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by David P. Greisman - For some, it comes after a brush with death. For others, the moment is less about mortality yet changes their lives nevertheless.
Paulie Malignaggi’s moment was a terrifying one, a loss in the boxing ring that left him concussed and hospitalized. That outcome and aftermath had him reconsidering something that had long been his career but which had truly become his life’s work.
He started boxing at 16, turned pro at 20, won two world titles, headlined in main events on major broadcasts, and shared the ring with some of the stars of his generation. More than half his life had been spent with gauze and tape and gloves on his hands, with other men seeking to hurt him, and with him using a mix of speed, skill, technique and guile to win.
But at that moment, he was 33 years old and considering retirement.
Malignaggi had never been a quitter. Not when the string of hand injuries kept taking him away from the sport he loved. The damage deprived him of the tools of his trade, and the threat for further harm always lingered. He had not quit in 2006 when Miguel Cotto fractured Malignaggi’s orbital bone, as the swelling disfigured his face and with Cotto still coming at him with hard shots. Malignaggi had protested when trainer Buddy McGirt stopped his fight with Ricky Hatton in 2008. He didn’t want the fight to end that way, even with the lead on the scorecard insurmountable and despite the potential for further punishment. [Click Here To Read More]
Paulie Malignaggi’s moment was a terrifying one, a loss in the boxing ring that left him concussed and hospitalized. That outcome and aftermath had him reconsidering something that had long been his career but which had truly become his life’s work.
He started boxing at 16, turned pro at 20, won two world titles, headlined in main events on major broadcasts, and shared the ring with some of the stars of his generation. More than half his life had been spent with gauze and tape and gloves on his hands, with other men seeking to hurt him, and with him using a mix of speed, skill, technique and guile to win.
But at that moment, he was 33 years old and considering retirement.
Malignaggi had never been a quitter. Not when the string of hand injuries kept taking him away from the sport he loved. The damage deprived him of the tools of his trade, and the threat for further harm always lingered. He had not quit in 2006 when Miguel Cotto fractured Malignaggi’s orbital bone, as the swelling disfigured his face and with Cotto still coming at him with hard shots. Malignaggi had protested when trainer Buddy McGirt stopped his fight with Ricky Hatton in 2008. He didn’t want the fight to end that way, even with the lead on the scorecard insurmountable and despite the potential for further punishment. [Click Here To Read More]
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