19.02.07 – By Michael Marley, BoxingConfidential.com: NEW YORK –It was just before the last call for alcohol at Tir Na Nog, the Irish watering hole near the Hammerstein Ballroom and the Garden. Arturo Gatti and his sidekicks were in the house and the cocktails were flowing. Fresh from his easy decision victory over Edner Cherry, Yo Paulie Malignaggi and his younger, Brooklyn entourage were also imbibing..
Now, as a follow-up to my early Sunday exclusive that HBO is willing to buy Gatti vs. Malignaggi for a July 14 Atlantic City showdown which will be more incestuous than a family reunion in a redneck-infested trailer park, I can tell you that remarks were made, insults were hurled and Malignaggi no longer idolizes Mr. Gatti.
“Profane remarks were made, maybe not to Paulie’s face, but by Gatti and his cronies to Paulie’s friends. One of them said Paulie stings like a crippled mosquito. Another guy said Paulie belongs on the old “Dance Fever” TV show. One thing led to another and feelings were hurt. Paulie will never look at Gatti with the respect he used to have for the old warrior,” an eyewitness told me. “They just were not too nice to Paulie and notice was taken. I guess Arturo was getting his game face on.”
A source close to Malignaggi and his manager, Sal LoNano, confirmed that the Gatti posters have been taken down in the Malignaggi Mansion.
“When Paulie lost to Miguel Cotto,” the source said. “he got a cheer up call from Gatti. Arturo, who is great buddies with old rival Mickey Ward (also handled by LoNano), told Paulie to keep his chin up, that he had big balls…words of encouragement to a young fighter who suffered his first loss. So Paulie was surprised by the sudden badmouthing from Gatti and his posse.”
A premium cable TV network source, speaking for background only, told me Monday “that HBO wants the fight. But HBO will not give Gatti what he wants, which is a warm up fight. HBO does not care if there is no title at stake. They see it as a passing of the torch type event and, if it is 10 rounds, so what?”
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Everything is hush but details will emerge from Big Jeff Grmoja’s Vegas bunker later this week about a Vegas-based syndicated TV fight series to be promoted by Silverhawk Boxing. Grmoja is the veteran matchmaker for Silverhawk which seems to the busiest promoter extant, sometimes running three shows in one week.
My Nevada moles were not sure of the venue but said it is an off-Strip hotel-casino in the vicinity of the always-expanding McCarran Airport.
More TV boxing is always a good thing and I wish Big Jeff, the Rider Brothers and the whole Silverhawk team much luck with the new venture.
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Byrd Flight: Last time I saw courtly gentleman Chris Byrd was in San Antonio in November when CB worked as a FOX PPV analyst on the Evander Holyfield-Fast Fres Oquendo bout in the Alamodome.
Word on the beat is that Byrd will fly into the Bahamas for an April ESPN tune-up bout with noted house painter Sherman “Three Rolls” Williams. I hear that a mysterious investor handed CB a $50,000 advance for the bout so you can bet the former IBF champ will be there to take his batting practice on Sherman”s noggin.
Btw, former NBA star Tim Hardaway was also at Holyfield-Oquendo, pitching for the black-owned Benjamin Banneker watch company.
I met Tim and he seemed to be in good spirits but I wouldn’t say his mood was “gay. Would you, Kenny Chesney?
Don’t look for Hardaway to be leading the next Halloween parade in Greenwich Village if you get my drift. That is just not on the gaydar.
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He’s young, undefeated, possesses two super middleweight title belts and has the looks of a younger David Beckham. But WBA-WBC 168-pound champ Mikkel Kessler expects hell to break loose in his March 24 Copenhagen title bout with also undefeated Librado Andrade.
Kessler is ensconced in sunny Spain but he has no time to lay on the beach or enjoy drinks with tiny umbrellas in them.
“I expect the toughest fight of my life from Librado,” Kessler told me by phone. “He is a big guy, slightly bigger than me, and he is hungry. He wants to take my belts home with home. So I am working harder than ever before. I respect his many skills and my preparation is crucial. I will be ready on the big night and I hope my Danish fans will fill up Parken Stadium. I want all their support.”
With Kessler standing 6-2 and Andrade a full 6-3, some wag at ringside the other night suggested a good sparring partner for the Danish fighter.
“Maybe they could call Bob Arum and get (7-foot heavyweight) Tye Fields,” the wiseacre said.
That’s what you call a tall order.