Paul Malignaggi

Paul ‘Paulie’ Malignaggi was born on November 23, 1980 in New York. He is known as “The Magic Man’, Malignaggi made his debut in 2001 at the age of 20 in a first-round match which he won over Thadeus Parker. He won four more fights including 2 by KOs. In 2002, the American boxer won a second-round match against Anthony Simpkins on August 30 and capped the year off with a win against Paul Delgado in an eight round match that ended in a split decision for Malignaggi. His next fight was in Connecticut on June 3, 2003, where he won in a six-round match by a unanimous decision over Shad Howard.

On August 1, 2003 Malignaggi defeated Kevin Watts in a six-round TKO in New Hampshire, where he entered the ring waving a Yankees flag in defiance to the majority of Red Sox fans in the audience. His next fight was in the Bronx, where Malignaggi won over Jesus Santiago in an eight-round unanimous decision. On December 6, 2003, it was at Madison Square Garden, where he again fought and won against Delgado in an eight-round unanimous decision, despite an injured right hand. One of his most memorable losses would be held in the same place a few years later. The match against undefeated Junior Welterweight Miguel Cotto on June 10, 2006 left Malignaggi with a broken right cheek and nose as well as cut around the left eye. Malignaggi lost the fight by a unanimous decision, although he expressed his willingness to participate in a rematch provided that Cotto did not go up in weight.

He won the Junior Welterweight championship title in June 16, 2007, in a fight against Lovemore N’dou, a title which he later defended in 2008. He defeated Lovemore N’dou in the rematch by split decision, but not before suffering from a fractured right hand.
Malignaggi has won 29 out of his 33 fights, with 6 wins by KO, and 4 losses.