Paulie 'Magic Man' Malignaggi; An Ace up His Sleeve
 By Jason Petock (Feb 22, 2007) Doghouse Boxing (Photo © Bob Kolb)
Brooklynite Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi, 22-1 (5), showed he had another rabbit in his hat on Saturday with a spectacular 10 UD win at the Hammerstein Ballroom over durable power puncher Edner ‘Cherry Bomb’ Cherry, 21-5-2 (10), originally from the Bahamas. It was all ‘Magic Man’ as he utilized angles, worked the ring with craftsmanship, and even pressed forward into the fire instead of avoiding it like so many critics had predicted. To Cherry’s credit, he fought a great fight but Malignaggi just dominated the action throughout, picking his shots calculatingly and demonstrating true ring intelligence and experience that you would
expect of a fighter who has finally carved his notch out of top tiered status. Actions speak far louder than words and Paulie can offer you up either, whether in the ring or out of it and his latest performance proved to the doubters that the real ‘magic’ of Malignaggi comes through in the ring where it counts most.
Early in the bout the size differential between Cherry and Malignaggi was fairly obvious, with Cherry being the bigger man although their respective weights weren’t that much different. Edner’s last two bouts prior to meeting Paulie ended with significant TKO victories over Daniel Alicea back in August of last year, and Monty Meza Clay three months earlier for the Nassau native, so it was assumed that Malignaggi would be his latest victim seeing as Cherry has been on a roll. Both of those wins for Edner Cherry captured him both the vacant NABF Lightweight title from Alicea, and the NABA and WBC CABOFE Lightweight titles from Clay.
However, underestimating Magic Man’s heart and determination in the ring is something that has continued to cause the media and critics alike to continually put their feet into their mouths time and time again. This time was no different.
It was also really nice to see both men so cordial and respectful after the bout, embracing and conversing like professionals do in a reverential environment when each man has just waged battle against one another under the scope of the public’s eye. The boxing world should take notice of such a display, because it’s not often that we see such sheer humility out in the open, and not only in boxing but in all professional sports.
So once again Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi has dazzled the crowds with his fast footwork and even faster hands with another concrete victory. Do yourself a favor and keep your eyes peeled because you never know where his next dose of magic might take you. And he doesn’t use props, or wands, or gimmicks. He lets his hands settle the score and brings to mind the mastery and craft of some of the old greats who really took boxing as an art form in that ring. The world recently lost a legend in Willie Pep but I can’t help but somehow think that he’s watching over Malignaggi with an approving smile and a nod. Legends are made and not born and Paulie Malignaggi is well on his way.
1040 .
|
|
|
|
© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2007
|
