The name Paul Malignaggi, like the names Mike Tyson or Nicholas Fury, is familiar to many aspiring boxers from Brooklyn. Although boxing may seem bloody and brutal, it is a true sport. Malignaggi is not the only Brooklyn boxer who reached success, but he is well-known in boxing circles. Read more at i-brooklyn.
Sicilian roots
At the time of Paul’s birth, his family lived in the Sicilian neighborhood of Brooklyn. His parents immigrated from Italy. His father left the family when Paul was six years old. It is unknown what led him to boxing, whether it was a coincidence or bad company. At the very beginning of his amateur league fights, Malignaggi took the nickname “Magic Man.”
Journalists have repeatedly asked him why he chose such a nickname, but he left it a secret. The boy who dreamed of being a magician became a boxer.
His amateur career quickly transitioned into a professional one. In 2001, at the age of 21, he won the title of US champion in the 132-pound weight category.
Beginning of professional career
Every boxer needs to make a name for themselves. To do this, they participate in fights with other little-known boxers. From 2001 to 2004, Paul had 18 fights, winning each of them. In 2004, after defeating Sandro Casamonica, he won the WBC World Champion title. He fought in the light welterweight class. Unfortunately, he failed to win the WBO world title. In 2006, he lost to Miguel Cotto by the number of points. However, in 2007, he defeated Edner Cherry again based on points. The judges were unanimous in their decision.
Even though Malignaggi started his career without obstacles, not all his fights were easy. The fight against Lovemore Ndou in 2007 for the IBF title was challenging. Ndou surpassed him in many aspects. Malignaggi managed to dodge the opponent’s blows for six rounds. Then, in the 9th round, he struck a blow that was called a flash knockdown. The judges awarded Malignaggi the victory with a significant lead in points.
The 2008 bout between Malignaggi and Hatton ended with the defeat of the first one. Hatton was far better in many ways. Throughout the fight, Paul could only defend and retreat. In the 11th round, his trainer threw the towel into the ring.
In 2012, Paul technically defeated Ukrainian boxer Vyacheslav Senchenko. The fight took place in Donetsk, Ukraine. Paul skipped many blows but managed to strike back. Senchenko could not continue the fight because of a severe hematoma in his eye. So Malignaggi became the technical winner after 9 rounds. This bout earned him the WBA World Champion title. However, he lost it the following year. But defeat did not break him, and in December of that same year, he beat Zab Judah, the undisputed world champion.
Malignaggi ended his boxing career in 2017. Throughout his career, he had 44 fights, winning 36 of them.
Life after boxing
After retiring from boxing, Malignaggi didn’t leave sports. His reputation in the press and among fans is not flawless. For example, in 2021, Paul got involved in a scandal with TikToker and radio host Corey Bonalewicz. The boxer said that he would fight with the host in the ring. It happened because Bonalewicz declared that he was ready to enter the ring and box, which angered Paul.
Paul felt a lack of respect for boxing in a statement like this. Everyone seemed ready to mount the ring as if boxing were a street fight rather than a sport. The conflict escalated when Bonalewicz intentionally smeared the boxer’s back with chalk during the Official Celebrity Boxing show. Fans called such a “confrontation” childish.
Malignaggi frequently faced negative comments. In 2020, he lost to Artem Lobov, and some interpreted his defeat as confirmation that boxing is not a sport. After all, Paul outperformed Lobov. He knew the fight’s rules better, but it didn’t bring him victory. Malignaggi was outraged and called on anyone who believes that boxing is not a sport to step into the ring and try it.