Miguel v Paulie:Are we in for a shock>?

[El Gamo]

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=7098&more=1

28.05.06 - by Jeff Allinson: When I first heard that Paulie Malignaggi was to fight Miguel Cotto on the 10th of June of this year I was disgusted. Utterley disgusted. After all. Who has he fought? Why is Paulie deserving of such an opportunity? After all, should'nt you beat a top contender to get the opportunity to have a crack at a world title?

However. The more I think of this match up, the more it intrigues me. This may be a miss match on paper but boxers dont fight on paper. Lets take a little look at both fighters, and see how this could pan out, as I feel it is a very interesting clash of styles.

Miguel Cotto is a favourite fighter of mine. He is an undefeated 25 year old. He is from Puerto Rico and he is exciting, aggressive and popular. Paulie is the same age, from Brooklyn, New York and he is a polar opposite to miguel in terms of fighting style and persona..

Lets see how they square up.



Tale of the tape: Miguel is one inch taller at 5'8 Both fighters are Orthodox.


Power: Miguel has a sledge hammer in each hand. Paulie also has a hammer in each hand. Trouble is it is only a toffee hammer. He is unlikely to even hurt Miguels feelings.


Speed: Miguel is like a Tortoise compared to the extremely fast Paulie. This could be a key fight factor.


Style: Miguel can be likened to a predator, who carefully stalks his prey and then hammers him into submission. Paulie is slick, quick and has lightning handspeed.


Chin: It is fair to say Miguel has suspect punch resistance (not that it will be a factor against Malignaggi). As for Paulie, I havent a clue. I've not seen him get hit properly yet.


Strength: Cotto is by far the stronger in my opinion.


Quality of opposition: Miguel has fought in very good company whilst the best name on Paulies record is Donald Camarena (who? I hear you ask)

Ok. So the smart money (mine included) Will be on Miguel getting rid of Paulie at the first available opportunity. However I dont see this fight as the miss match that most of you do. Paulie has one god given advantage. Speed. If he carefully sticks to a game plan of moving (and I mean really moving) right throughout this contest, there is no reason he can not easily frustrate and out point the cumbersome Cotto. But it is not that simple. If his pride takes over, he will get hurt if he is drawn into a punching match. If he gets cocky he will get a savage beating from the hardest hitting light welterweight out there. If you have seen Paulie fight you will know that he often does get drawn into in fighting at times but so far he has been lucky because he has not fought anyone who has been able to capitalise on his mistakes.

So who will win?

It is actually a tough one to call and it depends on Paulie's attitude and approach. If he utilises his speed, runs and moves in and out, throwing light, but lightening fast combinations, Paulie will easliy outpoint Cotto. If he gets drawn into a punching match (as he may, if bravado takes over) he will get nailed. My money would have to be on the latter, however, I see no reason why a massive upset can not happen here.

Two mistakes this writer makes,first Miguel has GREAT punch resistance and has not been down legitimately,in the Torres fight,he was pushed and secondly,he may stalk slowly but one he gets there,he has superb hand speed and puts the combinations together beautifully. Malignaggi will have to Run,run and run but even then,when Cotto corners him.....

[Hulk]

Cotto is a better puncher than Malinaggi. Cotto is a better boxer than Malinaggi. Cotto is a better fighter than Malinaggi. Malinaggi is goin down hard. Oh HELL YEAH!

[CityOfGod]

A boxers punch is is nulified by an opponents chin...

...or in this case, Paulie's punch is AMPLIFIED by Cotto's chin.

That is my only concern - but handspeed has caused many upsets over the years hasn't it?

Before we know it, Paulie could be 10 rounds up - hitting and running..

..by that time Cotto could be out of steam, chasing him.

BUT - this is miguel cotto we are talking about, he has to only land that Bingo shot and its night night Paulie !

[El Gamo]

The thing is,that's the only way Paulie can win,run,jab,run jab,and I don't think he is good enough to keep that and neither do I think he is good enough to avoid Cotto for the whole night! I saw Paulie in his last fight and I was not massively impressed.He looked sloppy at times to me.

[neverscared]

Paul is terrible and weak.

I saw him fight Donald Camarena and he ducked about 1000 times that fight, he took no punches and then reversed. Just duck and jab duck and jab, once donald hit him with a 1 2 combo maliggnagi(whatev) felt it and was dazed a bit. Camarena is a terrbile boxer as well, I know him IRL, his gym was terrible, the little kid he trained was better then him.

But, cotto on the other hand, is an amazing boxer, not the fastest , but strong accurate and very good on his feet.

If paul doesnt spend 12 rounds with the duck and jab idea, he will be in for the beating of his life.

[GAME]

Paul is terrible and weak.

I saw him fight Donald Camarena and he ducked about 1000 times that fight, he took no punches and then reversed. Just duck and jab duck and jab, once donald hit him with a 1 2 combo maliggnagi(whatev) felt it and was dazed a bit. Camarena is a terrbile boxer as well, I know him IRL, his gym was terrible, the little kid he trained was better then him.

But, cotto on the other hand, is an amazing boxer, not the fastest , but strong accurate and very good on his feet.

If paul doesnt spend 12 rounds with the duck and jab idea, he will be in for the beating of his life.

Its interesting that is cuz ive heard Malignaggi si an amazing boxer with speed and reflexes . Ive never seen him box so im trying to determine what chances he has against Cotto . I suppose its what sources you believe .

I know he has only 5 k.o's and his list of victims isnt that impressive . I think Cotto should take this 1 late

[El Kabong]

Cotto is a better puncher than Malinaggi. Cotto is a better boxer than Malinaggi. Cotto is a better fighter than Malinaggi. Malinaggi is goin down hard. Oh HELL YEAH!

Yeah, Paulie can run but he has no power to frighten Cotto and I think he'll end up breaking his hands on Miguel's head and Cotto will pound out Paulie in 8 because he'll be hard to catch but once caught he's done for!

[El Kabong]

Paulie is like Hector Camacho and Naseem Hamed without any punching power

[ElTerribleMorales]

ok Paulie isn't horrible, i think he has skills, but he's just gonna get man handled by the bigger and stronger guy, Malignaggi probably can win a world title once Cotto beats him and moves up, as long as he doesn't mix it up with Witter, Castillo, Corrales, and Hatton if he goes back down

[Hulk]

ok Paulie isn't horrible, i think he has skills, but he's just gonna get man handled by the bigger and stronger guy, Malignaggi probably can win a world title once Cotto beats him and moves up, as long as he doesn't mix it up with Witter, Castillo, Corrales, and Hatton if he goes back down

Wow. Just imagine what a great champion he would be while avoiding all those guys. Malinaggi is a cum stain on the face of boxing, and Cotto is gonna destroy him.

[Violent Demise]

ok Paulie isn't horrible, i think he has skills, but he's just gonna get man handled by the bigger and stronger guy, Malignaggi probably can win a world title once Cotto beats him and moves up, as long as he doesn't mix it up with Witter, Castillo, Corrales, and Hatton if he goes back down

Sc 25 for lying. Paulie is horrible

[El Kabong]

For fighting his first "true threat" Paulie is really ballsy for picking Miguel Cotto...I mean the guy can take a shot (especially from Malinaggi) and he is a devistating puncher!

He can box better than advertised too

[means2184]

cotto is gonna lose this one ...Means2184 hs all his moneys on mallinaggi!!

just remember i said it!! Mallinaggi hasnt been harrassing cotto for the last year for nothing ..pauli got under his skin enough cotto feels he has somthin to prove

(remember pauli getting dragged out by securuty in the cotto - chop chop fight i think it was


anyway i can always feel an upset coming

[OumaFan]

I think an upset's definitely possible. Paulie doesn't have to run all night, he just needs to beat Cotto to the punch, which he can do, and turn him, which he can probably do cause Cotto's kinda slowfooted and he's up on his front foot most of the time. If he can keep Cotto from getting his feet set he can outbox him but he can't make many mistakes.

[raleights]

cotto is gonna lose this one ...Means2184 hs all his moneys on mallinaggi!!

just remember i said it!! Mallinaggi hasnt been harrassing cotto for the last year for nothing ..pauli got under his skin enough cotto feels he has somthin to prove

(remember pauli getting dragged out by securuty in the cotto - chop chop fight i think it was


anyway i can always feel an upset coming

How do you get under the skin of a human being that has no emotion lol. Cotto is a robot, I doubt anything that feather puncher Maglignaggi says will have an effect. He is a pretty good boxer though and will probably win a couple of rounds, still you need SOME kind of power to keep Cotto off you otherwise it's not going the distance.

For that reason Paulie loses