PAULIE MALIGNAGGI

updated June 17, 2007

Brooklyn-native Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi is a proud Italian-American who plans on continuing a strong boxing tradition established by Willie Pep and carried on by Rocky Marciano, Jake LaMotta, Rocky Graziano, Carmen Basilio and Vinny Paz.

"But I just don't want to be the next great Italian fighter," Paulie noted, "I want to be the next great fighter in the world."

Malignaggi has overcome a lot in life, so bouncing back strong after his only loss as a pro last June to then World Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Miquel Cotto shouldn't be too much of a problem. In fact, Paulie's reputation grew in that fight; largely due to the courage he showed going the distance, despite suffering a fractured cheekbone and nasty gash over his eye.

Malignaggi was born in Brooklyn but his Italian immigrant parents moved back to Italy when Paulie was only a few months old. Six years later, after Paulie's brother Umberto was born, the family decided to move back to the United States, but Paulie's professional soccer playing father stayed for only a few weeks before returning to Italy. Paulie didn't hear from his dad for 12 years.

The Malignaggi's lived with his mother's parents in Brooklyn before moving into a dilapidated hose in Brooklyn with an old Italian couple. They lived on welfare and Paulie had to learn how to speak English (he now speaks English, Italian and Spanish). Paulie's mother remarried when he was nine and they moved to New Jersey with his stepfather, who beat Paulie and Umberto until they stood up to him when Paulie was 15, which led to them being thrown out of the house and relocating back in Brooklyn with their grandparents.

Paulie enrolled in the 10th grade at New Ultricht High School but he became a bully, rather than a student, and he started hanging out with the wrong crowd. Too many fights in school resulted in him being permanently dismissed. Paulie's grandfather got him a job at his construction company, paying Paulie $10.00 for 10 hours a work a day.

In 1997, Malignaggi started boxing at 16 when his grandfather and uncle took him to the famed Gleason's Gym in New York City. Future world champions such as Kevin Kelley, Junior Jones and Zab Judah were all training there. Paulie immediately took to the sport and he went on to post a 40-9 amateur record, capturing the 2001 U.S. Nationals Championships in addition to the 1998 and 2001 New York Golden Gloves belts.

He turned pro by stopping Thadeus Parker only 27-seconds into their July 7, 2001 fight at Key Span Park that helped bring boxing back to Coney Island. Paulie won his fourth pro fight November 23, 2001 in "Fighting for America: A Night of Thanksgiving," a boxing fundraiser benefiting the Twin Towers fund. The event held at the Roseland Ballroom in New York raised more than $60,000 and Malignaggi won a four-round decision against Cornell Jackson.

Hampered by a damaged right hand, Paulie continued to win because of his lightning quick feet and hands, along with a big heart. His national television debut was April 12, 2002 on ESPN2 when he pitched a "shutout," winning all four rounds on each of the three judges cards (40-36), versus Sterling Gethers (6-1) in Miami, Oklahoma.

Paulie's second ESPN2 appearance was July 26, 2002. He out-punched six-time Michigan amateur champion Jadschi Green (6-1-2, 5 KOs), 173-64, en route to a unanimous six-round decision (59-55 three times).

Malignaggi's good looks and entertaining style got him on ESPN2 again October 13, 2002 from the Regent Hotel in New York. Paulie pitched another shutout, winning a six-round decision from Chad Howard (9-3-3). Two months later, "The Magic Man" was back on ESPN2, this time in Hampton Beach (NH), where he stopped Kevin Watts (18-2) in the sixth round.

Four more victories followed including a unanimous eighth-round decision (79-73, 79-73, 80-72) against Paul Delgado (9-2-1) in Madison Square Garden, as well as Paulie's first 10-round match (98-92, 99-91, 99-91) versus veteran (40-9-1) Ray Martinez, and another unanimous 10-round decision against Ramiro Cano (18-1).

His impressive performances set-up a WBC Intercontinental light welterweight championship bout between Malignaggi and Sandro Casamonica (34-4) in Little Rock (AR) on Showtime. Paulie won by seven-round technical decision, but he broke his right hand and underwent surgery for the second time.

Eight months later, Malignaggi returned to the ring and he won a unanimous eight-round decision against Jeremy Yelton (16-1) in New York City.

Paulie, however, suffered yet another setback when it was discovered that he had broken his right, probably during training camp, and he went under the knife once again.

"I've been a one-handed fighter for almost my entire career, since my third pro fight," Paulie said. "I have 100-percent confidence in my surgeon, Dr. Steven Margeles, who repaired Micky Ward's right hand as well as a lot of other fighters like Vinny Paz."

Malignaggi showed no signs of a hand problem on February 10, 2006 at Foxwoods, easily winning a unanimous 10-round decision (100-90, 100-90, 98-92) against Donald Camarena (16-1) for the WBC Continental Americas light welterweight championship.

Malignaggi has his first world title fight shot June 10 2006 at Madison Square Garden against Cotto (26-0, 22 KOs). Malignaggi may have lost the fight but he won the war, so to speak. Instead of just being a charismatic, outspoken fighter, Paulie earned props from all over the world for his courageous performance, receiving supportive messages from his idol, Arturo Gatti, as well as Micky Ward and Barry McGuigan.

"I was disappointed after the fight," Paulie remarked, "but it hasn't changed me a bit. I'll be the same as before. My goal is to be world champion within in 2007. Cotto's a great champion, but I promise you, our paths will cross again, even if it's at 147 pounds. I have much respect for Cotto and his team. We're both the same age and there's no doubt we'll meet again.

"If there's one positive to come out of the Cotto fight it's how many fans I won over. I've been overwhelmed by their support. They saw how seriously I want to win and that I wasn't all talk. It's not all of the hype or credibility; it's the fan support that counts the most."

One key change Team Malignaggi made since the Cotto fight was hiring Buddy McGirt as Paulie's new head trainer. "I'm excited to have Buddy McGirt in my corner," Malignaggi noted. "I was very disappointed after my last fight and that feeling is something I never want to experience again. I'm turning over a new leaf. I'll be training at Buddy's gym in Vero Beach (Florida) for all of my fights. The weather there is better for training. Buddy's going to help me beat the best in the world.

"The chemistry between me and Buddy is excellent. I'm learning new things from him. I'm not the type who likes to be told to do something without it being explained. Buddy was a fighter and whether it's how to throw a punch a certain way, or about something defensively, he explains why I'm doing it with science behind it. Buddy knows a lot about boxing and when he instructs me, he always explains why and what we're doing."

Paulie is rated No. 11 by the International Boxing Federation and No. 21 by the World Boxing Council, as well as No. 3 by the USBA, No. 7 by the NABC, No. 8 by the NBA and No. 10 by the USBO.