Earlier this year out-spoken American Paulie Malignaggi (31-4, 7) really revitalised his career as he claimed the WBA Welterweight title in an impressive performance against Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko. Malignaggi is now set to make the first defense of that title as he prepares to face popular Mexican Pablo Cesar Cano (25-1-1, 19).
Despite being a noted non-puncher Malignaggi has, time and time again, proven himself to be an extremely talented fighter who has brilliant technical skills as well as fantastic speed and movement coupled alongside real heart and genuine toughness. Sadly, most, seem to only remember the fact he is a non-puncher rather than give his skills the credit they deserve.
Malignaggi burst on to the world stage way back in 2006 when he showed his toughness in brave losing effort to hard punching Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto and since then has been a mainstay on the world scene with bouts against the likes of Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and Juan Diaz. Sadly, despite his extreme talent he has found it hard to beat the very top guys who just have that something extra.
Malignaggi made his professional debut way back in 2001 and since then has won both the IBF Light Welterweight title (which he defended twice) and the WBA Welterweight title (the belt he is defending this weekend). All this despite having serious hand issues troubling him through out his career. In recent years however the hands seem to be holding up well and remarkably he has stopped 2 of his last 4 opponents, scoring his first stoppage wins since 2003.
In terms of his style Malignaggi is very slippery, he not only judges distance wonderfully well but he also anticipates his opponents next move whilst landing stinging jabs on to his opponents face, often landing his pot shots and getting out of range before he, himself, is tagged. When tagged however, Malignaggi has shown great resiliency and his brave battle with Cotto really earned him some well deserved plaudits. Sadly however his lack of power has always been an issue and has separated him (a very good fighter) from his top contemporary fighters, such as Cotto and Hatton who were simply able to walk through his shuts using educated pressure.
Whilst Malignaggi is a very known fighter, his opponent, Pablo Cesar Cano, is a bit more obscure having only really come to prominence in the last year or so. Aged just 23 the Mexican burst on to the scene last year in his highest profile bout so far, a brave losing effort to Mexican icon Erik Morales in a WBC Light Welterweight bout. Despite being stopped (by his own corner) against Morales, it was easy to like the kids grit and heart as he started to cut up and swell badly at the hands of Morales.
Other than the Morales bout there is little of note on Cano's record, however earlier this year Cano did claim the interim WBA World Light Welterweight title by defeating the relatively unknown Venezuelan Johan Perez, via controversial technical decision. Despite winning this title, it appears Cano is making a move to 147lbs, and if he defeat Malignaggi he may well intend to stay there. Interestingly however Cano did manage to make Super Featherweight less than 2 years ago, which would perhaps show that he is not a true Light Welterweight, never mind a Welterweight.
Like many Mexican's Cano is a tough fighter, he's not massively skilled but he's tough and seems to enjoy a fighter, however he does have decent boxing skills, as he has shown against both Perez and Morales. He is slowly improving and gaining relevant experience and appears to be really developing as not only a boxer but also a man and with this in mind he must come into this bout as a the puncher, despite arguably being the smaller man.
Sadly despite Cano being an improving fighter he is unlikely to have improved to the level of being able to beat Malignaggi who I feel is simply going to be too fast and too skilled for Cano, who may have his moments but will not have enough of them to claim more than a round or two here and there. Due to the fact Cano is a tough and brave Mexican I imagine he will make it to the final bell, however I wouldn't be shocked if his face looked a bit of a mess by the end of the bout as Malignaggi tries to make a statement.
Prediction-Malignaggi UD
cano made it closer than expected, i don't expect paulie to hold that belt for very long.
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