Ahead of their May 15th clash, Amir Khan and Paulie Malignaggi have been engaging in a very public war of words.
Aside from the usual banter that Malignaggi comes out with, he seems genuinely frustrated that people see him as a stepping stone in Khan’s career. A low risk high reward opponent who Khan can use to gain exposure in the United States without running much risk of losing.
It’s understandable Paulie is annoyed though, given that Khan seems to be planning out the rest of his career as if Malignaggi is already a done deal.
Never one to miss an opportunity for a sound byte, Malignaggi has even released some of his latest musings as a press release:
?You?re going to see more improvements on May 15. [Head trainer] Sherif Younan and I have a lot of creativity in the gym. Every fight since I?ve started training with Sherif I?ve been getting better and better.
?I?ve put a lot of pressure on myself. I am a perfectionist when it comes to boxing. Come fight night, everything will fall into place like the pieces of a puzzle.?
?I believe I?m the faster fighter. If I get hit on chin, I?m not going to wobble. If Amir Khan starts wobbling, I hope they have a pillow for him in the corner, because he?s going to sleep.?
?I?m going to enjoy sinking my punches into Khan. Some fights are just business, but not this one. I?m going to enjoy every punch I land.?
I’m not sure what the guys in his camp are putting into the Magic Man’s water bottle, but Malignaggi knocking Khan out is about as likely as Floyd Mayweather giving away all his possessions and becoming a monk. It just isn’t happening.
Mitchell with Frank Warren (AP Photo)
Sure Khan has a shaky chin and sure he has been knocked out before. However, Malignaggi has just 5 knockouts on his record, and all of them have been against less than stellar competition. The one man who did manage to finish Khan by comparison was at the time 19-0 with 18 knockouts.
Not to mention that back then Khan had a habit of sticking his chin up in the air and his hands at his sides. A problem that Freddie Roach has since corrected.
The third man in on this verbal scrum is none other than Kevin Mitchell, who has been looking for an all British showdown with Khan since he turned professional.
Speaking to SkySports, Mitchell said:
“He’s fighting Malignaggi next – that says it all. Malignaggi is made for him because he doesn’t punch. Khan’s brilliant but is vulnerable in certain areas. Anyone who can catch him has got a half decent chance.”
Mitchell takes on WBO interim Lightweight champion and bad tattoo aficionado Michael Katsidis on the same night as the Khan-Malignaggi fight goes down, and rightly feels he has been overlooked by the boxing media. Mitchell is widely regarded as one of the best talents Britain has produced in recent years, yet he is virtually unknown in the rest of the world. He also beat the one man who Amir Khan couldn’t Breidis Prescott last year.
Paulie Malignaggi responded to some of Mitchell’s earlier comments with this little gem:
“Kevin Mitchell wants to speak my name? You got something to say? Say it to my face. This is the only time, your going to be famous, when Paulie Malignaggi mentions your name. You?ve been cuddled more then Khan has man. Talking about your in a tougher fight, your fighting a human punching bag. If you can?t beat a punching bag, you might as well retire – because you suck!”
Is Mitchell on the way up to light welterweight and eventually a fight against Malignaggi? It would certainly make for some lively trash talk between the pair. If Paulie isn’t careful though he could go 0-3 against Brits, which even he would have trouble talking his way around.
Robert Winslow, Pittsburgh: “Paulie pillowhands has lost his mind if he’s thinking about getting a knockout. Does anyone reading this know anyone he knocked out without looking on boxrec? I didn’t think so”
Nigel Reid, Pittsburgh: “Khan has a glass chin and Paulie has glass fists, they’re a perfect pair”
