By Cliff Rold

Amir Khan has almost all of the ingredients for superstardom.  The ethnic Pakistani won a Silver Medal in 2004 for the Brits, building on the feat towards a voracious local fan base.  He’s shown speed, power, tremendous heart, and now the willingness to cross the pond.  Almost all of the ingredients are there.

All except, well, he appears to have Terry Norris’s chin (or worse).

Enter Pauli Malignaggi.

The former Jr. Welterweight titlist is slick, and brings mad trash talk, but his knockout percentage screams “perfect American debut.”  Malignaggi would likely say he doesn’t need big pop to make a big statement on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.

He’ll have up to thirty-six minutes to prove it.

Let’s go the report card. 

The Ledgers

Amir Khan
Age: 23
Title: WBA Jr. Welterweight (2009-Present, 1 Defense)
Previous Titles: None
Height: 5’10
Weight: 139 ½ lbs.
Average Weight – Last Five Fights: 136.65 lbs.
Hails from: Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Record: 22-1, 16 KO
BoxingScene Rank: #5 at Jr. Welterweight
Record in Major Title Fights: 2-0, 1 KO
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 3 (Gairy St. Clair, Marco Antonio Barrera, Andriy Kotelnik)

Vs.

Paulie Malignaggi
Age: 29
Title: None
Previous Titles: IBF Jr. Welterweight (2007-08, 2 Defenses)
Height: 5’8 ½ 
Weight: 139 lbs.
Average Weight – Last Five Fights: 139.3 lbs.
Hails from: Brooklyn, New York
Record: 27-3, 5 KO
BoxingScene Rank: #8 at Jr. Welterweight
Record in Major Title Fights: 3-2, 1 KOBY
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 2 (Lovemore N’Dou, Juan Diaz)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat or Draw: 2 (Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz)

Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed – Khan A; Malignaggi A
Pre-Fight: Power – Khan B+; Malignaggi C-
Pre-Fight: Defense – Khan B; Malignaggi B+
Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Khan B; Malignaggi B+

In this battle of orthodox boxers, Khan’s slight edge is height and reach (71’ to 70’) could make a narrow difference in athletic speed look pronounced.  It will all be predicated on the Khan jab and how hard Malignaggi makes it for Khan to get into a rhythm.  Malignaggi’s quick feet will be a bonus for him as he likes to pop the jab and move.  If he can get Khan chasing him, Malignaggi can potshot with quick combos, followed with wise clinches and spins, to frustrate the British idol.

In terms of power…well, Khan has it.  Malignaggi?  He hits hard enough to fluster foes but he’s not scored a stop since 2003 and, outside of a knockdown of regularly well-chinned Lovemore N’Dou in their first fight, hasn’t really had any upper level foes hurt.  He might sting Khan with the right blind shot but a stoppage isn’t likely for the New Yorker.

As hinted at in reference to his footwork, Malignaggi’s defensive postures and their subsequent success will dictate how well he does here.  He’s got to make Khan miss and, in doing so, have Khan getting tired and mad at himself.  The pre-fight brouhaha at the weigh-in indicates Malignaggi is in Khan’s head.  If he can take that to the ring, and use Khan’s aggression against him, he can win.  Conversely, if Khan is able to dictate the space the bout is fought at, he can make Malignaggi’s quick bursts fall short, hitting shoulders at best.  If that happens, if Malignaggi can’t land visible leather, his chances evaporate.

If Khan had a less questionable chin, some of the other intangibles he’s displayed wouldn’t be known yet.  Take away the flame out first round loss to Breidis Prescott and there are wins over Michael Gomez and Willie Limond that show off a Khan who fought through the fog…and fought harder.  Malignaggi has had ups and downs but showed real heart in a loss to Miguel Cotto, never quit of his own volition against Hatton.  Frankly, to step in with what amounts to knives for gun fights, and only lose thrice to date (once controversially to Juan Diaz) speaks volumes about the fighting spirit of Malignaggi.
The Pick

If Malignaggi had even twice as many knockouts on his record, he might have enough of a hammer to make this interesting.  He doesn’t and thus must contend with a fighter who, when his chin is not in danger, is an impressive package.  Khan is taller, has the reach to get to the target first, and a snappy offensive arsenal.  Add it all together, and it should be too much for Malignaggi to overcome.

Khan probably isn’t physical enough to manhandle Malignaggi the way Ricky Hatton did in 2008 but his accuracy will allow a mounting toll of punishment.  It will be enough for a clear, perhaps lopsided, Khan decision win in his U.S. debut.

Report Card Picks 2010: 13-8

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com