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"Paulie wants a 'cracker": What's next for 'The Magic Man'?
"Paulie wants a 'cracker": What's next for 'The Magic Man'?
December 14, 12:45 AMIndianapolis Fight Sports Examiner
Dennis "dSource" Guillermo
Chicago, Ill.- Paulie wants a cracker- a firecracker named "Dinamita" to be specific. After his impressive victory over Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz last night in Chicago, like a pirate's parrot, Paulie Malignaggi was off on his beak calling out the big names in his division.
The biggest of which is currently Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez. Malignaggi told HBO's Max Kellerman at the post-fight interview, "I'd like to fight Juan Manuel Marquez as everybody is saying he should fight Ricky Hatton. The winner could fight Hatton." Oh, I forgot to mention, he did throw Ricky Hatton's name under the bus along the way and said, "I'd go to England to fight Hatton. But I won't overlook someone like Marquez. But if I had it my way and if can get my genie and wish on something, I'm gonna wish Marquez first as an eliminator to fight Hatton." Ironically, Malignaggi said he had the utmost respect for Hatton before he finished the interview saying, "I'll beat Hatton worse than he beat me," and added, "I'll beat Rick easily."
Malignaggi was so masterful in his fight against Diaz, HBO's ringside scorer Harold Lederman called him "The Essence of Ring Generaliship". Malignaggi used all the space in the ring efficiently and also controlled the fight with his long left jab. It makes you wonder how much better this kid could've really been if he had been gifted with knockout power like the Pacquiaos and the Valeros of the world. Love him or hate him, Malignaggi is definitely one of the best "boxers" in the business and will definitely give the likes of Marquez fits.
As for his future, the win over Diaz definitely puts Malignaggi back on the "hot commodity" list and there are several sexy match-ups for the Brooklynite out there. Victor Ortiz for example, who fought in the under card and won by TKO versus Antonio Diaz in the 7th round is an intriguing match-up. Personally, I'd prefer seeing him against Amir Khan and how about this playful suggestion I got from Michael Marley at press row: Pacquiao-Malignaggi anyone? Well, as much as Pacquiao fans might want to see a Malignaggi mugging, Pacquiao is simply on a different level right now for it to happen.
Whatever his next move might be, whether it's Hatton, Marquez, Ortiz, Khan, Bradley or even a rubber match with Diaz, Malignaggi deserves credit for backing up his talk and entertaining the crowd at the UIC Pavilion and the millions who saw the fight around the world. For now, Malignaggi comes home a winner and a champion. I guess it safe to say it's going to be a Merry Christmas in the Malignaggi household.
December 14, 12:45 AMIndianapolis Fight Sports Examiner
Dennis "dSource" Guillermo
Chicago, Ill.- Paulie wants a cracker- a firecracker named "Dinamita" to be specific. After his impressive victory over Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz last night in Chicago, like a pirate's parrot, Paulie Malignaggi was off on his beak calling out the big names in his division.
The biggest of which is currently Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez. Malignaggi told HBO's Max Kellerman at the post-fight interview, "I'd like to fight Juan Manuel Marquez as everybody is saying he should fight Ricky Hatton. The winner could fight Hatton." Oh, I forgot to mention, he did throw Ricky Hatton's name under the bus along the way and said, "I'd go to England to fight Hatton. But I won't overlook someone like Marquez. But if I had it my way and if can get my genie and wish on something, I'm gonna wish Marquez first as an eliminator to fight Hatton." Ironically, Malignaggi said he had the utmost respect for Hatton before he finished the interview saying, "I'll beat Hatton worse than he beat me," and added, "I'll beat Rick easily."
Malignaggi was so masterful in his fight against Diaz, HBO's ringside scorer Harold Lederman called him "The Essence of Ring Generaliship". Malignaggi used all the space in the ring efficiently and also controlled the fight with his long left jab. It makes you wonder how much better this kid could've really been if he had been gifted with knockout power like the Pacquiaos and the Valeros of the world. Love him or hate him, Malignaggi is definitely one of the best "boxers" in the business and will definitely give the likes of Marquez fits.
As for his future, the win over Diaz definitely puts Malignaggi back on the "hot commodity" list and there are several sexy match-ups for the Brooklynite out there. Victor Ortiz for example, who fought in the under card and won by TKO versus Antonio Diaz in the 7th round is an intriguing match-up. Personally, I'd prefer seeing him against Amir Khan and how about this playful suggestion I got from Michael Marley at press row: Pacquiao-Malignaggi anyone? Well, as much as Pacquiao fans might want to see a Malignaggi mugging, Pacquiao is simply on a different level right now for it to happen.
Whatever his next move might be, whether it's Hatton, Marquez, Ortiz, Khan, Bradley or even a rubber match with Diaz, Malignaggi deserves credit for backing up his talk and entertaining the crowd at the UIC Pavilion and the millions who saw the fight around the world. For now, Malignaggi comes home a winner and a champion. I guess it safe to say it's going to be a Merry Christmas in the Malignaggi household.