TalkingBoxing Articles
No Pinball…Just a Win in an Exciting Fight for Malignaggi
SUN January 6, ANTONIO ANDRES CARRIEDO - IBF 140 lb. titlist Paulie Malignaggi promised to use his mandatory challenger Herman Ngoudju’s head as a pinball during a conference call a couple of weeks ago. During the actual fight on Saturday night at Bally’s Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, Ngoudju proved much more resilient than some including Malignaggi and the oddsmakers who set him as a 6-1 underdog had anticipated.
The night started off smoothly for Malignaggi. He dazzled his fans, who made the trek from New York City, throughout the first three rounds. However, with just under one minute left in the third Ngoudju landed a hard right hand that foreshadowed the coming momentum shift. By the start of round four, Ngoudju consistently maneuvered his way into punching range and began to rough his opponent up in close quarters. For his part, Malignaggi failed to maintain the work rate he set in the first three rounds. This was due in large part to his neglecting to use the punch that won him the first three rounds, his jab.
Ngoudju continued to effectively walk Malignaggi down in round 5 and by the end of the round the difference in conditioning began to show. Malignaggi mounted a comeback in round 6 by getting on his toes and controlling the distance and pace of the fight with his jab. Ngoudju countered by stinging Malignaggi early and often in round 7. He connected with a hard lead right hand mere seconds into the round and began wailing away. On two occasions Malignaggi looked genuinely hurt, but Ngoudju failed to put him down or out.
The champion proved his valor by pressing the action in round 8. He started by targeting jabs to his challenger’s rib cage then forcing Ngoudju back with solid one-twos. Then by the end of the round Malignaggi began to find a home for his lead right uppercut. He continued to use the uppercut with great effect and frequency throughout the remainder of the fight. It probably won him the ninth and tenth rounds. However, just as it looked like Malignaggi was going to sweep the late rounds and win going away, Ngoudju came roaring back after a break for Malignaggi to get his shoelace tied midway through the 11th round.
Ngoudju went for broke and again landed his right cross. Malignaggi also missed with a few wild uppercuts while forgetting to jab. Ngoudju clearly had much more left in the tank as the final bell sounded to end the fight, but Malignaggi had done enough in the first 10 rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory by scores of 115 – 113, 116 – 113 and 117 – 111.
During the post-fight interviews, there was talk of a potential rematch and judging by the excitement level and competitive nature of the fight that may not be a bad idea. However, Malignaggi was the champion heading into the fight and while Ngoudju did indicate that he had a problem with the scores there were no shady dealings. Malignaggi earned the narrow decision victory in this tough 12 round fight. So, if he does ultimately move on to face other, possibly higher profile, challengers it would not be an injustice.
Peterson Brothers Remain Perfect on ShoBox
Both Lamont and Anthony Peterson remained unbeaten in their ShoBox televised fights on Friday night at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Biloxi, MS. Younger brother Anthony turned back the game challenge of fellow power punching prospect Jose Antonio Izquierdo. Izquierdo took the fight on only four days notice and appeared to tire after fighting a high energy and fast paced pressure fight throughout the first four rounds. Peterson took advantage by opening up his offensive arsenal in round five. He scored a knockdown with a counter left hook late in round seven then scored two more knockdowns in round eight, one off a right cross and the second on another counter left hook, to close the show. Referee Keith Hughes waived off the contest at 2:54 of the eighth round.
Older brother Lamont turned in a very polished performance against previously unbeaten veteran Antonio Mesquita. Mesquita and Peterson engaged in a very rough fight highlighted by Peterson’s excellent reflexes, powerful body attack and skillful defense. Peterson unleashed an impressive offensive assault in round 5 after punching Mesquita through the ropes in a slightly strange sequence that did not result in a knockdown. Mesquita grew progressively more frustrated as the rounds wore on as he continually failed to make consistent contact with Peterson. The fight turned ugly over the last two rounds and referee Bill Clancy was forced to take a point away from Mesquita late in the 10th when the Brazilian flagrantly hit on the break after multiple warnings for the same infraction. In the end, the deduction had no bearing on the final result. Peterson won by scores of 100 – 89, 99 – 90 and 98 – 93.
Green and Raheem Make Cases for Big Fights
Allan Green won a unanimous decision over former title challenger Rubin Williams by scores of 99 – 89, 99 – 90 and 98 – 91 in the main event of the Friday Night Fights card at the Million Dollar Elm Casino in Tulsa, OK. Williams did not appear to have much left and fought mostly in a defensive shell. Still, Green fought very well in spurts and notched his best win since losing to Edison Miranda in March 2007. The win keeps Green in the mix at 168 lbs.
Zahir Raheem continued his comeback with a one punch KO of Ricardo Dominguez. Raheem ducked away from a lazy jab by Dominguez and countered with two left hooks. Only the first one was necessary. The official time of the KO was 1:18 of the 1st round. Raheem will stay active in hopes of getting back on the radar for some lucrative fights in the competitive and entertaining 135 lb. division.
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