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AMIDST all the hoo-hah surrounding Amir Khan's long-awaited US showcase, which has seen verbal jabs aplenty, VISA issues, tabloid controversy and inferred steroid allegations, there is the small matter of Khan's WBA light-welterweight title defence against Paulie Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden this Saturday night, a showdown that is arguably Khan's stiffest test thus far in his professional career.
Though a non-puncher, Paulie is on a good run of form, is a tried and tested world title-level boxer and The Magic Man also has home support for this one. The 27-3 (5) fighter was born and raised in Brooklyn, just down the road, and across the bridge, from The Garden. Indeed, the 29-year-old former IBF titlist believes that Khan, who claims he will have the support of the crowd come the first bell, is delusional and that Amir's big-fight fantasies will be pierced come Saturday night.
"I don't know what he's thinking, he can think whatever he wants, laughed Malignaggi when reminded about Khans claim that he will be the crowd favourite. No, Khan knows he's coming into my backyard and New York has love for me. It's going to be a good night. When he starts hearing the boos let's just hope he don't crack under pressure. He wont know the answer [to beating me] until the fight is over but I hope he prepared for a Plan B. Because when Plan A fails, he's going to be looking for excuses."
Paulie suffered a spectacular fall from grace during 2008 when eking past Herman Ngoudjo and Lovemore Ndou before losing one-sidedly to Ricky Hatton; Malignaggi had previously been highly regarded after pushing Miguel Cotto hard in their 2006 encounter despite having suffered a broken right cheekbone; he also bled from his mouth and from a cut above the left eye for much of that fight. Paulie concurred when asked if the general boxing public was writing him off purely on the basis of 2008s temporary loss of form."Probably, but May 15, I'll refresh everyone's memory, on why I belong here at this level" he blasted before conceding that the wheels had come off his bandwagon prior to 2009s brace of fights with Juan Diaz a coupling that saw Malignaggi suffer a disputed loss before returning to his very best form and securing a clear win.
"Yeah, that moment in my boxing life, things weren't going as planned, it happens. Sometimes fighters have bad nights; it's when you bounce back that makes you a someone."
As mentioned, Paulies worst night came when losing inside the distance to Ricky Hatton in 11 one-sided rounds. Buddy McGirt, Malignaggis then-trainer, pulled his man out off the fight at 0-48 of the deciding round. This move infuriated Malignaggi and led to the breakdown of his training relationship with McGirt.
"Yeah, sighed Malignaggi, that fight still stings, but there are far more important things in life than that. It was a mistake, and I learned from it and bettered my boxing skills and my life. I owe it all to my team, and [new trainer] Sherif Younan. He made me enjoy boxing again and I will show everyone on May 15 why were such a great team."
The selection of Malignaggi as an opponent, rather than Amir's mandatory Marcos Maidana, is viewed as a cynical attempt by Golden Boy to provide Amir with an acceptable US showcase test without putting him in against a certified puncher, protecting Khan's chin, and their investment, in the process. Paulie, however, feels that there is more than one way to crack an egg, claiming that his accuracy and ability could prove to be Khan's undoing.
"Accuracy and sharpness is key in a fight, and this will be a factor in the fight. But I have more tricks up my sleeve as well" teased Malignaggi before dismissing Khan's single-round KO reverse to Breidis Prescott as a sign of the Brit's early immaturity."As fighters we all make mistakes, some can be costly. You can't just go on one fight; you can grow as a fighter - I will be ready for anything on May 15. My jab is the key to everything.it sets up a lot of combos, and I will be using it. I'm not looking for anything to surprise Amir but my skills because size doesn't win fights. I'm coming to play chess thats whats going to surprise Khan."
Though a non-puncher, Paulie is on a good run of form, is a tried and tested world title-level boxer and The Magic Man also has home support for this one. The 27-3 (5) fighter was born and raised in Brooklyn, just down the road, and across the bridge, from The Garden. Indeed, the 29-year-old former IBF titlist believes that Khan, who claims he will have the support of the crowd come the first bell, is delusional and that Amir's big-fight fantasies will be pierced come Saturday night.
"I don't know what he's thinking, he can think whatever he wants, laughed Malignaggi when reminded about Khans claim that he will be the crowd favourite. No, Khan knows he's coming into my backyard and New York has love for me. It's going to be a good night. When he starts hearing the boos let's just hope he don't crack under pressure. He wont know the answer [to beating me] until the fight is over but I hope he prepared for a Plan B. Because when Plan A fails, he's going to be looking for excuses."
Paulie suffered a spectacular fall from grace during 2008 when eking past Herman Ngoudjo and Lovemore Ndou before losing one-sidedly to Ricky Hatton; Malignaggi had previously been highly regarded after pushing Miguel Cotto hard in their 2006 encounter despite having suffered a broken right cheekbone; he also bled from his mouth and from a cut above the left eye for much of that fight. Paulie concurred when asked if the general boxing public was writing him off purely on the basis of 2008s temporary loss of form."Probably, but May 15, I'll refresh everyone's memory, on why I belong here at this level" he blasted before conceding that the wheels had come off his bandwagon prior to 2009s brace of fights with Juan Diaz a coupling that saw Malignaggi suffer a disputed loss before returning to his very best form and securing a clear win.
"Yeah, that moment in my boxing life, things weren't going as planned, it happens. Sometimes fighters have bad nights; it's when you bounce back that makes you a someone."
As mentioned, Paulies worst night came when losing inside the distance to Ricky Hatton in 11 one-sided rounds. Buddy McGirt, Malignaggis then-trainer, pulled his man out off the fight at 0-48 of the deciding round. This move infuriated Malignaggi and led to the breakdown of his training relationship with McGirt.
"Yeah, sighed Malignaggi, that fight still stings, but there are far more important things in life than that. It was a mistake, and I learned from it and bettered my boxing skills and my life. I owe it all to my team, and [new trainer] Sherif Younan. He made me enjoy boxing again and I will show everyone on May 15 why were such a great team."
The selection of Malignaggi as an opponent, rather than Amir's mandatory Marcos Maidana, is viewed as a cynical attempt by Golden Boy to provide Amir with an acceptable US showcase test without putting him in against a certified puncher, protecting Khan's chin, and their investment, in the process. Paulie, however, feels that there is more than one way to crack an egg, claiming that his accuracy and ability could prove to be Khan's undoing.
"Accuracy and sharpness is key in a fight, and this will be a factor in the fight. But I have more tricks up my sleeve as well" teased Malignaggi before dismissing Khan's single-round KO reverse to Breidis Prescott as a sign of the Brit's early immaturity."As fighters we all make mistakes, some can be costly. You can't just go on one fight; you can grow as a fighter - I will be ready for anything on May 15. My jab is the key to everything.it sets up a lot of combos, and I will be using it. I'm not looking for anything to surprise Amir but my skills because size doesn't win fights. I'm coming to play chess thats whats going to surprise Khan."
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