© Tom Hogan - Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions

Headlining a big show tonight at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX is former lightweight champion Juan Diaz's move up to light welter to face Paulie Malignaggi in a 12 rounder.

Diaz, 34-2 (17), barely broke the lightweight limit during the weigh-in yesterday and former IBF 140 pound titlist Malignaggi, 26-2 (5), hit the scales at his lightest weight since 2002.

Both fighters have only two losses and both came against top competition; Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton for Malignaggi and Juan Manuel Marquez and Nate Campbell for Diaz.

Malignaggi had more trouble with volume puncher Hatton than he did against the more measured Cotto while Diaz was surprisingly outworked by Campbell and taken apart by the pinpoint accuracy of Marquez.

What this means during fight time is that Diaz will likely give Malignaggi the same trouble as did Hatton and "Magic Man" Paulie will be hard pressed to match Campbell's work rate.

Malignaggi has an iron chin and Diaz isn't a powerful puncher so this one will likely go to decision with Diaz's higher activity rate likely producing a unanimous decision victory.

But, Diaz psychological state following the Marquez stoppage could be a factor and if Malignaggi can keep the always advancing Diaz at a distance and effectively counter, he could take away the former lightweight champ's confidence and win a points verdict.

The chief support bout features the first defense of the second reign of IBF super featherweight champ Malcolm Klassen, 24-4-2 (15), from South Africa who faces the challenge of ex-IBF feather titlist Robert Guerrero, 24-1-1 (17), of California.

Southpaw Guerrero will tower over Klassen but both men have producing a lot of stoppages lately so this should be a real war for as long as it lasts as long as the champion get get inside Guerrero's long reach.

Share/Save | (0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Richard Eberline

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Boxing Quotes: Juan Diaz vs. Paulie Malignaggi Rematch

  After controversy, heated conversations and negotiations were settled, former three-time lightweight world champion Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz and former junior welterweight world champion Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi met face-to-face yesterday >
  
  

• Golden Boy Boxing: Diaz vs. Malignaggi Rematch December 12

  The fans demanded it and so did the fighters, so on Saturday, December 12, one of 2009's most exciting fights gets an encore, as Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz meets up >
  
  

• Malignaggi Boxing Showdown With Hatton Not Impacted By Magic Man’s Hand Fracture

  IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi, 25-1 (5), was examined today by his hand specialist, Dr. Steven Margles, at the Lahey Hospital in Burlington, Massachusetts. Dr. >
  
  

• Boxing Weights: Juan Diaz vs. Paulie Malignaggi

  

  © Tom Hogan - Hoganphotos / Golden Boy Promotions Ahead of the Golden Boy Promotions fight card tonight at Toyota Center in Houston, TX, the principal boxers have been weighed. NABO junior >
  
  

• Boxing Result: Diaz Outpoints Malignaggi Via Controversial Decision

  Last night at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX, light welterweights Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi engaged in a spirited give and take contest that went all 12 scheduled rounds >
  
  

• Boxing Quotes: Juan Diaz vs. Paulie Malignaggi

  

  © Aaron Sprecher Former Three-Time Lightweight World Champion Juan "Baby Bull" Diaz will take on former Junior Welterweight World Champion Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi in a 12 round junior welterweight bout >
  
  

• IBF Boxing Champion Paulie Malignaggi Honored By New Jersey Ironmen

  Reigning IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi (24-1, 5 KOs) will serve as honorary captain of the New Jersey Ironmen, a member of the first-year professional Major >
  
  

• Golden Boy Boxing: Tickets On Sale For Diaz vs. Malignaggi

  Tickets for Houston's upcoming showdown between four of boxing's best at Toyota Center are on sale now. On Saturday, August 22nd, Houston's own and former Undisputed Lightweight Champion Juan >
  
  

• Malignaggi special guest on ESPN2 FNF

  World-class light welterweight Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi breaks training camp in Vero Beach (FL) for 24 hours to be an in studio guest with host Brian Kenny in Bristol >
  
  

• Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi answers key questions

  World light welterweight contender Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi answered some critical questions concerning his ring career off of his one-sided performance February 17 against Edner Cherry (21-5-2, 10 KOs) >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: Golden Boy Promotions, Juan Diaz, Malcolm Klassen, Paulie Malignaggi, Preview, Robert Guerrero