ROUND BY ROUND by Boxing Websites: Diaz vs Malignaggi

[Fights]

Here comes the main event between Juan Diaz versus Paulie Malignaggi.

There has been some controversy building up to this fight. Malignaggi has complained that "the deck is stacked" in favor of Diaz. Diaz is from Houston, TX and got 3 out of the 4 hometown officials for the fight.

Harold Lederman says that Malignaggi has every right to be upset because there is usually 1 hometown official for each fighter plus 2 other neutral officials. We'll see how the officiating plays out.

Malignaggi has dedicated his fight to Gatti and entered the ring to Thunderstruck by ACDC.

[Fights]

Malignaggi gets welcomed by some expected boo's.

The crowd goes wild for Diaz.

[Fights]

Diaz-Malignaggi R1

Paulie jabbing, jabbing, jabbing and sticks a right in to start the fight. Stiff jab lands for Paulie. Wow, does he look fast to start.

Three punch combo by Paulie. Blocks a left hook from Diaz. Great crowd too. Houston is really becoming one of my favorite fight cities. They support their guys. It’s like the Montreal of Texas.

Paulie working combos, working his jab, working his stunningly odd eyebrows. Paulie is FAST tonight and he’s outlanding Diaz with ease. Paulie cut from a punch near the end of the round.

Malignaggi 10-9

[Fights]

Round 1

Diaz, as expected, comes right forward. The magic man looks lighting-fast. He clocks Diaz with some great jabs. He now lands a good flurry. Diaz continues to come forward and tries to get inside. Diaz throws 2 straight lefts. Malignaggi gets against the ropes but slips away.

Malignaggi is fighting very well, sticking to the jab and keeping Diaz away. Malignaggi is using some great upper-body movement as well.

Diaz is still trying to figure out how to handle Malignaggi's speed. Diaz lands a good counter left. Good round for Malignaggi.

10-9 Malignaggi

[Fights]

Round 2

Diaz comes right forward again this time landing a good right hand. Now Diaz puts his punches together and lands his best combo of the night. Malignaggi sticks out his tongue to taunt him. Paulie lands a straight right hand.

A cut has opened over the left eye of Malignaggi.

Diaz lands a huge left eye and a hook to the body. This has been a great round for Diaz thus far. Diaz gets inside again and lands a double-left. Diaz lands a left to the body and Malignaggi comes back with a right hand.

Now a cut has opened over the left eye of Diaz.

10-9 Diaz

[Fights]

Diaz-Malignaggi R2

Honestly, does this fight even need trainers? I’m actually a fan of both dudes, but they fight exactly the same pretty much every time out. The only difference is how good Paulie is or whether or not Juan gets cut.

Diaz with a BIG combo! Crowd on its feet! Paulie takes it in stride though. Diaz ripping away with left hooks, mostly getting blocked, but they look good. Good left hook counter by Diaz. That punch really is starting to work. Bob Papa says Malignaggi has tasted Diaz’s power. He’s been hit way harder.

This is a total Diaz round, basically a 100% reversal of the first round. Diaz is cut now! This is a damn fun fight so far.

Diaz 10-9
19-19

[Fights]

Round 3

The cut is right on the eyelid of Diaz which could cause some major problems. I didn't see any clash of heads and neither did the ref.

The Magic Man catches Diaz coming forward with two great straights. Malignaggi uses his reach and keeps Diaz at a distance again. He knocks him off balance with a good right hand again. Paulie's jab is working overtime. Diaz barely misses with a good left hand. The two clinch and Diaz frantically tries to punch out of it.

Malignaggi is the busier fighter but Diaz is getting him with some good power shots.

10-9 Malignaggi

[coufsax]

2-1 Paulie

[coufsax]

2-2

[Fights]

Round 4

Paulie keeps the footwork going and lands two great left hand. Diaz catches him with a left hook. Malignaggi lands two more lightning-fast jabs. Diaz rocks him with a right hand that looked to stun Malignaggi.

This has been Diaz's best round so far. He landing some great power shots but Malignaggi is taking it well.

Diaz is pawing at his cut. Diaz's cut is getting worse and the blood is pouring into that eye. Let's see what his cutman can do between the rounds.

10-9 Diaz