Chavez Jr. The Favorite To Face Malignaggi

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The young lion of Culiacan, Mexico, Julio César Chavez, Jr (33-0-1, 26KOs), is the favorite to face IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (23-1, 5KOs). The Showtime Network is said to be interested in the fight for December 1. The fight would take place at the welterweight limit of 147-pounds, Malignaggi moves up by seven pounds and Chavez would move down from junior middleweight.

Other factors exist for Malignaggi, like a rematch clause from his recent bout with Lovemore Ndou, and an obligation to face the IBF mandatory, Herman Ngoudjo (16-1, 9KOs). Promoter Lou DiBella has advised BoxingScene that he is confident of being able to work everything out.

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"I've had some good discussions with Bob Arum (promoter of Chavez) about it, and Showtime likes the fight. It could happen; nothing is signed for Paulie to fight anyone at this point. Chavez runs his mouth and calls out a fighter at 140-pounds, who in his opinion can't punch. Chavez, be careful what you wish for. The last guy Chavez fought was some guy that Dmitriy Salita knocked around at 140. I really like this fight for Paulie." DiBella said.

"There is a rematch clause for Ndou. We do have an obligation to Ndou, and Paulie will live up to his obligation. Ndou has some very smart people behind him and they know the U.S. networks have not shown an interest in a rematch. Ngoudjo is another fight where the US networks have not shown an interest in picking up. The fight with Chavez would be at 147 so Paulie is not risking his title.”

Comments

SpeedKillzThu Aug 16, 2007, 12:48 PM UTC

We all know Malignaggi has no power at all but he is a master boxer. He'll make little Chavez look stupid in there. And Malignaggi took everything Cotto had I'm sure he could handle little Chavez. i agree, i think paulie wins this one fairly easily in my humble opinion. jus cuz his pops was DA MAN, doesnt mean little chavez is, i never thought he was anything special from the get-go. malignaggi easy UD.

Newyorkknicks07Thu Aug 16, 2007, 12:38 PM UTC

Chavez has to be the favorite. If you ask me he's going to be a real, true champion one dai

PRboxingfanThu Aug 16, 2007, 11:44 AM UTC

im not saying paulie will win but paulie is pretty damn tough...he hung around for 12 rounds against cotto (while he was taking a hard beating) so paulie has some heart. i dont know if he'd win but he wont go down without a fight... damnit. now im going to have to get shotime... or watch it on the net ;) Yes, Paulie is tough, but he didn't fight the best Cotto that night, either. He fought a severely dehydrated and weight-drained Cotto who took a few rounds off here and there to keep his stamina (and Cotto even admitted to this several times). That's why it was his last fight at 140 and he moved up to 147. Chavez, Jr. is a very strong puncher with faster hands than Cotto, better reach than Cotto, and with better stamina than Cotto had in his fight against Paulie. He's also got the size advantage in this fight, as well as the reach advantage and the psychological advantage of fighting a guy he KNOWS can't hurt him. Paulie's got heart and balls, I do not deny that, and he's one of my favorite fighters, but you have to be real about this fight. I think Paulie is the best at 140 right now, including Hatton in those below him, but at 147, I don't think he'll be too effective. If he's doing it just for the money and the exposure, that's fine, because he knows that he's not losing his title (he can come back down and defend it if he'd like) and he's already got an L so he's not worried about that, either. I'm still picking Chavez by KO in the 8th because I think his jab and the body attack he'll put on Paulie will break him down eventually. I don't know how anyone can pick Chavez Jr. unless they are Mexican. He's way too green. He'll go from fighting the bum of the month to the world class Malignaggi. I'm not Mexican and I'm picking Junior. What are your reasons to pick Paulie? I've categorized why I have Chavez as the favorite (read above), can you do the same for Paulie?

ecuahook69Thu Aug 16, 2007, 9:08 AM UTC

chavez jr got this fight, paulie got no power and chavez is getting better at cutting off the ring, chavez is very precise in his body shots too, he'll stop malignaggi late in the fight

ChipperThu Aug 16, 2007, 6:22 AM UTC

I don't know how anyone can pick Chavez Jr. unless they are Mexican. He's way too green. He'll go from fighting the bum of the month to the world class Malignaggi.

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