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PROPS To Paul Malignaggi

Published

11 years ago

March 27, 2014

Michael Woods

Not sure what people enjoy more, the buildup, or the tear-down.

We, the media, are particularly proficient at both.

Lionize, rhapsodize, shower them with accolades and drape them in glory arguably beyond maybe they should enjoy for “merely” possessing skills in the arena of athletics.

And then, when they mis-step, or have displeased us, by displaying excess hubris, or by losing a fight or two, and thus disappointing us, we bring out the barbs. We opine that they have lost their luster, take a shot at their character, lobby them to hang up the gloves. From our safe distance, we tell a guy who is past his prime to walk away, to leave the only vocation he knows, the way he feeds his family. It is probably well intentioned most of the time, but it also a screamingly myopic act. Not to mention, as some sharp wise crackers on social media point out, many of the opiners don’t exactly treat their own bodies as sacred vessels, do they?

We too often treat them, the athletes, the fighters, as objects, present to entertain and amuse us, and serve as punching bag when we see fit. Now, I’m not saying rivers of tears should be cried for the celebs who we alternately shower with praise and then caustic judgement. After all, the payoff for success can be considerable, in acclaim, in compensation. But we, the media, and so many of us with a Twitter account, myself included, could be doing a better job at accentuating the positive, and not being so quick to latch on to the sensational angle.

Hey, we are only giving people what they want, we can tell ourselves, and we’re not totally deluding ourselves when we use that rationalization. But people like me should more often stories like the one I came across yesterday, Tuesday, when I saw ex world champ Paul Malignaggi present a beefy check, $25,000 to the charity organization, Knockout Obesity, during a press event at Gleason’s Gym, in DUMBO.

I told the 33-year-old boxer, who once again lives in NY after a couple years in LA, that I was proud of him, for digging into his pocket. I see a lot of athletes bragging about the dough they make and blow, but, I told Malignaggi (33-5 with 7 KOs), I’d rather see them advertise the funds they’re funneling to charitable endeavors. Not to brag, or get a bump in positive press, but because that is leadership. You think maybe one or two other fighters might see this story, and be impressed with Malignaggi’s gesture, and follow suit?

The athlete has a fight coming up, April 19 in DC (on a Golden Boy show to air on Showtime), he’ll get another crack at a crown, this time an IBF welterweight strap held by Ohioan Shawn Porter. Malignaggi’s right eye was a bit puffed and discolored at Gleason’s, compliments of a launch from sparring partner Frank Galarza, the Red Hook native who is one of the best prospects in NY, and looking to leap to contender status. The message that eye sent to me was clear: that check Paulie handed over to Dimitrios Verteouris, a restaurant owner (“Nature’s Grill”) who started Knockout Obesity after getting serious about trimming down from over 300 pounds, is hard-earned cash. Malignaggi has earned that dough, and that makes the gesture that much more meaningful.

“I was born and raised in Brooklyn,” said Malignaggi, as his pal Verteouris, and Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams, listened intently. “I have the ability to give back to my community, help make a difference, and Knockout Obesity is a program I believe in. I know it can make a huge difference in the community. Boxing is an optimum, great way to exercise and with diet and nutrition added to the mix, it’s a winning program.”

Knockout Obesity incorporates boxing into its health and fitness classes geared towards adults and children throughout Brooklyn. Initially a summer pilot program at The Boys’ Club of New York (BCNY), Knockout Obesity is now a year-round program in three community centers.

Dr. Wendy Scinta, an expert on adult and childhood obesity, also attended. We chatted about the obesity epidemic, about how so many of us deal with stress with “fork therapy,” and how our nation is exporting odious foodstuffs overseas, and spurring a rise in such offshoots as diabetes in other nations.

“Two thirds of adults are overweight and half of those are obese,” said Scinta, author of a new book, “BOUNCE,” to the assembled. “One in three children struggle with their weight. We have to take matters into our own hands, one child, one family, and then one community at a time.” She told me that the rate of those with diabetes is higher in Brooklyn than anywhere in the nation, which blew me away. I promised to follow her on Twitter, check out her book, and do what I can to spread the good word.

Malignaggi said that he was moved to act by seeing old pal Verteouris change his lifestyle, and stop over indulging in bad-for-you foods. “I saw my friend become a better person,” he said, “and I’ve come to realize that people are always fighting, not just as I do, in a combat sport, but to overcome obstacles in life.

He graciously accepted my props for his donation, and said he knows that people will listen a bit harder to a celeb, sometimes, so he knows he can make a difference, in a positive fashion. On April 19, I like Malignaggi to impose his superior ring generalship on Porter, and win another crown. If he pulls that off, he will be showered in praise. But what he did on Tuesday, making that donation and trying to spread words of positivity in his community, deserves just as much, if not more, praise.

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Michael Woods

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2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

The WBC World Super Featherweight title bout between Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura came on one of the biggest boxing stages of 2015, as the bout served as the HBO pay-per-view’s co-main event on November 21st, in support of Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez.

Miura entered the fight with a (29-2-2) record and he was making the fifth defense of his world title, while Vargas entered the fight with an undefeated mark of (22-0-1) in what was his first world title fight. Both men had a reputation for all-out fighting, with Miura especially earning high praise for his title defense in Mexico where he defeated Sergio Thompson in a fiercely contested battle.

The fight started out hotly contested, and the intensity never let up. Vargas seemed to win the first two rounds, but by the fourth round, Miura seemed to pull ahead, scoring a knock-down and fighting with a lot of confidence. After brawling the first four rounds, Miura appeared to settle into a more technical approach. Rounds 5 and 6 saw the pendulum swing back towards Vargas, as he withstood Miura’s rush to open the fifth round and the sixth round saw both men exchanging hard punches.

The big swinging continued, and though Vargas likely edged Miura in rounds 5 and 6, Vargas’ face was cut in at least two spots and Miura started to assert himself again in rounds 7 and 8. Miura was beginning to grow in confidence while it appeared that Vargas was beginning to slow down, and Miura appeared to hurt Vargas at the end of the 8th round.

Vargas turned the tide again at the start of the ninth round, scoring a knock down with an uppercut and a straight right hand that took Miura’s legs and sent him to the canvas. Purely on instinct, Miura got back up and continued to fight, but Vargas was landing frequently and with force. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in to stop the fight at the halfway point of round 9 as Miura was sustaining a barrage of punches.

Miura still had a minute and a half to survive if he was going to get out of the round, and it was clear that he was not going to stop fighting.

A back and forth battle of wills between two world championship level fighters, Takashi Miura versus “El Bandido” Vargas wins the 2015 Fight of the Year.

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Jan 9 in Germany – Feigenbutz and De Carolis To Settle Score

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

This coming Saturday, January 9th, the stage is set at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany for a re-match between Vincent Feigenbutz and Giovanni De Carolis. The highly anticipated re-match is set to air on SAT.1 in Germany, and Feigenbutz will once again be defending his GBU and interim WBA World titles at Super Middleweight.

The first meeting between the two was less than three months ago, on October 17th and that meeting saw Feigenbutz controversially edge De Carolis on the judge’s cards by scores of (115-113, 114-113 and 115-113). De Carolis scored a flash knock down in the opening round, and he appeared to outbox Feigenbutz in the early going, but the 20 year old German champion came on in the later rounds.

The first bout is described as one of the most crowd-pleasing bouts of the year in Germany, and De Carolis and many observers felt that the Italian had done enough to win.

De Carolis told German language website RAN.DE that he was more prepared for the re-match, and that due to the arrogance Feigenbutz displayed in the aftermath of the first fight, he was confident that he had won over some of the audience. Though De Carolis fell short of predicting victory, he promised a re-vamped strategy tailored to what he has learned about Feigenbutz, whom he termed immature and inexperienced.

The stage is set for Feigenbutz vs De Carolis 2, this Saturday January 9th in Offenburg, Germany. If you can get to the live event do it, if not you have SAT.1 in Germany airing the fights, and The Boxing Channel right back here for full results.

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2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

9 years ago

December 29, 2015

The Sweet Science

On May 9th of 2015, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez delivered a resonant knock-out of James Kirkland on HBO that wins the 2015 KO of the Year.

The knock-out itself came in the third round, after slightly more than two minutes of action. The end came when Alvarez delivered a single, big right hand that caught Kirkland on the jaw and left him flat on his back after spinning to the canvas.Alvarez was clearly the big star heading into the fight. The fight was telecast by HBO for free just one week after the controversial and disappointing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight, and Alvarez was under pressure to deliver the type of finish that people were going to talk about. Kirkland was happy to oblige Alvarez, taking it right to Alvarez from the start. Kirkland’s aggression saw him appear to land blows that troubled the young Mexican in the early going. Alvarez played good defense, and he floored Kirkland in the first round, displaying his power and his technique in knocking down an aggressive opponent.

However, Kirkland kept coming at Alvarez and the fight entered the third round with both men working hard and the feeling that the fight would not go the distance. Kirkland continued to move forward, keeping “Canelo” against the ropes and scoring points with a barrage of punches while looking for an opening.

At around the two minute mark, Alvarez landed an uppercut that sent Kirkland to the canvas again. Kirkland got up, but it was clear that he did not have his legs under him. Kirkland was going to try to survive the round, but Alvarez had an opportunity to close out the fight. The question was would he take it?

Alvarez closed in on Kirkland, putting his opponent’s back to the ropes. Kirkland was hurt, but he was still dangerous, pawing with punches and loading up for one big shot.

But it was the big shot “Canelo” threw that ended the night. Kirkland never saw it coming, as he was loading up with a huge right hand of his own. The right Alvarez threw cracked Kirkland in the jaw, and his eyes went blank. His big right hand whizzed harmlessly over the head of a ducking Alvarez, providing the momentum for the spin that left Kirkland prone on the canvas.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez went on to defeat Miguel Cotto in his second fight of 2015 and he is clearly one of boxing’s biggest stars heading into 2016. On May 9th Alvarez added another reel to his highlight film when he knocked out James Kirkland with the 2015 “Knock Out of the Year”.

Photo by naoki fukuda

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