Khan Vs Malignaggi - who wins?
The highly anticipated forthcoming clash between Amir Khan and Paulie Malignaggi, set for May 15th in the US, seems set to be a classic and is certainly a well made match which will test both fighters. For Khan it is his US debut, under Golden Boy Promotions, and victory could see his cache in the American market rocket. Victory for Malignaggi would continue his momentum from his points win over Diaz and make him a two-time world champion. Victory for either man brings them a step closer to a potentially lucrative unification with the unbeaten Timothy Bradley. In many ways it is a crossroads for both men. Make or break all over again.
Let’s start with Malignaggi. At 5’9” and with a 70 inch reach, he gives just one inch in both departments to Khan. Physical size will not be much of an edge in this contest. With his record standing at 27-3-0, Malignaggi has demonstrated that he is a slick boxer and despite having not scored a knockout victory for over six years, he has maintained his position close to the top of the light-welterweight ranks and remains a serious contender. He has also fought at a higher level than Khan for longer. During his tenure as IBF champion, he met some of the toughest of the light welterweight title challengers and managed to keep the belt. His silky skills, along with strong sense of self belief have seen him emerge as a force to be reckoned with. He can box at long range with a fine jab, and he has the movement to give anybody trouble.
Despite his baby faced good looks, Paulie is genuinely tough. He recently inferred, in an interview with Geoffrey Ciani, that he could have continued to the end of the fateful match with Ricky Hatton. (Buddy McGirt, Paulie's then trainer, threw in the towel in the 11th). With Sicilian heritage and roots in the Bronx, Paulie has the old school warrior mentality. He has fought through the pain of broken bones (against Cotto and N’dou) and has never been stopped outside of the Hatton fight. Malignaggi maintains that he has not received the respect due to him, in the main due to his lack of punch power. While purists and hardcore fans will admire a strong technician, the enthralling power of knockouts cannot be under estimated in the wider boxing public.
However, Paulie is now under the tutelage of trainer Shariff Younan, which has reportedly given him a new lease of life and brought him back to the sport he clearly loves. All in all it seems there are very few chinks in his armour currently. This makes him a fine challenge for Khan and a stern test.
The important thing for Khan is not to lose sight of the skills that made Malignaggi a contender. There is no doubt that Khan is the stronger puncher. He demonstrated that in his lightning fast devastating win against the heralded Salita the last time out. In Khan's earlier days, many of his foes never lasted much beyond a round or two. He can close matters in stunning fashion.
However, this match should not be seen as the boxer vs. the puncher. Khan can box and box very well. In the first instance he has an Olympic silver medal to prove it. And if further evidence is needed, look back at the men who went the distance with him. Canny British journeyman Baz Carey made it all the way first, albeit only over four rounds. But he is always in shape and is rarely stopped. Lazlo Komjathi got through too, and he already had a reputation as a tough operator on the European circuit. Both of these fights were shut outs for Khan. He opponents did not gain a single point for the entire contest.
One of the more telling fights was Khan’s early career match against Rachid Drilzane. The Frenchman, who kept his eyes obscured until the bell rang for the first round, proved a tricky task, with a flashy unusual style and a slick defence. Yet only one point saved him from another shut out in Khans favour. At finally when Khan stepped up against the likes of Gairy St Clair and Kotelnik for the championship, he got a further shut out and a wide unanimous decision respectively.
It will be a question of tactics for Khan. It is entirely conceivable, with the discipline he displayed against Kotelnik, that Khan could outbox Paulie and keep him on the back foot. If he combines this with good power punching work on the inside during any clinches that occur, he could rack up further points much like Hatton did when he fought Malignaggi. But if Paulie keeps his defence watertight and counter punches on Khan's attacks the result could well be very close.
If Khan does manage to knock Malignaggi out, it will be the perfect American debut for him and he will make a huge statement in the 140lb division. The same is true of Malignaggi (which is not entirely impossible if you remember the Limond fight). As much as I respect Malignaggi as a technician, I go for Khan to win via unanimous decision. With Khans power, new found discipline under Freddie Roach and his own boxing skill set, I have a feeling he may well out speed Malignaggi to victory. I wish both fighters luck, and look forward to an enthralling fight come May 15th.
