The gagging order Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer have agreed to while trying to make Pacquiao vs. Mayweather happen is in full effect, and both were keen to change the subject when pressed on recent conference calls.
This is undoubtedly a good move, and the fact that they are already keeping quiet about it suggests that the talks are going to begin sooner rather than later.
Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe said last week that Floyd was enjoying his after fight celebrations and that no one in the camp was yet thinking about another fight. It now seems though that things are already in motion behind closed doors between Top Rank and Golden Boy.
With all talk of the fight drying up as both sides enter the negotiations though, all eyes will no doubt turn to the fight coming up this weekend between Amir Khan and Paulie Malignaggi.
The fight takes place at the Theater at Madison Square Garden and both fighters are confident that they can walk away with the win. Comparisons will no doubt be made between this fight and Prince Naseem Hamed’s American debut in 1997 against Kevin Kelly. That fight made Hamed a star, and delivered no less than 6 knockdowns, and there might even have been a couple more that the referee didn’t score.
Can Khan live up to this?
Probably not, Malignaggi can take a real hammering and doesn’t go down easily. Khan does have one punch knockout power but Paulie isn’t a fellow puncher who will stand toe to toe with him and let himself get hit.
Paulie likens Amir Khan and Freddie Roach to ‘gay tourists’ after they took pictures at several locations in New York.
Malignaggi’s losses have both come to power punchers in Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, both of whom were able to walk through his punches and walk him down. His other loss to Juan Diaz is widely regarded as a robbery, and he has since avenged that loss.
Khan though, unlike both Hatton and Cotto has a weakness of his own in his less than bulletproof chin. He has the power to put Paulie in trouble, and better boxing skills than his other conquerors, but will he chance walking through Malignaggi’s punches to look for the knockout?
It is an interesting question, and as light as Paulie’s fragile hands might be, he still might have enough to wobble Khan if he catches him cleanly. Khan’s other option of course is to outbox him, but this is a lot easier said than done. Khan is fast though, perhaps even the faster of the two and Paulie is known to keep his hands low and rely on his reflexes to get him out of trouble. Against another fast fighter like Khan though this might and him in big trouble.
In case anyone missed it or needs a refresher, here is Hamed vs. Kelly.
Stuart Collins, Pittsburgh: “They should have called this one glass jaw vs. glass hands. I predict a win for Khan via decision, I don’t think he will be able to catch Malignaggi too often, but his punches will be more telling”
Geno Harris, Philly: ” Golden Boy are backing Khan and he has the best trainer in the game today so that says something. He will eventually unify the titles at light welterweight, Malignaggi will be an easy fight for Khan”
Harry Holmes, Pittsburgh: “If Khan can knock Malignaggi out cleanly he can make a big statement. Cotto couldn’t finish him and Paulie’s corner threw the towel in against Hatton”
