Looking back on the career of Paulie Malignaggi

His career ended with a record of 36-8. Here is a breakdown of why I think he is massively underrated, and one of the top 20 fighters since 2000. He got to 13-0 the usual route, before a big step up in his 14th fight, facing Kevin Watts 18-2, Kevin was touted for the top at the time, but Malignaggi inflicted the first KO loss of his career and he was never the same again. Similar to Bute after Froch. Paulie then beat a journeyman, followed by beating the tricky Paul Delgado 9-2-1 by UD setting up a mammoth and hotly anticipated clash against legendary Rocky Martinez 40-9-1. Few gave Paulie a chance in this one, but he shocked the world by winning a clear UD. Paulie's next fight was just as dangerous, facing the much avoided KO machine Ramiro Cano 18-1 (14 KO) Another UD for Brooklyn's finest. He went on to face the excellent Sandro Casamonica, with Paulie winning by UD and sending the great boxer into retirement. He then faced Jeremy Yelton 16-1, a much feared opponent, Paulie won another clear points decision, and Yelton was never the same again, another one fallen victim to the Malignaggi curse, he beats you so bad, so decisively, that sometimes, you never find your way back. Look at the facts. Before the fight, the much hyped Yeldon was 16-1, his loss an early four rounder against Rodreco Douglas, and by all accounts, it was a robbery, so really he was 17-0. His record after the Paulie loss was W1 L14! It says it all. Paulie's next opponent was also 16-1, Donald Camarena, his sole loss coming to the brilliant Luis Arceo. It was another UD for the magic man. With his resume being too good to ignore, Paulie got his shot at one of the greatest fighters of all time. Miguel Cotto 26-0, WBO World Champion. It was one of the best fights ever. Miguel Cotto won a close decision in a fight that most fans and experts called a draw, but in such close fights, the Champion usually does get the nod. Cotto later admitted that it was the toughest fight of his career. Paulie's comeback fight was a tough one, he faced Edner Cherry 21-4-2, winning another UD. Lovemore Ndou followed, 45-8-1, a very good fighter, the magic man won again by UD. Next up was Herman Ngoudjo 16-1. Interestingly enough, he was the third fighter that Paulie had faced with a 16-1 record at the time of the fight. He was a great boxer, and after his UD loss to Paulie, would go on to beat world class boxers such as Randall Bailey and Souleymane M' Baye. So at least he recovered from the loss well. A rematch with Lovemore Ndou followed with Paulie winning an oddly scored SD, in a fight he clearly won. Next up was world number 2 P4P Ricky Hatton, who had recently lossed a very close fight to Floyd Mayweather by R10 KO, with the fight about level. Paulie had an off night, but Ricky is top 10 ATG material and there was no shame in taking a beating from the legend from Manchester by a late TKO. After a win against a journeyman, Paulie got another super fight, Juan Diaz 34-2. It was a great fight, but Paulie was robbed, Diaz got the decision, but after public outrage, an immediate rematch was ordered. This time, justice was done, the magic man won correctly by UD. Up next, world number 3 P4P Amir Khan 22-1, but his loss was as a naive kid, so nobody really counted it. Just over a year earlier Khan had Knocked out the Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, who, let's face it, at only 35 was still in his prime. Again, much like the Hatton fight, Khan proved to be a bit too much, winning by late TKO. This was for the WBA title. Paulie was still regarded as the best active fighter in the world who had never been World Champion. Three very good wins followed against Lozada 33-6-1, Jose Cotto 32-2-1 and Orlando Lora 28-1-1. Then his third title shot, again, he took on a great champion Vyacheslav Senchenko 32-0 for the WBA strap. Everybody at this time were rooting for a Senchenko vs Mayweather clash, but Paulie beat the odds with a stunning win. Incredibly, he knocked out the brilliant champion. Malignaggi was finally a world champion himself. His legion of fans were besides themselves. In the coming weeks, fans and punters alike were asking themselves. "Could Paulie be the man to halt Floyd's run?" Style's make fights, and Paulie's style would have been such a difficult fight for Floyd. I think it would have taken three fights to split them. With Paulie winning the first, and Mayweather with minor adjustments winning the next two. Unfortunately for us fight fans, we never got to witness this magnificent bout, left only to imagine what might have been. Paulie had a very difficult first defense, fighting the world class Pablo Cesar Cano 26-1-1. It was a great fight, with Paulie winning a SD, though in reality, it was a 8-4/9-3 fight. He then faced Adrien Broner 26-0, at this time Broner was in every top 5 P4P list there was. Paulie outboxed him for 8 of the 12 rounds, but lost in one of the worse decisions of all time by SD. In this case money talked, they weren't going to take the win from Broner even if he lost. Broner left with the belt, Paulie's girl, and half of his soul. The magic man was never the same again. His next fight was one for the Brooklyn fans, two slightly faded legends faced off, his opponent, Zab Judah 42-8. Paulie won almost everyone round, further enhancing his legacy. Even though Paulie knew he was finished now, he wanted one final crack at the world championship. He faced one of the best, the undefeated Shawn Porter 23-0-1. He lost by brutal KO. 18 months later he received a call from Angel Garcia, saying that they'll pay him well if he will let Danny Garcia knock him out. Paulie agreed to this on the basis that it at least goes six rounds. A deal is agreed. Danny "Gift" Garcia 30-0 secured the as agreed KO victory. Paulie retired. Then one day, whilst sat in his french arm chair, Paulie decided that he wanted to end his career with a win. He faced the unknown Laszlo Fazekas and won on points. Shortly after his win, Paulie was offered a fight for a belt that he had never won, but always wanted, the EBU title. It was vacant and he beat the decent Antonio Moscatiello 20-2-1 for it on points. Wanting to keep a bit of as streak going, he went on to beat Gabriel Bracero 24-2, on points. Paulie retired again. Then in early 2017, he received a phone call from a man named Eddie, asking if he wanted to "Earn with Hearn." Paulie agreed to throw a fight against domestic boxer Sam Eggington 19-3, on the basis that he got well paid, and had dinner with Anthony Joshua. The contract was drawn up, Paulie threw the fight. Later that night he and AJ discussed boxing past and present, boxing politics, and tactics on how long Anthony could delay fighting Wilder, Fury and Ortiz for without losing his fans. So all in all, yes, the magic man went on too long, but look at the prime of his career and his performances. He was a legend.