Golden Boy and Paulie Malignaggi Pull A Rabbit Out of the Hat

Added on Sep 29, 2010 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

Boxing fans surrounding the Brooklyn area recently piled into the famed Gleason’s Gym to witness the much anticipated boxing clinic hosted by Olympic Gold Medalist Oscar De La Hoya. However, fans didn’t anticipate the surprise announcement that Brooklyn’s own Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi was the latest fighter to join De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions stable of fighters.

“We are very excited to add Paulie to our roster of fighters,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya. “We have worked with him on numerous fights and his flashy style is exciting to watch both in and out of the ring. We have big plans in store for him and are thrilled that he is in our corner.”

Since turning pro in mid 2001 Paul Malignaggi has been fighter under the banner of former TV exec turned promoter, Lou DiBella. Considering that DiBella and Malignaggi are both Brooklynites known for their big personalities it was a perfect fit when Malignaggi signed with DiBella Entertainment.

The pair would achieve much success over the years as DiBella helped develop a loyal following for his pupil by constantly involving him in events in the New York area as well as other areas on the East Coast many of which were locally and nationally televised.

After picking up a few regional titles and a 21-0 record, DiBella moved up Malignaggi to the sports biggest stage for a 2006 world title fight against Miguel Cotto. While Paulie didn’t win the title on that night his stock rose with his gutsy performance.

A title had eluded him, but a star was born.

He would find championship success just two fights later in 2007 when he unanimously out pointed Lovemore N’Dou for the IBF junior welterweight belt. Malignaggi would successfully defend the crown twice before taking on Ricky Hatton in late 2008.

The Hatton bout would ultimately be the beginning of hardships that Malignaggi had previously never dealt with in the ring before. Including the Hatton fight, Malignaggi has most recently dropped three out of his last five fights. Considering the majority of those events have come against fighters signed under the Golden Boy banner, the recent announcement shouldn’t be considered a complete surprise.

Malignaggi had a very good run and they both benefited from the partnership. Fact of the matter is that Malignaggi felt it was time for a change.

So he made one.

“This is the best career move I’ve made and I’m thankful to Golden Boy Promotions for giving me this opportunity,” said Malignaggi. “I know they can give me the biggest and best fights out there and that’s what I want at this point in my career. I also want to thank my attorney Steve Bash and my manager Anthony Catanzaro for working so hard to make deal happen.”

Malignaggi’s last outing in the squared circle took place in May at the Madison Square Garden in his native New York where he turned in a spirited effort against the WBA Junior Welterweight king, Amir Khan. Ultimately Malignaggi would be TKO’d in the eleventh round.

As he prepares for his eventual return to the ring one noticeable difference is that he will now be campaining as a full-fledged welterweight.

“This is the start of a new stage of my career,” Malignaggi continued. “A new promoter, a new weight class and a new opportunity to face the best, beat the best and win a world championship.”

Between a newly formed partnership and plans of competing in the prestigious welterweight divison, it will be interesting to see just what other tricks Oscar De La Hoya and Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi have up their sleeves.