BOSTON - IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) successfully underwent hand surgery this past Wednesday (May 28) to repair a fractured metacarpal bone of the middle finger on his right hand, suffered during his title-defense win by 12-round decision against Lovemore N’dou last Saturday in Manchester, England.
Renowned boxing hand specialist, Dr. Steven Margles, operated on Paulie at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts. Dr. Margles has also repaired the hands of former world champions Vinny Paz, “Irish” Micky Ward and Harry Simon, to name a few of his more notable boxing patients.
“I was able to stabilize with minimally evasive treatment,” Dr. Margles explained. Not opening it doesn’t disrupt the blood supply in the fracture, so it will heal faster. It was well stabilized with two pins for a slightly displaced fracture that was manipulated into a satisfied position. We starting him on an ultrasonic stimulator, which will further speed the healing. Paulie will be in a cast for six weeks.”
“I’m feeling good,” Malignaggi reported. “The surgery wasn’t as bad as I’ve had before. Come this fall I’ll be at my best for Hatton. Dr. Margles is the best in the business at what he does. It was frustrating because it affected my performance against N’dou. I couldn’t explode, but I beat a tough fighter with one hand, which should prove that I belong at the highest level in the junior welterweight division.”
Malignaggi reviewed the fight tape and discovered that he suffered the injury with 40-45 seconds left in the sixth round, when threw a straight right to the body that ricocheted off N’dou’s elbow. “From there on it was a mess,” Paulie added. “Unfortunately, I’ve had this happen so many times that I knew it was broken. Ricky Hatton better be ready in the fall. He didn’t look at his best; I didn’t fight my best. I expect both of us to bring our A game, but my A game is better than Hatton’s, and everybody will see that.”
Malignaggi’s promoter, Lou DiBella, added, “We’re thrilled that Paulie’s surgery was a success and that Dr. Margles was able to work his magic. “We’re looking forward to a showdown with Ricky Hatton in the fall to determine the King of the 140-pounders.”
