Foot Action (Footlocker)

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Boxing Odds Are Stacked Against Magic Man

It’s the Hitman against the Magic Man in a 12-round showdown for the IBF light welterweight championship come November 22. But I see the Magic Man’s wizardry fizzling right before the 10th right in front of thousands at The MGM Grand.

There is no doubt that defending champ Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi is a great fighter inside the ring. He has a pristine record of 25-1 and a championship title at that. But what is alarming is that his knockout rate of 20% is abysmal. Against Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton, who has 44 wins, 1 loss, and 31 knockouts, the odds are more than overwhelming against Malignaggi.

Analysts have purported New York native Malignaggi’s durability and ability to take hard punches as his chance against the pure brawler from Manchester, England. But I doubt it pretty much. A guy with an instinct to slug it out in the open with power punches, Hatton himself is considered one of the greats and has battled boxing legends. Although he was defeated by Floyd Mayweather in their first meeting, Hatton visibly staggered and stunned the former pound-for-pound king with his ferocious fists.

Malignaggi, as tough as they say he is, will just have to be magical and duck every power bombs The Hitman unleashes. Once Malignaggi gets tagged, the lights are definitely out for him.

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