Big Apple Boxing Thoughts 09.05.09: Boxing Politics Doom Malignaggi

Posted by Jonathan Yaghoubi on 09.05.2009

Our own Johnathan Yaghoubi examines the fallout of Paulie Malignaggi's decision loss to Juan Diaz in Houston, Texas. Was it justified, or was Malignaggi plain and simply screwed out of a deserved victory?


Photo courtesy of Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

The saying "Another Black eye for boxing" is a term that has been heard once too often over the course of many years. Some people use the term at inappropriate times but there other times when it is right on point. On August 22, boxing suffered some deep cuts and bruises and might have taken one foot in the grave.

It was on the latest edition of HBO's Boxing after Dark that took place in Houston, Texas. On that night, the main event pitted Juan Diaz against Paulie Mallignaggi in what was supposed to be a tune up match for Diaz in his hometown, on his road to bigger things. However, in a bit of s shocker, it was Paulie Malignaggi who displayed one hell of a boxing exhibition.

The fight was still very entertaining with both men cut early and giving hits as good as they were receiving them. But it was Malignaggi who was displaying every trainer's dream. He landed jab after jab with some nice head and ring movement. It looked like Malignaggi has staged one of the more impressive boxing comeback stories of the year.

When it was all said and done, I had the fight 116-112 for Paulie.

But when Michael Buffer announced the scores from the judges, we had ourselves a big boxing fraud. Everyone knew who had won the fight as even Juan Diaz's mother was seen weeping fearing that her son had once again tasted defeat. However, the judges thought otherwise, awarding a unanimous decision in favor of the visibly-defeated Juan Diaz.

You can say Paulie knew what he was facing. Love him or hate him, in his pre-fight interview, the brash and arrogant Brooklyn native proclaimed the last minute change from previously agreed neutral judging to three native judges was against contract, and that quote: "The deck is stacked against me." Paulie made it clear that things were being skewed to favor Diaz in Texas.

He was not lying. Malignaggi, who has had trouble getting down to 140 lbs. for fights in the past, was asked to make 138 1/2 pounds, which he did. He was asked to fight in a small ring. He did. He was asked to fight in front of a Houston crowd that in the past has had issues. He did that too. He did everything that was asked from him but it was not enough to tilt the judges scoring. I have no shame in saying that this is fight fixing at its worse.

Paulie fought anyway, because as he rightfully thought, this was a big opportunity.

Malignaggi used hand speed and superior footwork to his advantage, while Diaz kept coming forward with his trademark non-stop aggression. Despite having problems with his trunks, Malignaggi would find himself outboxing Diaz as they entered the latter stages of the bout. Diaz was also cut deep in the eye which has been a big problem for him in his two losses. With the cut eye, Paulie knew this was his golden chance to take the fight away from Juan.

Diaz had been defeated in two of his last three fights, and didn't have any power or quickness to overwhelm him like Ricky Hatton, or Miguel Cotto. This was a chance for Paulie to overcome odds and maybe earn himself a payday in the future.

When the decision came, however, Juan Diaz proclaimed "Can I fight with a cut now!"
Beaming from ear to ear, Oscar de la Hoya stood by clapping, his management stood by him as well as they were all accomplices in this boxing crime we just saw.

The HBO team apologized for the judges, proclaiming it a "close fight" that "could have been scored either way". This was obviously a company trying to maintain a relationship. It was a disgrace and I have to agree with everything Paulie said. "Boxing is Bullshit!"

If boxing ever dies, it will not be because of the quick rise of MMA. It is going to because of how every business dies. Greed and Corruption!