“Emotional Farewell at the Barclays Center”
BoxingGlove Notes
Distinio Lois, Jr.
Paulie Malignaggi the forever favorite “Magic Man” Gladiator and native son of Brooklyn fight fans and of course many others, perhaps has “laced on and or unlaced”, his last pair of boxing gloves when he suffered another knock out loss to Danny “Swift” Garcia, the former premier undisputed 140 pound Champion at 2 minutes & 22 seconds of the 9th round of a spectacular competitive fight.
This main event fight of an exciting 9 bout card was held at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, N.Y. on Saturday, August 1, 2015.
Malignaggi who had not fought since he lost also by stoppage to Shawn Porter, April / 2014 looked very sharp, focused and determined to upset a stronger, and bigger looking Danny Garcia who was fighting for the first time at his “new” weight level of 147 pounds.
Malignaggi with his patented sharp jab and speed, and ring movements held Garcia at bay and somewhat confused in the earlier rounds, but as the rounds progressed you could almost tell that it was a matter of time when a stronger, aggressive, and harder puncher Garcia would begin to wear Malignaggi down with head and body shots.
By the 7th, round Malignaggi had already suffered from eye cuts, 2 on his right eye, and I on his left eye. Additionally his body began to display the redness from the painful body shots he was absorbing from Garcia’s vicious body attacks which began to tire Malignaggi.
“As I tired from those body shots, I could not move as I was able to in the first rounds, and practically became a stationary target. I did fight back hoping to go the distance, but when the referee stepped in I knew it was the end”, stated a very emotional and teary eyed Malignaggi.
Sadly, perhaps it is time for “Magic Man” Malignaggi to lay down his boxing gloves after a 2 world titles 14 year career and pick up his microphone as an expert boxing analyst with Showtime Cable.
Still the fan favorite, Malignaggi received a standing ovation from the crowd of over 8,000 fans of an almost sold out event at the Barclays Center highlighted by an emotional hug from the “First Lady of Boxing”, TV personality from The View, Rosie Perez.
As per “Swift” Danny Garcia he was his usual “brutal” self, constantly moving forward, battering Malignaggi, and remaining undefeated, 31-0, 18 knockouts.
How long will Garcia be able to stay undefeated when now that he is a full-fledged 147 pounder he has to compete with opponents like Keith “One Time” Thurman, and Shawn “Showtime” Porter who were guest of Lou DiBella and Al Haymon, but in reality, they were also there to “scout” Danny Garcia as a future opponent.
Garcia- in my opinion-still makes a lot of mistakes in his offense and defense which sharp, hard punching veterans like Porter & Thurman could take advantage of, but that is only my perception. Garcia is still very young-27-and as he ages and gains more experience he will probably get better, offensively and defensively.
The Middleweight Championship fight between Champ Danny “Miracle Man” Jacobs and contender Sergio “The Latin Snake” Mora was a disappointment although competitive for only 2 rounds.
True to their predictions both came out from the first bell “firing” knockout punches. Jacobs, knocking an off balanced Mora down with a vicious right upper cut and then a few seconds later Mora knocked Jacobs down with an equally vicious left hook.
All of this exciting action occurred in the very first round. So the excited fight crowd “settled” down to witness a phone booth center of the ring war, but that was not to be.
In the second round Jacobs in his usual aggressive style of fighting hit an awkward, again off balanced, Mora with a series of punch combinations knocking him down again, but when Mora tried to get up he was limping badly on his right leg and signaled to the referee that he could not continue.
To the delight of Danny Jacobs and disappointment of the crowd the fight was stopped at 2:55 of the second round.
Mora fell hard on his right leg and not only hurt his right knee but also fractured his right ankle, and the Emergency Medical Services had to take him out of the ring in a stretcher.
Although hurt, Mora insisted on a rematch. In response a delighted Danny Jacobs responded, “I have no intention of looking backward, I look forward”.
He hopes his next opponent will be former W.B.O. Champ Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin, possibly in September, 2015, in an “all Brooklyn match”.
Editorial:
Based on Sergio Mora’s severe right leg and ankle injury, I seem to remember that in the past boxers were required to wear-perhaps mandatory-a high top boxing shoe to protect their ankles from the severe injury like Mora suffered in his fight with Danny Jacobs.
Is it still enforced or can fighters now wear those fancy colorful low topped boxing shoes with no ankle protection? High top boxing shoes should be mandatory.
My Black Star News readers correct me if I am wrong.
