12.06.06 – By Sean Ocampo: After all the pre fight hype and animosity between the two camps, Miguel Angel Cotto and Paulie Malignaggi finally squared off at the Mecca of Sports Madison Square Garden on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade. It was supposed to be a battle between the boxer and the puncher, but it turned out to be a war of attrition. No one expected the slick Paulie Malignaggi to put up a fight with the heavier puncher Miguel Cotto..
Unexpectedly, Malignaggi was in front of Cotto from the first round up to the final round, but the speedster paid the price for putting up a great show. He was cut above the left eye in the first round when Cotto and him clashed heads. He was down in the second with a vicious left hook to the jaw, and he was tagged numerous times with Cotto’s trademark body shots. In short, Malignaggi was brutalized by Cotto.
Malignaggi never backed down from the challenge. He just kept on firing his blitzing combinations that occasionally bothered the power punching Cotto. He was down and battered but he never quit. As fan, you must love the way Paulie Malignaggi handled himself in the fight. The guy never complained to the referee for some blows that was way south of the border. His right jaw was swollen big time, he also had a broken nose, he was spitting blood, cut above the left eye and had little sweeling in his left cheek bone. Malignaggi is more than a trash talker. He also has BIG heart.
The fight ended up with well deserved Unanimous Decision for the defending WBO Junior Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto. Two judges scored the fight 116-111 and the other judge had it 115-112 all for the Champion. Cotto is now 2-0 with Italian fighters. The win was Cotto’s 6th successful defense of his WBO title.
What is next for both fighters?
According to Lou Di Bella, Malignaggi’s promoter, Paulie Malignaggi will have a 6-8 months vacation before stepping into the ring again because of the injuries he sustained against Cotto. Malignaggi will probably settle with few ranked fighters in his comeback trail.
The Brooklyn native definitely has the potential of becoming World Champion someday. He just have to polish a few more skills and he’ll be ready to get another crack.
After putting up a valiant effort against Cotto. People would love to see him again.
As for Mr. Cotto, he was suppose to fight Mexican warrior Jose Luis Castillo next. But due to Castillo’s pending case with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The fight will probably not happen this year.
There is also talks of Cotto moving up because he’s struggling to make the 140 pound limit. If he chooses to move up then there are a lot of possible fights installed for him. He has a variety of guys to choose from.
WBA Welterweight Champion Ricky Hatton is one of those guys. A fight with him would be a slam bang fight. Another possible opponent is WBO Champion Antonio Margarito, a guy who is waiting for a big opportunity to shine. The winner of the Arturo Gatti – Carlos “Tata” Baldomir fight is also a possible fight for him. Last but not the least is a big fight with Mr. Pound for Pound “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr.