Malignaggi Wants Hatton, but Would Welcome the “Baby Bullâ€￾

The opinions vary widely regarding IBF Light Welterweight Champ Paulie “Magic Manâ€￾ Malignaggi. Critics point to his brash pre-fight banter, outrageous ring attire and lack of knockouts to diminish his accomplishments. Supporters point to his tremendous heart, beautiful jab and nifty footwork as evidence that he belongs in the elite bracket.

After winning a difficult first title defense against mandatory contender Herman Ngoudjo, perhaps the most refreshing thing about Malignaggi is his willingness to get right back in the ring against top competition. The 27 year-old Malignaggi disagrees with “gimmieâ€￾ match-ups. He wants to test himself against the best the world has to offer, and in that regard, he is a true throwback.

<!-- m -->http://www.fightbeat.com/article_detail.php?AT=563<!-- m -->

 

diaz won't move from his safe haven at 135 lbs, paulie would win a decision

 

140 isn't nothing special right now. There are beter fights at 135 for Diaz.

 

REED Looooooooooves how Malignaggi is Putting Pressure on Lou DiBella:clap: ...



“I need something big to happen in 08. I can only do my job, and that’s to win fights. I need my guys to really come through for me now, especially my promoter Lou DiBella,â€￾ said Malignaggi, who is 24-1, 5 KO’s. “I need him to come through for me, and get me the big fights and get me on TV and get me that exposure. His title is promoter, so he’s got to promote.â€￾



REED

 

So I guess these HBO and Showtime dates he's getting are solely because of how good he is.

 

I wish that he would put pressure on his opponents::

 

No, but let's NOT Pretend that Malignaggi DOESN'T Do a TREMENDOUS Job of Promoting HIMSELF...

He's an ARROGANT, ARTICULATE Guy w/a "Different" Look AND he's WON All but 1 Fight...It's NOT Difficult Promoting Guys like That...

Sure, DiBella has Contributed to the HBO & Showtime dates, but for Malignaggi to Go to that NEXT Level, DiBella's Gonna have to Step HIS Game Up as Well...


REED

 

Malignaggi hasn't faced that many credible jr. welters...so who says Malignaggi can succeed at that level?

I don't see him beating other champions like Witter or Holt...or Kotelnik (if he beats Rees).

Hopkins is in line for a shot...I'm not even sure Malignaggi can beat him.

 

Cotto, N'Dou & N'Goudjo Don't Count as "Credible" Jr. Welters???:dunno:

More than that, Malignaggi is MARKETABLE...THE BIGGEST Jr. Welter Fight 2 B Made Right Now is Malignaggi vs Hatton (N America, Anyways)...Hatton's a KNOWN Entity N the States & Malignaggi has a NICE East Coast Following...Hatton vs Malignaggi On the Boardwalk or @ MSG Would Do Good Business...

REED Doesn't Necessarily DISagree w/U N Terms of who Malignaggi Can or Cannot Beat, but he's UNDENIABLY a "Player" N Terms of "Big" Jr. Welterweight Fights...

The Only Thing Left to Do is Actually MAKE a "Big" Fight Happen...


REED

 

I didn't say he hasn't faced any credible junior welterweights. You named two junior welters, and he was paid nicely to get beaten up by one and barely beat the other (if you believe he beat Ngoudjo)...in about as big a stage as he could ask for against an opponent like Ngoudjo...who is a good fighter but he isn't one of the real elites in the division.

You can add Ndou's name on the list of credible opponents, and Malignaggi did beat him soundly...but outside of that, there isn't much there...and this is a fighter who has been all over television (including Showtime airing that documentary in the run up to his fight).

In his first HBO fight, he got Edner Cherry moving up in weight...needless to say those kinds of opportunities aren't available to every fighter.

BTW, the "big" fights he wants are money fights...but outside of Hatton, there aren't that many available in the division.

So if the Hatton fight doesn't materialize, at least in the near term, let's see how willing he is to "step up" against the other top fighters in this division.

 

Outside of Hatton & Witter, WHAT Jr. Welter has Fought More Credible Opponents than Malignaggi???:dunno: ...

Holt??...Hopkins???...

Outside of Hatton & Witter, WHAT ELITE Jr. Welters R There???:dunno: ...Malignaggi is AS MUCH of an "Elite" Jr. Welter as ANYBODY Other than Hatton or Witter...After those 2, NO Jr. Welter has as Much of a "Name" as Malignaggi Does Either...

As such, REED Thinks Paulie's WELL within his Rights to DEMAND that his Promoter Get him a "Big" Jr. Welter Fight N 2008...



REED

 

I think the real point here, is that 140 is absolute shit.

 

Every fighter is within their rights to ask for a big fight, but he's not calling out all the other champions...he's calling out Ricky Hatton (not exactly the first fighter to do so, and frankly, Hatton should be fighting Witter) and Juan Diaz (a lightweight).

Regarding elite junior welters, overall Kotelnik has fought a higher level of fighters...and done so on the road.

 

I think Paulie has a better chance of beating Hatton, than Diaz.

 

But does Kotelnik Bring the BUILT-IN Audience that Malignaggi Does???...

Malignaggi has a TITLE & a FAN BASE...He Brings MORE to the Table than Any Other Jr Welter Except Witter, who Hatton has ZERO Interest N Facing Right Now...

For Ricky Hatton, Malignaggi is THE BEST Risk-Reward Option Out there @ Jr Welter...It'd B a NICE American Payday, HIGHLY Publicized & Hatton Wouldn't have to Worry about Getting Hurt OR Losing...

If Lou DiBella CAN'T Make that Fight Happen, he's Doing a DISservice to Malignaggi as his Promoter...

REED

 

:: True...

Being Honest, Malignaggi SHOULDN'T B an "Elite" Fighter N ANY Division, yet he is @ 140...


REED

 

DiBella will probably do his best to make the fight...but Hatton can call his own shots at the weight.

If Hatton wants to go risk/reward, Malignaggi's a fine choice...if he wants to prove he's still the champion he'd fight Witter.

Malignaggi called out two fighters bring signficant paydays with their own "TITLE & a FAN BASE", only one of whom has fought at 140...I just don't see why he deserves any credit for it.

 

There is a very shallow pool of elite fighters in the division, but he's not in it.

 

dsimon writes:
agreed. Now if we could only get you to acknowledge the same about Antonio! ::

 

I don't know when I ever said he was elite. I have said he's among the top 5 or so welterweights...because he dismantled one current champion and went to war with another (and narrowly lost a fight on my scorecard by two points).

 

The quintessential paper-champ expresses his wants and needs? all because the IBF decided to knight him thier champion based on his 12 excrutiating rounds of holding on to Cotto for dear life? Why SHOULD anyone give a fuck? :dunno: , he is one of 68 belt holders in boxing, he has as much significance as the WBO minimumweight champ,.............however ,..here's his difference,..

1) He frequently praises, admires and essentially sucks Fraud's cock through press releases.

2) Cotto busted that arse, and his groupes like to think his resume and legacy is further enhanced, now that Moor'lignaggi was awarded a paper belt.

3) He's from New York, and for some mysterious reason, her flop-loads of prospects always seem to be heavily hyped before the inevitable happens.

These 3 traits are an ultimate WINNER, to the fightbeat populous :cheer: .

 

All REED was Giving Malignaggi "Credit" For was Putting his Promoter on the Spot to Get him a BIG Fight N 2008...

Toooo Often, Fighters R Dictated to by their Promoters...It's Refreshing to See a Fighter DEMANDING Things from his Promoter...


REED

 

REED,

do you not think Malignaggi has a chance vs hatton based on his style. How do you see that fight going?

 

His style? Just what is it in Malignaggi's "Style" that has you convinced he has a chance?

 

REED Doesn't Give Malignaggi Much of a Chance Whatsoever...

He Gives Hatton Absolutely NO REASON to Respect his Power...Hatton Can B as AGGRESSIVE & RECKLESS as he Wishes w/NO Fear of Retribution...When Hatton Can Fight like that, he's Virtually IMPOSSIBLE to Beat...

Sure, Malignaggi's SLICK & QUICK, but Hatton has VERY GOOD Footwork of his Own...Even Floyd Mayweather DIDN'T Find it Easy Keeping DISTANCE from Hatton...

Hatton Either STOPS Malignaggi Late or Unanimously Decisions him...


REED

 

He's picked a convenient time to "demand" anything from DiBella.

I think it's just talk from Malignaggi anyways, because DiBella doesn't have a great roster of talent so he tends to promote (and expose) as much out of his fighters as possible...Malignaggi, Taylor, and Powell (and perhaps Berto, currently) are examples of this.

They were all pretty protected early in their careers until the chance arose to put them in a significant fight for a good payday (like Taylor-Hopkins, Cotto-Malignaggi, Ouma-Powell).

 

Well, that means that he should be promoting Malignaggi all the more. Dibella has so little confidence in his fighters sometimes. You can tell by how overjoyed he is when they win. At least Bob Arum and Don King stroll in during the victory. Dibella looks like he won the lottery using quick pick !

 

How has he not been promoting Malignaggi?

He's already headlined cards on HBO, Showtime and pay per view.

 

I'm not denying that, I'm saying that he should get a step up fight now.

 

:bears:

100% accurate IMO.

The best bet here is for WITTER to fight Paulie. If (and when) he wins, then Hatton has no choice but to fight Junior. And let's be honest- that is THE fight at 140 right now... opcorn: