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New Paul Malignaggi Interview
Paulie seems like he's keeping his chin up:
Paul Malignaggi Interview
By Ace Freeman
FightFan's Ace Freeman caught up with Paulie a week or so after his gutsy effort against Miguel Cotto. "The Magic Man" talks about the fight, his injury, and his eagerness to get back in the ring and show the fans more of what he’s all about!
June 26, 2006
FF: Paulie, how are you?
PM: What’s up Ace, I’m alright.
FF: How are you feeling a week out from your fight with Miguel Cotto.
PM: I’m alright, I’ve got my cheek bone I got to take care of but I’m just chillin.
FF: Will the injury keep you out very long?
PM: Well it’s got to heal up a bit and then I’ve got to get back into shape, so…
FF: Are you pretty anxious to get back in the ring?
PM: Yea I need a bit of rest but I want to come back and continue to show everyone what I’m all about you know?
FF: I think you did a good job of that in the Cotto fight. No one can question your heart or resolve after that fight. What are your thoughts looking back on it now?
PM: I gotta tell you man, that was the smallest ring I’ve even been in. If we were in a regular size ring I think I would have beat him without too many problems.
FF: Were you pleased with the account you gave of yourself in the fight?
PM: I think I could have done a lot more. I’m pleased it didn’t kill my stock. That’s the only thing I’m really relieved about. I came to win the world Championship and I made a lot of mistakes.
I really think the little ring caused me to have to stand and fight him a little more than I should have. If I’m comfortable in my surroundings in a normal ring, I would have done what I do and I don’t think he stands a chance. He wouldn’t get into a rhythm, I would have been in my grove and I don’t think he would have given me too many problems. He does hit very hard but I think I would have neutralized a lot of that in a normal ring. But you know what, that’s the way it goes. There’s politics involved in these things and I couldn’t control the size of the ring, I couldn’t control the time of the weigh in, I couldn’t control a lot of things because I didn’t have enough of a name, you know?
They got what they wanted with the size of the ring, but you know what’s funny? If they thought they learned to deal with a boxer by getting through this fight they’re lying to themselves. They’re not going to get away with that against someone like Mayweather. They’ll be in a regular sized ring with an on time weigh in. With me they can get away with some of the political stuff because I’m practically nobody compared to Cotto you know? If they think Miguel Cotto learned to deal with a boxer on that night, they’re lying to themselves.
FF: You seemed to be winning the rounds where you were effectively moving in and out of range, catching him…
PM: When I was mobile I thought I showed that he was made to look ineffective. I just feel I was limited in being able to do that because the ring was so small.
FF: After the fight was over, did you get the feeling your stock had in fact gone up because of your performance in the fight? How were you received after suffering the loss?
PM: Yea thank goodness for that. I was really down for a few days but I keep hearing how a lot of people want to see me fight again. I think I showed what I’ve been talking about. I know I’ve got the will inside me and a good chin. I know I’ve got a fighter’s mentality even though I try to not get hit for the most part. If it comes down to it I can take it.
FF: I heard Arturo Gatti gave you a call after the fight. Is that true?
PM: Arturo Gatti called me, and so did Mickey Ward.
FF: That’s got to be a big thrill, having those guys call you after a scrap like that. What did they say?
PM: They just told me to keep my head up. They said set backs happen and that I showed what I’m about as a fighter. I proved a lot of skeptics wrong by dealing with adversity and showed I belong on this level.
I look up to those guys and everyone knows they’re warriors. Considering what they’ve been through, for them to call me up and say they respected my toughness made me feel really good.
FF: What do you want your fans to know about where you’re at now after this fight and what’s next for Paul Malignaggi?
PM: Just that I was down for a few days and now my spirits are coming back up. I’m looking forward to coming back and I want to fight Miguel Cotto again even if it takes a year or two or if I have to move up to Welterweight to do it. We’re the same age and we’ll both be around for a while. Miguel Cotto hasn’t seen the last of me. I’m going to be back, and I will win a world title at Junior Welterweight.
FF: Paulie thanks for taking the time to do this, and we look forward to seeing you fight again .
PM: Thanks Ace, I appreciate the call.
http://www.fightfan.com/interviews/0606-Malignaggi.htm
Paul Malignaggi Interview
By Ace Freeman
FightFan's Ace Freeman caught up with Paulie a week or so after his gutsy effort against Miguel Cotto. "The Magic Man" talks about the fight, his injury, and his eagerness to get back in the ring and show the fans more of what he’s all about!
June 26, 2006
FF: Paulie, how are you?
PM: What’s up Ace, I’m alright.
FF: How are you feeling a week out from your fight with Miguel Cotto.
PM: I’m alright, I’ve got my cheek bone I got to take care of but I’m just chillin.
FF: Will the injury keep you out very long?
PM: Well it’s got to heal up a bit and then I’ve got to get back into shape, so…
FF: Are you pretty anxious to get back in the ring?
PM: Yea I need a bit of rest but I want to come back and continue to show everyone what I’m all about you know?
FF: I think you did a good job of that in the Cotto fight. No one can question your heart or resolve after that fight. What are your thoughts looking back on it now?
PM: I gotta tell you man, that was the smallest ring I’ve even been in. If we were in a regular size ring I think I would have beat him without too many problems.
FF: Were you pleased with the account you gave of yourself in the fight?
PM: I think I could have done a lot more. I’m pleased it didn’t kill my stock. That’s the only thing I’m really relieved about. I came to win the world Championship and I made a lot of mistakes.
I really think the little ring caused me to have to stand and fight him a little more than I should have. If I’m comfortable in my surroundings in a normal ring, I would have done what I do and I don’t think he stands a chance. He wouldn’t get into a rhythm, I would have been in my grove and I don’t think he would have given me too many problems. He does hit very hard but I think I would have neutralized a lot of that in a normal ring. But you know what, that’s the way it goes. There’s politics involved in these things and I couldn’t control the size of the ring, I couldn’t control the time of the weigh in, I couldn’t control a lot of things because I didn’t have enough of a name, you know?
They got what they wanted with the size of the ring, but you know what’s funny? If they thought they learned to deal with a boxer by getting through this fight they’re lying to themselves. They’re not going to get away with that against someone like Mayweather. They’ll be in a regular sized ring with an on time weigh in. With me they can get away with some of the political stuff because I’m practically nobody compared to Cotto you know? If they think Miguel Cotto learned to deal with a boxer on that night, they’re lying to themselves.
FF: You seemed to be winning the rounds where you were effectively moving in and out of range, catching him…
PM: When I was mobile I thought I showed that he was made to look ineffective. I just feel I was limited in being able to do that because the ring was so small.
FF: After the fight was over, did you get the feeling your stock had in fact gone up because of your performance in the fight? How were you received after suffering the loss?
PM: Yea thank goodness for that. I was really down for a few days but I keep hearing how a lot of people want to see me fight again. I think I showed what I’ve been talking about. I know I’ve got the will inside me and a good chin. I know I’ve got a fighter’s mentality even though I try to not get hit for the most part. If it comes down to it I can take it.
FF: I heard Arturo Gatti gave you a call after the fight. Is that true?
PM: Arturo Gatti called me, and so did Mickey Ward.
FF: That’s got to be a big thrill, having those guys call you after a scrap like that. What did they say?
PM: They just told me to keep my head up. They said set backs happen and that I showed what I’m about as a fighter. I proved a lot of skeptics wrong by dealing with adversity and showed I belong on this level.
I look up to those guys and everyone knows they’re warriors. Considering what they’ve been through, for them to call me up and say they respected my toughness made me feel really good.
FF: What do you want your fans to know about where you’re at now after this fight and what’s next for Paul Malignaggi?
PM: Just that I was down for a few days and now my spirits are coming back up. I’m looking forward to coming back and I want to fight Miguel Cotto again even if it takes a year or two or if I have to move up to Welterweight to do it. We’re the same age and we’ll both be around for a while. Miguel Cotto hasn’t seen the last of me. I’m going to be back, and I will win a world title at Junior Welterweight.
FF: Paulie thanks for taking the time to do this, and we look forward to seeing you fight again .
PM: Thanks Ace, I appreciate the call.
http://www.fightfan.com/interviews/0606-Malignaggi.htm
to your mom..
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