BROOKLYN (August 4, 2015) This past Saturday night at the Barclay’s Center, Paulie Malignaggi was “Licensed to Ill”. Much like the song in the caption from the wildly popular 80’s hip/hop group the Beastie Boys, the “Future Legend” connoisseur did a lot of joyful ranting throughout a boxing career just short of illustrious, one which was put to sleep by the hands of Danny Garcia in Brooklyn.
He is not going to the International Boxing Hall of Fame (he just might one day as a ringside commentator), but he does deserve a eulogy of sorts.
Flashy and insanely charismatic, Malignaggi managed to work his way onto boxing’s biggest stages with an over-the-top persona that thrived off of pop culture’s thirst for colorful audacity. Though far more in substance than his style allowed you to know, Malignaggi’s big mouth and big attitude was always bigger than his punch, two things that made his asshole qualities easy to applaud in the famed borough, for he was never supposed to become a two-time world champion.
That same big bowl of heart and grits was still in the belly of the 34 year-old Malignaggi (37-7, 7KO) the other night, as “Swift” took his time to knock him into his excellent Showtime commentating senses. Though he played the ‘Rocky’ theme music (in an obvious dig at Garcia and his Philadelphia roots) as he came to the ring, the infectious track kept going through my mind.
“NO. SLEEP. TILL BROOKLYN!!”
The song featured prominently on the soundtrack of Steven Seagal’s “Out for Justice”, which is exactly what Malignaggi was after following a 4th round massacre by Shawn Porter. Prior to the fight with Garcia, a bout between Top Rank brawler Ruslan Provodnikov and his former loudmouthed nemesis Adrien Broner was made for this October.
Despite the legal wars between manager Al Haymon and Top Rank’s Bob Arum, the two sides are now willing to pit their fighters against each other for the best interests of the sport. As such, if Malignaggi somehow managed to beat Garcia the other night, he would’ve been a frontrunner to face a comebacking Manny Pacquiao in early 2016, a man we all know Malignaggi can’t stand (take a wild guess who Pacquiao was cheering for the other night).
To further understand what you witnessed on ESPN and Premier Boxing Champions this past Saturday, Paulie was very motivated to win, and prepared for it to the best of his ability. You don’t hire a known PED designer and a rat bastard like Angel “Memo” Heredia to help prepare for a fight you don’t want to win.
The idea of being hypocritical or a study in contradiction has never bothered Malignaggi, nor has the notion that he is not coming to win under any circumstances, or that he can’t possibly beat anybody.
So for those who suggest that Paulie was merely around for a check or to simply “take one for the team” in making Danny look good- au contraire. Paulie would’ve loved nothing more than to face and beat Pacquiao, as ridiculously impossible as that notion is, and tried like hell to beat Garcia- though you may not think so.
Boxing and moving well for about 2 or 3 rounds, the “Magic Man” managed to matador Garcia while avoiding his massive left-hook and staying on the end of his right hand shots. He moved well throughout and was rarely hit with any highlight reel power shots, though he was gradually being slaughtered in a very methodical way by Garcia.
“Swift”, behind an occasional piercing jab and sledgehammer right hand, started giving Malignaggi a comprehensive beating – particularly to the body – and basically beat the life out of him. The fight probably could’ve continued when it was stopped at 2:22 of round 9 (ask Yuri Foreman, who referee Arthur Mercante kept allowing to be abused, famously throwing the white towel back at his corner when they wanted the fight stopped against Miguel Cotto), but it spoke more to the overachieving nature of Malignaggi and an appreciation for valor over time.
Much maligned for his loose lips, Malignaggi was never-the-less a tight competitor, who gave it everything he had in losses to the aforementioned Shawn Porter, Miguel Cotto, Adrien Broner, Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan, Juan Diaz and now Garcia. He refused to believe that Juan Diaz was better than him (which killed an opportunity to face Juan Manuel Marquez), and exposed him in a rematch. I’ll never forget his clinic over a solid Edner Cherry and his complete wipeout of Lovemore N’Dou.
We’ll remember his wild hairdo’s and crazy colors (remember this f*ckin guy getting his haircut in between rounds of the N’Dou fight?), along with his loud, squeaky voice that challenged anybody with brittle fists his entire career.
Well done Paulie.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
As for “Swift” Garcia, its hard to find another star in the sport with more to prove than the proven Philadelphia badass. Since an epic win over the feared Lucas Matthysse, Garcia (31-0, 18KO) has looked ordinary. Mauricio Herrera and Lamont Peterson showed that textbook boxing can bother the aggressive WBC former super lightweight champion.
In his successful debut at 147, he opened the door to a possible meeting with Floyd Mayweather (should he continue in 2016) or perhaps a showdown with WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman Jr. may loom. But though dominant in beating Malignaggi, he wasn’t exactly overwhelming, unveiling a progressively plodding style and heavy feet. He also telegraphed his shot variety and may not carry the same pop at 147 as he did at 140, something that will be of great intrigue as he challenges the elite of the division.
