It?s not every day that you?ll see me go to bat for a boxing promoter. They make plenty of money, have lawyers, publicists, and marketing consultants that do just that for them. After reading Paulie Malignaggi?s comments about his former promoter Lou DiBella, I felt inclined to comment on the situation.
DiBella guided Malignaggi?s career from day one. He took the fast-talking, soft-punching Sicilian kid from Brooklyn and brought him along carefully, staging the majority of Malignaggi?s fights in New York to build his hometown fan base. Despite knockout power and a network television-friendly style, DiBella guided Malignaggi all the way to a title shot against (then) WBO light welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto.
Cotto was a fast-rising prospect in 2006, and already a title holder. Malignaggi was a relative unknown outside of the Northeast region of the United States, yet was given the opportunity to fight in front of a national audience on HBO.
Malignaggi was thoroughly out-classed in the fight, but put forth an effort that showed what he lacked in the power department, he made up for with grit and determination. Malignaggi suffered a broken hand and fractured orbital bone in the fight. Despite a grotesquely swollen face, Malignaggi finished the fight, losing a twelve-round unanimous decision.
In his next fight, Malignaggi was back on HBO taking on Edner Cherry. It can be said that Lou DiBella?s past work as an executive at HBO may have helped get Malignaggi back in the spotlight, which in turn helped Malignaggi earn a shot at IBF light welterweight champion Lovemore N?Dou. Malignaggi fared better in his second shot at a title, nearly shutting out N?Dou on the judges? scorecards and claiming the IBF crown as his own.
Malignaggi defended his title twice before vacating to take on lineal champion Ricky Hatton. Malignaggi was stopped in the eleventh round by Hatton, forcing him to ponder his future. After a tune-up fight, a controversial loss to Juan Diaz, and a win over Diaz, Malignaggi was again back in the title picture, all with Lou DiBella at the helm.
Malignaggi bought out his contract shortly after his May 15 loss to Amir Khan, and remained a promotional free agent until he was snapped up by Golden Boy on September 28, 2010. At the press conference to announce Golden Boy?s three-year deal to promote boxing cards at the new Barclay?s Center in Brooklyn, Malignaggi spoke on his time with DiBella.
?It’s a contract that makes me realize the slave contract I was in for nine years. They [Golden Boy] gave me pretty much everything I wanted. I don’t want to harp on the past. I had a nine?ten- year relationship with Lou. I have some fond memories, but it was always business.? Stated Malignaggi.
Malignaggi claimed DiBella was to blame for the small ring size in his loss to Cotto, and for the poor showing in his title win over N?Dou. He further bashed DiBella for not securing ?neutral Judges? in his controversial decision loss to Juan Diaz.
It should be easy for most to agree that Malignaggi was fortunate to have been afforded as many title shots as he was, love him or hate him. We don?t routinely see fighters with only five knockouts in twenty-seven wins on HBO and Showtime. Combined with Malignaggi?s ability to talk a big game, DiBella?s influence should be credited for Malignaggi?s opportunities. Malignaggi blamed DiBella for a variety of failures in his career, when in reality, he should stare at the image staring back at him in the mirror to find the root of his failures.
