At the WaMu Theater in Madison Square Garden, the hotly contested war of words between Amir Khan (22-1, 16 KO’s) and Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO’s) finally reached it’s pinnacle in this match-up for Khan’s WBA Super-Lightweight title. After weeks of verbal attacks from both camps and a full scale brawl that broke out at the weigh in, the atmosphere in the arena was nothing short of electric. Flags of England and Pakistan were seen in the crowd showing support for Khan, while American and Italian flags were being waved for Malignaggi. The world’s melting pot of New York City was the perfect setting for the fight.
The first round was a scrappy affair as each fighter was eager to show off their lightning-quick hand speed. The boisterous crowd was on their feet for every glancing blow. It was clear from the outset that Malignaggi hoped to disturb his opponent by getting low and clinching on the inside while landing short punches to Khan’s belt line, while the bigger Khan was keen on keeping the fight at a safe distance for his hard punches.
Throughout the first three rounds, neither fighter was able to land any hard punches, but each made their mark with crisp punches from a distance. The action picked up as the fight progressed, with Paulie throwing more combinations, while Khan threw the harder punches.
Midway through the fourth, Khan was able to land a left-right-left combination that seemed to annoy Malignaggi more than hurt him. Still, it showed the course that the fight could take. Thirty seconds later, a hard uppercut snapped Malignaggi’s head back and brought the crowd back to their feet. Ten seconds later, a hard left had Malignaggi against the ropes. He was not visibly shaken, but Malignaggi was getting a serious taste of Khan’s power, and Khan’s control of the fight was clear.
An abrasion over Malignaggi’s left eye that would eventually turn into a bad cut was visible to those at ringside.
Early into the fifth round, we saw Malignaggi on the canvas after a tangle on the inside. It was not a knockdown, but the crowd certainly showed that they were hungry for blood. Khan’s lead right hand output slowed, as Malignaggi was able to counter it with a short left hook. That led to Khan using a more proper right hand that followed a jab. The sixth round was a jab-fest with both fighters once again showcasing their amazing hand speed. Khan continued to follow his jabs with right hands with success and was maintaining control of the fight.
Entering the seventh round, it was Khan’s power advantage that was the deciding factor throughout. His output grew as the fight progressed, and Malignaggi had no answer. Two minutes into the eighth, Khan was able to snap Malignaggi’s head back with two very stiff jabs. Thirty seconds later, he landed a right hand followed by a left while Malignaggi was up against the ropes. The difficulty with the cut over Malignaggi’s left eye was beginning to show in his performance, as he was falling hopelessly behind.
Entering the ninth, a more confident Khan was in the ring against an opponent who was keen on re-establishing his jab in the hopes of putting together a more potent offense. The problem with Malignaggi is that he has never been a very feared fighter offensively. Khan walked through Malignaggi’s hard jabs and was able to land a right hand the knocked Malignaggi into the ropes.
While the action was not constant, Khan was consistantly landing hard shots throughout the fight. It was at this time that the damage became very visible as the cut grew to a dangerous level.
Most experts believed that this fight would go the distance, so as both fighters entered the championship rounds, the expectations in the crowd grew even more. Those expectations were delayed for a moment as the ringside physician took some extra time to examine a cut and some serious swelling that had been developing on Malignaggi. He seemed disappointed in himself, and while not having an ounce of quit in him, he was emotionally not in the fight at this point.
Khan saw this and decided to pounce. Malignaggi had no response. He was not hurt, but esteemed referee, Steve Smoger, immediatly jumped in and stopped the action at the 1:25 mark of the eleventh round giving Khan a TKO victory.
The co-feature of the evening featured a very interesting crossroads matchup between junior welterwights, Victor Ortiz (26-2-1, 21 KO’s) and Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KO’s), scheduled for ten rounds. Ortiz, at 140lbs, plays the role of the emerging up and comer looking to prove himself against a savvy veteran in Campbell, at 139lbs. The first round opened up at a decent pace. Ortiz took no time in showing off his power, as he was able to land a right hook around Campbell’s high guard. In the final thirty seconds of the round, Campbell got into his groove and was able to get inside where he works best. That plan backfired, as Ortiz was able to land two uppercuts followed by a right hook that acted more like a push than a punch. Campbell’s gloves touched the canvas, and the referee ruled it a knockdown despite Campbell’s valid argument.
The second round opened up at a brisk pace, as Campbell was out to prove that he wasn’t hurt. He got right inside and was able to land some strong uppercuts. Ortiz, feeling better suited working from the outside, stepped back and brought the fight to the center of the ring, where he was able to land. A strong southpaw lead.
The battle of ring generalship continued into the third round, but for the moment, Ortiz seemed in control. When Campbell used his patented technique of using savvy smarts and footwork to force his opponent into the ropes, Ortiz would showcase his southpaw right hook to take advantage. When the fight went into the center of the ring, Ortiz would utilize his lead southpaw straight left. Early in the fight, Ortiz was showing the New York City fans that he was just as crafty as his veteran counterpart.
But would it last against a fighter that has no problem maintaining a grueling pace for twelve rounds?
By the fourth round, Ortiz was moving more than usual, but was able to prevent Campbell from planting his feet and throwing punches. Campbell did not seem concerned with this tactic, as he was able to land long straight right hands. Ortiz maintained control, but Campbell was slowly bringing the action to a pace he is more accustomed to.
In the sixth, Ortiz managed to work Campbell into the ropes and unleash a barrage of punches to the body and head. None of the punches did any serious physical damage to Campbell, but it definitely did some damage to his scorecard. Campbell managed to retaliate by landing a long right hand flush on Ortiz’ chin, but that might have proved that Campbell does not carry much power at the higher weight.
By the eighth round, Ortiz was very much in control of the pace of the fight, as Campbell was unable to pin him onto the ropes and get into a grueling type of affair that he normally excels in. The ninth stanza saw some exciting back and fourth anction. Ortiz unleasged multiple punch combinations on an opponent that could do nothing but cover up and weather the storm. Campbell was able to get in closer and land long hooks that sent Ortiz’ perspiration flying into the paying customers at ringside. Still, Campbell’s offensives were few and far between.
The last round of the fight saw Campbell chasing down the very mobile Ortiz to no avail. Ortiz decided to play it safe in a fight that he was comfortably leading in. As the final bell rang, the crowd gave both fighters a very appreciative applause for the style match-up that they displayed over ten rounds. The final scores read 100-89, 100-89, and 99-90 all in favor of Victor Ortiz.—Arben Paloka
Good looking Middleweight prospect Daniel Jacobs annihilated an over matched Juan Astorga in under two rounds in a scheduled ten round bout.
Jacobs scored two knockdowns in round one, first from a body shot than a right hand. It was only time before a vicious body shot sent Astorga down in round two. Jacobs closed the show with two hard shots that sent Astorga to his knees and the fight was waved off at fifty-one seconds of round two.
Jacobs, 160 lbs of Brooklyn is now 20-0 with seventten knockouts. Astorga, 164 1/2 lbs of Brownfield, TX is now 14-5-1.
In a six round battle of undefeated Heavyweights, Kelvin Price scored a split decision over Tor Hamer
Price landed a grazing left hook that sent Hamer into the ropes in round two for which referee Benji Esteves ruled a knockdown. After that it was mostly Hamer landing some solid over hand right and body punches. Price was mildly effective was jabs but the judges saw it in his favor
Price 243 lbs of Pensacola, FL won by scores of 58-55 on two cards while Hamer won a card 57-56.
Price is now 7-0. Hamer is 11-1.
Former Amir Khan conqueror Bredis Prescott stopped Jason Davis at 1:11 of round three of a scheduled eight round Welterweight bout.
Prescott dropped Davis twice in the third round with the second knockdown being a hard body shot that forced Davis to retire at the 1:11 mark.
Prescott, 140 1/2 lbs of Miami is now 22-2 with nineteen knockouts. Davis, 144 1/2 lbs of Vancouver, WA is now 11-7-1.
Jamie Kavanaugh made a successful pro debut as he stopped William Wade in round two of a scheduled four round Jr. Welterweight bout.
Kavanaugh dropped Wade with a right to the body and again with a left to the body in round two. Moments after that, Kavanaugh scored a third and final knockdown with a winging left to the head and referee Sparkle Lee stopped the contest at 1:39.
Kavanaugh, 139 1/2 lbs of Dublin, Ireland is now 1-0 with one knockout. Wade, 141 lbs of Augusta, GA is now 1-3.
In the opening bout Dennis Douglin took apart veteran Joshua Onyango at 1:10 of round two of a scheduled six round Middleweight bout.
Douglin dropped Onyango twice in round two from hard straight left hands and referee Sparkle Lee waved the contest off immediately after the second knockdown.
Douglan, 156 lbs of Morganville, NI is now 9-0 with five knockouts. Onyango, 157 lbs of Trenton, NJ is now 13-19-1.
