Paulie Malignaggi vs. Willie Blain, 12 rounds @ 140lbs

Feather fist slicksters at WAR!

This is an interesting mirror-image match-up between a righty and lefty. We'll assume each on their best night (so discount the entire 2007-2008 Cherry-through-Hatton dark-days McGirt era for the "Magic Man", and likewise don't judge "Small Leonard" by his past-prime loss to Sergei Fedchenko a few weeks ago...although even then he acquitted himself with class and aplomb and got edged by a mere 115-112 margin on my final tally despite being dropped early and sustaining a shoulder injury in the 10th)

Both use good ring movement, have educated and useful jabs, milk the most out of their modest natural athleticism, can keep a high work rate without gassing, and have a penchant for hitting like girls (literally not even bothering to ball fists) :gayfight

Call me crazy, but I could actually see this as having been a fun crazy night where they trade knockdowns and the final verdict is hotly disputed. :think





note:

I'm guessing that many fans - particularly Americans - just haven't seen & don't know Blain (who was a supreme amateur) and will assume from a quick glance at Boxrec that this isn't an even tilt. I'd like to ask those people to exercise a little restraint and not bother voting or commenting.

Also - and this is probably asking WAY too much - but anybody who conversely has any anti-Malignaggi agenda (maybe to indirectly discredit one or more of his opponents?) to also **** off and not skew the numbers or spoil the conversation.

I'm legitimately interested in what real fight fans think of this one.

 

Nope, this is hypothetical prime for prime. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

I'm not sure it would be quite as interesting now, since PM has moved up to 147 and seems to have developed a bit more pop while the aging Blain has become very brittle and breakable (his "TKO" by Lamont Peterson was due to hand injury, although he was on his way to losing anyway - and now his shoulder disintegrated against Fedchenko).

 

Not identical, but a lot of similarities - right down to the tale of the tape. (Willie actually has a slight edge in both height and reach, of about half an inch and 1.5-2" respectively)

Also, you voted for Malignaggi by stoppage. :blood Not that it's out of the question, but it's the opposite of what you said.

 

:bart Sporting the vintage guido look. (circa Cotto)

 

Promising start...and then a quick drop to the 2nd page. :yep

There were too many rules, huh? :!:


"No trolls and nobody ignorant" - truly was asking too much. :-(

 

Anyway, this would have been awesome and filled with drama. Don't be fooled by them being non-punchers.

Blain is one of those 'poor resistance, good recovery' types and it's very easy to envision Paulie flurrying him to the canvas at least a couple of times. By that same token, I think Blain was physically stronger and just as likely to score a flash kerplunk on a pimp-smack despite Malignaggi's better chin (especially since Blain would be one of the few guys with the footwork to catch Malignaggi out of position).

Non stop movement and volume over 12 rounds like you rarely ever see. Real high-speed chess.

Had it been both at their best, this could have been like a top 20-30 FOTY in whatever year it was...and maybe the light welterweight FOTY in any from that range.