Malignaggi Gets Punched...A Lot

Despite the constant show boating and seemingly endless decline of ability, I still find myself screaming at the television whenever Paul Malignaggi is throwing hands. Sure, I'm a little biased, being a fellow Italian from New York but what can I say? I like the guy. However, my support of the "Magic Man" couldn't stop Amir Khan from slamming his fists into Paul's face for just a little over a half an hour before the ref stepped in and stopped the one sided fight in the 11th round.

The main questions asked of Paul after the bout regarded his lack of foot movement and his apparent decline in ability. I just want to know what he's going to do next. It's apparent that he can't hang with the top fighters in the 140 pound division and if he steps up in weight, what's the use? He can't stand and bang with the fighters who can punch out horses and if he runs into someone who has equal or greater speed, he stands in front of them taking abuse. I wish the kid nothing but the best and I hope he either finds an answer that will help him gain a little of that glory when he held a world title or moves on to something else. Other than fighting second tier fighters, I don't see Paul hanging with the best. Guys like Timothy Bradley, Devon Alexander, Juan Urango and Lamont Peterson just have too much for Paul to deal with.

As for Amir Khan...I'm impressed. He showed speed, power and most important of all, brains. He connected with punches at different rates throughout the fight. One punch here, another punch there. Then BOOM...a flurry that lands two or three solid shots. He beat Paul at his own game and kept his title belt. He's looking to take on Marcos Maidana, who has enough pop to lay out any Jr. Welterweight. Unfortunately, for him, that's almost all he has. He's the guy who will gladly take three of your punches just so he can deliver one of his and that one punch could be what takes him to the next level. If that fight does happen, I'll take Khan in an easy decision though. Khan can hang with the bets of this division and the plan he laid out for us in a post fight interview was as good a plan as I've ever heard from a boxer. He'll fight Maidana, two other top Jr. Welterweights will knock each other out and he'll take on who's left standing. Atta boy.

The other fight of the evening was Victor Ortiz taking out his frustrations on an aging and slowing Nate Campbell. From the opening bell to when the judges scores were read, it was all Ortiz. He didn't have to answer the questions about his will and let his hands go repeatedly, climbing a little further up the ladder after his loss to Marcos Maidana when he quit after taking some hard shots. See? I told you Maidana hits hard. Ortiz controlled the pace, the style and just about anything you can control inside a boxing ring while taking limited shots from a fighter who couldn't pull the trigger.