, Malignaggi began to fall behind on points and the result began to get comfortable for Khan. He was very overmatched throughout the fight. This would be his last fight at Jr. welterweight, he had a very difficult time making weight for this fight and it showed in his performance. On September 28, 2010 it was announced that Malignaggi signed with Golden Boy Promotions.
Welterweight
Malignaggi vs. Senchenko
On April 29, 2012 Malignaggi fought WBA Welterweight Champion Viacheslav Senchenko in Donetsk, Ukraine. Malignaggi won by ninth-round technical knockout to take the title.
Malignaggi vs. Cano
Malignaggi then went on to defeat Pablo César Cano via split decision on October 20, 2012, on the undercard of Erik Morales and Danny Garcia rematch.
Malignaggi vs. Broner
Malignaggi then went on to fight Adrien Broner on June 22, 2013. Malignaggi lost a split decision, with one judge scoring the fight 115-113 for Malignaggi, and the other two scoring 117-111 and 115-113 for Broner. The decision was disputed....Many felt it was a delusional effort to try to create a superstar out of Adrien Broner. Adrien Broner was subsequently beaten in a decisive decision his very next fight by Marcos Maidana.
Malignaggi vs. Judah
Malignaggi then faced five-time champion and fellow Brooklyn native Zab Judah at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on December 7, 2013. In the second round, after Judah connected with a hard left hand, Malignaggi went down but argued that it was a slip. Malignaggi got up and went to dominate the remainder of the fight en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Malignaggi vs. Porter
Entering the fight as a 2-to-1 underdog, Malignaggi faced Shawn Porter at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C. on April 19, 2014. Malignaggi was cut in the first round by a Porter double-jab, and was knocked down early in the fourth round before being defeated by TKO at 1:14 in the same round.
Malignaggi vs. Garcia
Malignaggi took on Danny García at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, August 1, 2015. It was Malignaggi's first step up to fight at 147 lbs. Malignaggi was cut above his right eye by the third and had a large welt beneath the right eye by the sixth. At the time of the stoppage, at the 2:22 mark of the ninth round, Malignaggi was absorbing a succession of blows as referee Arthur Mercante Jr. stepped in and wrapped his arms around him, signaling the end. Garcia was awarded a technical knockout.
Malignaggi vs. Fazekas
Following the loss to Garcia, Malignaggi wasted no time to return to the ring a month later, fighting in Italy for the first time in his career against little-known 25 year old Hungarian boxer Laszlo Fazekas. In front of a sold out crowd of 550, at the Teatro Principe in Milan, Malignaggi who won on points after 8 rounds. The three judges had it (79-72, 80-71, 80-71) for Malignaggi. Fazekas showed signs of dirty tactics and paid the price by being deducted a point in round 3 for hitting with inside of the glove.
Malignaggi vs. Moscatiello
Malignaggi returned to the boxing ring again in December against Italian boxer Antonio Moscatiello (20-2-1, 14 KOs) on the undercard of Joshua-Whyte at the O2 Arena in a 12-round scheduled fight for the vacant EBU welterweight title. Malignaggi was supposed to fight 47-year-old Gianluca Branco, however that fell apart after Branco reportedly pulled out of the fight. The fight went the full 12 rounds as Malignaggi claimed a wide points victory on all three judges scored it 119-110, 119-110 and 120-109.
Malignaggi vs. Bracero
According to ESPN, reports stated Malignaggi would be fighting 35-year-old Gabriel Bracero (24-2, 5 KOs) on the undercard of the Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton fight card on July 30 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Malignaggi defended his 'King of Brooklyn' belt and local bragging rights. Using rapid footwork and moving in and out, Malignaggi won the first eight rounds as Bracero stood in front of him not moving or chasing or changing strategy. The final judge's scores were 96-94, 98-92 and 98-92. After the bout, Malignaggi returned to commentating at ringside.
Malignaggi vs. Eggington
On January 25, 2017 it was announced that Malignaggi would travel to the UK to challenge 23 year old Sam Eggington (19-3, 11 KOs) for his WBC International welterweight title on the Haye-Bellew ppv undercard on March 4 at The O2 Arena.
![Photos] Zab Judah vs. Paulie Malignaggi: Brooklyn Press Conference ...](https://i0.wp.com/roboga.ga/wp-contents/uploads/2014/7/kFEpNg.jpg "Photos] Zab Judah vs. Paulie Malignaggi: Brooklyn Press Conference ...")
Acting and other media
Malignaggi has featured in print clothing advertisements that have been published in magazines such as Esquire and Playboy. He also had a small role in the 2003 film Undefeated, and had a feature documentary on his life leading up his fight with Miguel Cotto, entitled Magic Man, which later aired on Showtime. Video game company Nintendo used Malignaggi to portray their character Little Mac in the live-action trailer for the 2009 game Punch-Out!! for the Wii. Also in 2009, he was a featured fighter in EA Sports' Fight Night Round 4. Malignaggi is currently an award-winning boxing commentator for Showtime, Fox Sports 1, and British network Sky Sports. In 2015, Malignaggi featured in the Blue Bloods episode "Home Sweet Home".
Professional boxing record
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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