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by TK Stewart - The first time I laid eyes on Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi was in Atlantic City on a cool November night nearly five years ago. It was the night before Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward took a second turn tearing the pages from each other’s book.
I was waiting in line at Bally’s to see a fight card that featured future lightweight champ Juan Diaz against Arthur Cruz and Malignaggi blew by me with a small entourage wearing enough bling to light up the Jersey shore.
The first thing that struck me was that he didn’t look much like a fighter. He looked far too dainty and frail and I figured him for a pretender and not a contender. To me, he seemed more concerned with his appearance and place in line than just about anything else.
He was wearing his customary headband, both of his ears were pierced, his eyebrows were impeccably plucked and he was wearing a pair of sunglasses at night. His hair was standing straight up and varnished with enough hairspray and gel to make Homer Formby proud.
Malignaggi was 11-0 (4) KO’s at the time and the next night he would have a fight of his own on the Gatti vs. Ward undercard. It was Malignaggi’s 22nd birthday and he fought a spitfire and a helluva tough customer named Paul Delgado and Malignaggi struggled to win an eight round split decision. Watching him in the fight against Delgado who was 5-1-1 (2) KO’s, I pretty much made up my mind that this Malignaggi kid just didn’t have it. I scored the fight a draw. [details]
I was waiting in line at Bally’s to see a fight card that featured future lightweight champ Juan Diaz against Arthur Cruz and Malignaggi blew by me with a small entourage wearing enough bling to light up the Jersey shore.
The first thing that struck me was that he didn’t look much like a fighter. He looked far too dainty and frail and I figured him for a pretender and not a contender. To me, he seemed more concerned with his appearance and place in line than just about anything else.
He was wearing his customary headband, both of his ears were pierced, his eyebrows were impeccably plucked and he was wearing a pair of sunglasses at night. His hair was standing straight up and varnished with enough hairspray and gel to make Homer Formby proud.
Malignaggi was 11-0 (4) KO’s at the time and the next night he would have a fight of his own on the Gatti vs. Ward undercard. It was Malignaggi’s 22nd birthday and he fought a spitfire and a helluva tough customer named Paul Delgado and Malignaggi struggled to win an eight round split decision. Watching him in the fight against Delgado who was 5-1-1 (2) KO’s, I pretty much made up my mind that this Malignaggi kid just didn’t have it. I scored the fight a draw. [details]
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