Brick City Boxing

By: Matt Yanofsky

Today I had the pleasure to speak with Paulie Malignaggi. Paulie is coming off a loss against Miguel Cotto in June. The fight was a 12 round war for the WBO Super Lightweight Title. Paulie is currently training for a fight in early 2007. Fans can visit and chat with Paulie at Myspace.com/Malignaggi

MY: Whats up Paulie, I was at your last fight against Miguel Cotto. During that fight you sustained a broken eye socket. How long did it take you to recover?

PM: We did surgery the week after the fight. The bone was cracked. It took a few months to recover.

MY: Sitting ringside, I felt after you were knocked down in the second you controlled the pace of the fight out boxing and often frustrating Cotto. How were you able to refocus yourself after a tough first two rounds?

PM: I refocused myself because if I didn’t I would have gotten stopped. I came to box not brawl and after the knockdown I realized I had to press the fight. I had to step up the pace after that and box which I did.

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MY: Your former trainer Billy Giles compared you to the great Hector Camacho. Do you feel you are similar stylistically to him?

PM: There are some similarities. I’m not exactly like him but you know I can make the comparison. We both have flashy styles and are fast. I appreciate the comparison. Camacho is one of the best boxers in the last twenty to thirty years. I admire the compliments but I want to be the first Paulie Malignaggi not the second Camacho you know?

MY: Prior to the Cotto fight, you were featured on ESPN against Donald Camarena. You swept the fight on two score cards and won 98-92 on the other. Did you decide to turn it up because it was a national TV fight?

PM: Yeah I mean honestly you’re in this business for title fights. The Cotto fight presented itself the fight was at Madison Square Garden and his fight the year before versus Abdulaev didn’t sell. I’m a NY kid fighting at the Garden and it helped sell tickets. I don’t regret fighting him I gained experience and I was ready for the fight.

MY: Recently, you announced Buddy McGirt was your new trainer. How did you end up with Buddy and what are your feelings about training in Florida with him?

PM: McGirt is one of the best around today. He is knowledgeable, a former world champ, and he can interact very well. My manager got me in touch wit him. My cut man was his cut man while he was fighting. We had a few guys on my team who really helped me get to him which I appreciate. We talked to him, trained with him, liked what we saw and it became official.

MY: HBO has a TV date for you and a few other New York fighters in February, what are your feeling about this fight and returning to the ring on HBO?

PM: I’m excited about it. Right now there a lot of question marks around me about injuries how I’m going to handle myself after my first defeat. People also ask am I stepping up too soon by being on HBO. I have to prove in ready and on this level. A tough fight on HBO will show what I’m about.

MY: Paulie, thanks for your time. What do you have to say to all your fans and the readers at BrickCityBoxing.com?

PM: I’d like to thank BrickCityBoxing.com for speaking with me. I appreciate the support. The fans kept my spirits up after the loss. Keep the watch out for the Magic Man I will be back!