Just moments ago at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois Paulie Malignaggi got his revenge with a unanimous decision over Juan Diaz.
In round one Malignaggi seemed to control the early action with his jab, which he released at a rapid fire rate. Diaze seemed confused on how to break through to his Brooklyn foe. As the round came to a close the crowd started cheering ‘Malignaggi’ over and over again, which prompted Paulie to raise his glove in the air. Moments later chants of ‘Diaz’ echoed the arena.
In the second round Diaz got more reckless, attempting to pin Malignaggi against the ropes as he fired away. Malignaggi appeared to control the round based on his combination punching. The action was scintillating but the crowd in the arena created an electric atmosphere that made the contest well worth watching.
The action picked up in the third as Malignaggi attempted to clown Diaz and was greeted by a big left hook. The punch made Malignaggi mock Diaz some more and he began firing shots of his own at the Houston, Texas fighter. The fighters traded jabs to end the round as the crowd roared.
The fourth round was a tactical one in which little went down but things heated up in the fifth. In this round Diaz pressed forward and scored some of his best shots, both to the body and head. Malignaggi continued to taunt his younger foe but the tide of the fight looked to be changing.
In round six Malignaggi kept the fight at a distance early but was later swamped against the ropes by Diaz. The crowd began to chant ‘Paulie sucks’ and it was obvious who the majority of people in the building were rooting for. As the round came to a close the action again was fiece, with Malignaggi getting the better of it. The former IBF Jr. Welterweight champion’s speed was beginning to make a huge difference.
The seventh round was far more uneventful and Malignaggi appeared to be in cruise control. Diaz had moments of success in the eight and the crowd did stand by him but Malignaggi’s jab was also effictive in this frame.
In the ninth Malignaggi again began to create distance between himself and the former Lightweight champion, controlling the slow paced action of the round. Diaz seemed confused and a few steps past his best as he was unable to figure Malignaggi out.
The tenth produced some notable action as a Malignaggi right hand sent Diaz spirling and a knockdown was called after his glove appeared to touch the matt. It was an exclamation point for Malignaggi in what has to be considered one of his most complete performances to date.
Diaz continued pressing forward and had some big moments in the final round but by then it was far too late. Malignaggi survived the onslaught and rose in his corner, touching his chest and declaring victory to the crowd. All three judges scored the bout 116-111 in favor of Malignaggi.
It was a very impressive win for Paulie, who had claimed he was robbed his first fight against Diaz this past August 22nd in Houston, Texas. With the win Malignaggi can put those demons to rest and move on to bigger things in 2010. It is unknown where Diaz goes from here but he doesn’t seem big enough to hang at 140 pounds and would be advised to return to the Lightweight division if he can still make the weight.
Ortiz triumphs over Diaz
In his last fight in June of this year, Victor Ortiz suffered a huge letdown when he elected not to continue after six back and forth rounds with WBA Jr. Welterweight interim champion Marcos Maidana. Ortiz suffered some scathing feedback due to that loss and attempted to turn things around by returning tonight against veteran Antonio Diaz.
The first round was a feel out affair and neither guy landed anything meaningful. In the second round Ortiz began to open up more and had a great ten second period where he tagged Diaz from all angles. It looked as though the fight was beginning to turn in favor of the Oxnard, California fighter.
An Ortiz slip would get the crowd riled up in the third but moments later the young fighter answered by dropping Diaz hard along the ropes with a counter left hand shot. Diaz rose but was sub sequentially swamped by Ortiz’ two fisted attack. As the round came to a close Diaz looked to be pretty weary.
The fourth round was fought at a little slower pace and Ortiz seemed to control the action. Diaz was far more aggressive in the fifth and even appeared to stun Ortiz with a looping right hand. In this round Ortiz was content to backpedal and counter his onrushing foe.
The sixth round itself wasn’t full of great action but obviously sometime during the stanza Diaz got the impression that he didn’t have what it takes to beat his more primed opponent and he and his corner decided to call it a day. Ortiz claims the stoppage victory and moves his record to 25-2 with 20 knockouts and can focus his thoughts to what 2010 has in store for him.
Erislandy Lara defeats Luciano Perez
Impressive southpaw Erislandy Lara looked to continue his hot start in the sport as faced off with Chicago’s Luciano Perez. So far into his early career Lara has shown glimpses of great promise and he controlled the early going against Perez.
As the fight dragged on Lara controlled the action from both the inside and out, timing the aggressive Perez all night. To his credit Perez never stopped coming and there were moments when he made things interesting. At the end of the day, however, Lara was in a different class and maintained his undefeated record by way of unanimous decision. Lara moves his record to 9-0 with 5 knockouts.
Hylon Williams defeats a game but outmatched Humberto Tapia
Undefeated Hylon Williams, from Houston, Texas, got a much tougher than expected fight when he squared off with journeyman Humberto Tapia – at least for a few rounds. In the first two rounds young Williams seemed confused on how to deal with Tapia’s in your face pressure and was hesitant to let his hands go. As the third round approached Williams found his comfort zone and began dictating the pace of the fight on his own terms.
Williams turned the tide of the fight over the second half of the bout and seemed on his way to an easy night but Tapia continued to press. In the sixth round Tapia again came to life as he flailed away at Williams as the round came to a close. The Tijuana, Mexico native didn’t come to lay down, he was in it for the long haul.
Williams tagged Tapia early in the seventh with a volley of left and right hands from all angles. Getting cracked repeatedly, the sweat was bouncing off of Tapia’s face. In the eighth and final round both fighters stormed out trying to make a point. The action was fast early but soon died down. When the bell had sounded Tapia walked back to his corner with his face down, knowing he hadn’t done enough to emerge victorious. It was Williams’ night.
Scores of 80-72 across the board were read in Williams’ favor as he moves to 12-0 with 3 knockouts.
Watching from ringside, promoter Lou Dibella noted that Williams can one day be a force in the game if he learns to remain poised and avoids backing up all of the time. Dibella noted that Williams is only 19 years of age and that time is still on his side.
Randall Bailey moves up to 147 pounds, drops and decisions Sanders
This past August former two time world champion Randall Bailey was a few mere seconds away from winning his third world title, as he had opponent Juan Urango on the deck and seemingly out in the sixth round of their action packed slugfest. Urango had been floored from a Bailey right hand and was dazed and confused as he stared up at the bright lights. Urango would muster enough strength to rise and beat the count, however, and shortly thereafter he would began turning the tide of the fight, eventually stopping Bailey in the 11th round. It was heartbreaking defeat for Bailey, who came to the conclusion afterwards that he could no longer make the Jr. Welterweight limit and moved up to 147 pounds for his fight tonight against journeyman Germaine Sanders.
Bailey’s power was evident early on in the contest, as he dropped his overmatched foe twice within the first four rounds. Bailey was able to let loose with furious right hands on the inside with little coming back from the well traveled Sanders. As the fight wore on Bailey remained calm and began to pick his spots.
In the fifth round Bailey would change things up and drop Sanders with a lunging left hook. Sanders crashed to the canvas hard but found a way to rise and finish the round. In rounds six through eight Bailey would continue to apply the pressure but wasn’t able to finish his game opponent. When the dust had settled Bailey came away with a clear cut unanimous decision win by scores of 78-71, 79-70 and 77-72 .
Afterwards Bailey stated that while it felt good to get a win, he still needs some work before taking on the Welterweight division’s best.
“I thought it was a solid win. It felt good to be back in the ring. I still have some things I need to work on before my next fight. I felt good at 147 pounds and I’ll be looking for a big fight next year.”
Charlo remains unbeaten against Lozano
Undefeated prospect Jermell Charlo from Houston, Texas (9-0 with 4 KO’s) was matched up against fellow undefeated Abdon Lozano, 6-0 with 1 knockout.
Immediately into the contest a sweeping left hook from Charlo would floor Lozano, who seemed more surprised than hurt as he rose and attempted to gather his senses. As the fight progressed Lozano attempted to make the contest more physical but the end was right around the corner. The Mexican walked into a brutal onslaught in round two and hit the deck, failing to beat the count of ten.
With the win Charlo, who is under the guidance of noted trainer Ronnie Shields, moves to 10-0 with 5 knockouts.
Ronald Hearns scores much needed stoppage win over Kipruto
In March of this year Ronald Hearns suffered the only loss of his still young career with a devastating ninth round stoppage to gutsy Harry Joe Yorgey. Despite seeming to be in control by fighting from a distance, Hearns was rocked by a Yorgey combination at end of the ninth and floored. He attempted to rise but the bout was called off.
The defeat has set Hearns back and he has been attempting to rebuild his career slowly but surely thereafter. He won an eight round decision over Patrick Thompson in August and attempted to continue his momentum tonight against journeyman Shadrack Kipruto, by way of Nairobi, Kenya.
Things went according to plans for Hearns, who controlled the fight with his precise punching and lead right hands. Confidence seemingly in tact, Hearns dropped his outclassed foe in the second round and finished him off for good in round six. It was a solid performance for Hearns who will look to put the Yorgey demons to rest fully next year.
Argenis Mendez vs. Morris Chule
Once beaten Argenis Mendez was pitted against 7-7-1 Morris Chule from Nairobi, Kenya in a bout that was much more competitive than it looked to be on paper. While obviously having a clear edge in power and skill, Mendez was unable to deter or shake Chule from pressing forward and returning firepower of his own.
The fight dragged on a bit from rounds four on and the crowd was beginning to boo near the end of the contest. After the dust had settled Mendez walked away with a unanimous decision by scores of 80-72 twice and 78-74.
Herrera makes short work of Palacios in debut
In his professional debut, Jimmy Herrera made quick work of Gustavo Palacios, stopping the Chicago native in 28 seconds of the first round. The bout seemed to be over before it started for Herrera, who goes to 1-0 with 1 knockout in his newborn career.
