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© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
On Saturday night at the City of Manchester Stadium, the much anticipated re-match between IBF Light Welterweight Titlist Paulie Malignaggi and Lovemore N’Dou saw a tough and frustrating fight for the champion.
Lovemore N’Dou ‘The Black Panther’ – wearing white and black – received good support from the applauding crowds.
Malignaggi entered the ring wearing a red and silver glittery outfit and a blue glittery mask on his face. Clearly enjoying the big occasion he danced as he waited to get to the ring. But the ‘Magic Man’ had a less enthusiastic reception – as the crowds booed and jeered loudly. Perhaps getting in some practice for the possible clash with Hatton later down the line!
© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
Round one and Malignaggi’s once tied mop of ‘extended’ hair looks to be causing some problems straight away and N’Dou lands a big right in the first half of the round. Obscuring his vision – Malignaggi looks distracted by the loose hair. Another right from N’Dou and Malignaggi pummels at his opponent’s torso but the shots are blocked.
© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
Malignaggi’s hair is tied back when he comes out for the second round! He looks the quicker, busier of the two men as they begin round three. Using the jab and some fancy foot-work where N’Dou has a less ‘flashier’ but effective approach! A good right from N’Dou causes his opponent to go off-balance slightly. Malignaggi ‘springs’ around the ring while N’Dou moves around less, but there are some solid long jabs from the challenger.
© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
Round five and Malignaggi throws some jabs at N’Dou while he is backed up to the ropes but they hit his arms and gloves and N’Dou shakes his head as if to say ’they didn’t touch me.’ A big left hook from N’Dou lands to the face of Malignaggi who stumbles back off-balance and he’s under pressure.
© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
Round six and a good right from N’Dou lands to the face of Malignaggi. N’Dou seems to be waiting to land a big punch. In the last half minute of round seven another big right hand from N’Dou rocks back the head of Malignaggi.
© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
In the intermission, one of the corner men cuts a couple of stray ’braids’ of hair above Malignaggi’s forehead.
© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
Round eight and Referee Mickey Vann takes Malignaggi over to the corner to get his hair (now loose again) taped up. While it happens – N’Dou ‘eggs-on’ the crowds. In the last half-minute of the round, the hair comes loose again and Malignaggi gets hit with a big left hook to the side of the face. Malignaggi looks completely distracted as his mop of hair falls over his face, he looks funny as he goes back to his corner at the end of the round (like he’s wearing a black lop-sided turban!) Much to everyone’s amusement – the corner men cut off all the braids of hair!
© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
Round ten and N’Dou again looks to be waiting to land the big shot as he almost taunts Malignaggi to throw a punch. By the end of the round, Sky Fight-stats show that N’Dou has thrown fewer punches (295 to 457) but has a better success rate of punches landed (24% to 17%) which have been of better quality throughout.
© Curtis McCormick / Saddo Boxing
It’s a messy round eleven and both men know they have to pull out all the stops in the twelfth and final round as it’s a close contest. N’Dou lands another big right in the first minute of the round.
The results were 115-114 in favor of N’Dou, 116-112 and 116-113 for Paulie Malignaggi who retains his title by split decision. “Who are yaw?” the crowds jeer as Malignaggi gestures that he broke his right hand.
Afterwards, talking at a 100 miles an hour to Adam Smith of Sky Sports, Malignaggi said he felt he‘d broken his hand around the sixth round and was keen to inspect the hand while the camera‘s watched. When asked about the hair-cut, he admitted it was his fault and it was “F and L – the first and last time I have my hair that long… my hair made more of a statement than I did!”
