Tweet
Malignaggi Continues to Trash Cotto
With the sixth season of The Sopranos coming to a close, Brooklyn's own Paulie Malignaggi vows that the "Whacking" will continue for at least one more week. Malignaggi, (21-0, 5 KO's) a second generation Italian is headlining next week's card in the "Mecca of Boxing" (Madison Square Garden). Paulie, who is coming off of a dominant performance win over the rugged Donald Camerana back in February, is taking a huge step up in competition as he looks to put the first blemish on Miguel Cotto's record (26-0, 22 KO's) as well as taking his WBO strap from him. Or so it seems, well at least on paper it looks like a step up. If you ask Paulie, he will tell you that Cotto has only fought one type of opponent thus far. "Miguel Cotto has a lot of flaws. He is very overrated in that way. Once you get past the power and the knockout garbage, you see a fighter who doesn't know how to fight. He is slow-footed and he has slow hands, which will leave him open for counters. Against Cotto you have time to fight, think and adjust," expressed a very boastful Malignaggi.
As the excited 25-year-old embarks on the road to glory, his rise to the top wasn't easy by any means. In fact, after his bout with Jeremy Yelton, Paulie contemplated retirement. When asked if he was serious or just talking out of discouragement and anger, the once despondent Paulie answered, "I was very serious. If my hand didn't get any better what would have been the point of continuing to fight. How long could I have possibly fought with one arm. I would have never gotten a big fight it was just very aggravating. But my love for the sport brought me back to the gym. Although I didn't have any expectations when I went back to the gym, I slowly started to get into the swing of things and little by little my hand got better." Malignaggi suffered two broken right hands in subsequent years. After two unsuccessful hand surgeries, Paulie paid Dr. Steve Margles a visit when he suffered a third fracture. Margles, who has operated on the likes of Harry Simon, Vinny Pazienza, and Micky Ward, proclaimed that [Paulie's] that was the worst hand injury he had ever seen on a fighter. It was later revealed that he had sustained seven fractures in the metacarpal area â€" ultimately answering why Paulie fought for two years with one arm. That was then, this is now, and as Paulie likes to put it, "My hands are 100 percent and come June 10th I got a pair of Reyes gloves to prove it." Adding, "With two hands, I am not turning down any fight."
As Cotto and Malignaggi engage in arguably the biggest rumble the 'Big Apple' has seen since the Jets challenged the Sharks (West Side Story), Paulie is fully aware that there are many factors working against him coming into this Saturday. Just a few weeks ago Malignaggi's 'Brooklyn Paisano' Luis Collazo lost what many feel was a very controversial unanimous decision to Manchester's own Ricky Hatton. As Paulie describes it, "We are on the same boat," simply meaning that they are the lesser-known guys fighting the guy with the big name. When asked what he learned from the Collazo fight, "I learned that I have to dominate Miguel Cotto. You can't leave anything to the judges. I felt that Louie won a very close fight. I am fully aware that if the fight is close, they are going to give it to him. I can't expect for anything to be given to me, I have to take it." Another thing that might work against Paulie is the fact that he is fighting on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. With Felix Trinidad out of the game, Miguel Cotto has been the heir apparent to the throne of boxing in Puerto Rico. Pending a victorious outcome, there is the possibility of making enemies in the Puerto Rican community. When asked if he felt it was possible to be labeled as the next Bernard Hopkins, a more reverent Paulie calmly stated, "I don't think I would make enemies. However, the fact that I am fighting on the eve of the parade can be a political tool that can work against me. But as far as making enemies, I wouldn't think so. The Puerto Rican fans are very knowledgeable. If I beat their man fair and square, how can I not get credit? I respect the Puerto Rican community, and I have many friends that are of Puerto Rican decent. Because I am expecting a very physical fight, I plan on resting the day after but if I am invited to the parade I would be honored to go."
So now after all the heartache and pain, three full months of strength and conditioning and all the blood, sweat and tears, it's fight week in 'Gotham City'. It is now time to show and prove and Paulie plans on doing just that and more. "In 21 professional fights, I have never been hit nor tagged. The name of the game is to hit and not get hit." Now being the astute journalists that we are on *********.com, we countered back with a shot of our own, "Everybody gets hit sooner or later. What's going to happen if he traps you against the ropes or in a corner and begins ripping you to the body? What happens then?" The loquacious one then countered back with machine gun rapid fire. "Just watch the master do what he does best. We are prepared for anything and everything. Whatever he brings to the table I can answer. I am anticipating a strong Miguel Cotto. If he doesn't come correct, he is going to catch more of a beating than he has ever had." Humbly adding, "But with all the talk that I am doing, he has no choice but to take me serious."
As the excited 25-year-old embarks on the road to glory, his rise to the top wasn't easy by any means. In fact, after his bout with Jeremy Yelton, Paulie contemplated retirement. When asked if he was serious or just talking out of discouragement and anger, the once despondent Paulie answered, "I was very serious. If my hand didn't get any better what would have been the point of continuing to fight. How long could I have possibly fought with one arm. I would have never gotten a big fight it was just very aggravating. But my love for the sport brought me back to the gym. Although I didn't have any expectations when I went back to the gym, I slowly started to get into the swing of things and little by little my hand got better." Malignaggi suffered two broken right hands in subsequent years. After two unsuccessful hand surgeries, Paulie paid Dr. Steve Margles a visit when he suffered a third fracture. Margles, who has operated on the likes of Harry Simon, Vinny Pazienza, and Micky Ward, proclaimed that [Paulie's] that was the worst hand injury he had ever seen on a fighter. It was later revealed that he had sustained seven fractures in the metacarpal area â€" ultimately answering why Paulie fought for two years with one arm. That was then, this is now, and as Paulie likes to put it, "My hands are 100 percent and come June 10th I got a pair of Reyes gloves to prove it." Adding, "With two hands, I am not turning down any fight."
As Cotto and Malignaggi engage in arguably the biggest rumble the 'Big Apple' has seen since the Jets challenged the Sharks (West Side Story), Paulie is fully aware that there are many factors working against him coming into this Saturday. Just a few weeks ago Malignaggi's 'Brooklyn Paisano' Luis Collazo lost what many feel was a very controversial unanimous decision to Manchester's own Ricky Hatton. As Paulie describes it, "We are on the same boat," simply meaning that they are the lesser-known guys fighting the guy with the big name. When asked what he learned from the Collazo fight, "I learned that I have to dominate Miguel Cotto. You can't leave anything to the judges. I felt that Louie won a very close fight. I am fully aware that if the fight is close, they are going to give it to him. I can't expect for anything to be given to me, I have to take it." Another thing that might work against Paulie is the fact that he is fighting on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. With Felix Trinidad out of the game, Miguel Cotto has been the heir apparent to the throne of boxing in Puerto Rico. Pending a victorious outcome, there is the possibility of making enemies in the Puerto Rican community. When asked if he felt it was possible to be labeled as the next Bernard Hopkins, a more reverent Paulie calmly stated, "I don't think I would make enemies. However, the fact that I am fighting on the eve of the parade can be a political tool that can work against me. But as far as making enemies, I wouldn't think so. The Puerto Rican fans are very knowledgeable. If I beat their man fair and square, how can I not get credit? I respect the Puerto Rican community, and I have many friends that are of Puerto Rican decent. Because I am expecting a very physical fight, I plan on resting the day after but if I am invited to the parade I would be honored to go."
So now after all the heartache and pain, three full months of strength and conditioning and all the blood, sweat and tears, it's fight week in 'Gotham City'. It is now time to show and prove and Paulie plans on doing just that and more. "In 21 professional fights, I have never been hit nor tagged. The name of the game is to hit and not get hit." Now being the astute journalists that we are on *********.com, we countered back with a shot of our own, "Everybody gets hit sooner or later. What's going to happen if he traps you against the ropes or in a corner and begins ripping you to the body? What happens then?" The loquacious one then countered back with machine gun rapid fire. "Just watch the master do what he does best. We are prepared for anything and everything. Whatever he brings to the table I can answer. I am anticipating a strong Miguel Cotto. If he doesn't come correct, he is going to catch more of a beating than he has ever had." Humbly adding, "But with all the talk that I am doing, he has no choice but to take me serious."
Comment