In a recent 8CN Podcast, Freddie Roach expressed his confidence in Amir Khan for his upcoming bout with Paulie Malignaggi. When Brad Cooney asked; ?What do you tell Amir going into that fight that he has to worry about with Malignaggi?? Roach’s response was quite simple: ?Nothing. Just walk right through him.?
Is Roach underestimating ?Magic Man?? Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KOs) is a quick, slick boxer with great agility and hand speed. He?s an interesting boxer to watch because of his skill, unique style and overall cockiness. In his last bout, he avenged his highly controversial loss against Juan Diaz with great success. The rematch showed Malignaggi looking sharper than ever, and Diaz found his speed to be more than he could contend with. Malignaggi even stunned Diaz once, but seemed completely devoid of any finishing instinct. Instead of seizing the opportunity, he clowned and taunted his dazed opponent. Malignaggi never misses an opportunity to clown around.
Boxing writer, Joe Oneill unofficially named Malignaggi as the ?Crown Prince of Boxing?. ?In Malignaggi-Diaz I, Paulie’s trunks were actually falling down to his ankles for everyone to see his underwear. The ref had to pull up his pants repeatedly! Anytime a ref pulls up your pants in any sport, you’re automatically a clown.? -Joe Oneill
Clowning aside, Malignaggi’s record shows that he’s much more likely to outpoint his foes than to stop them. Nevertheless, his success against Diaz showed that he can handle a decent puncher with a come forward style. Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KOs) is also a come forward type of fighter, but ?decent? would be severely lacking in describing his punching power. Khan has a habit of stopping his opponents, and stopping them fast.
Since Khan has been under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, he has evolved into much more than just an offensive fighter. He’s now much more skilled at avoiding punches. Khan hasn’t abandoned his aggressive, quick combinations that make him a pleasure to watch in the ring. He?s just become a more well rounded boxer.
So we have a light-handed, quick and slick defensive counterpuncher against a heavy-handed, fast, young boxer who throws punches in bunches. In light of all the evidence, it appears that Roach?s proposed strategy against Malignaggi is perfectly sufficient.
If Malignaggi does what he does best, and Khan does what he does best, it?s highly likely that he can indeed ?walk right through? everything Malignaggi has to offer. It?s difficult to imagine Malignaggi standing up to Khan?s powerful flurries, and it?s difficult to imagine Khan being hurt by Malignaggi.
