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Adrien Broner Ekes by Paulie Malignaggi: New York Battle Ends in Controversy – BOXING NEWS

By Abbie Henson (At Ringside)

Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center was humming with energy as Paulie Malignaggi’s hometown crowd anticipated his defense of the WBA Welterweight World Championship belt. The slow and sloppy undercard matches between Sakio Bika and Marco Antonio Periban (super middleweight); and Jonathon Banks and Seth Mitchell ll (heavyweight) made the crowd restless. We were all awaiting the true showdown between Paulie Malignaggi, 32-5, 7 KO’s, and Adrien Broner, 26-0, 22 KO’s, and a show is exactly what we got.

Paulie Malignaggi held his own and seemed to set the pace of the match throwing consistent head and body shots, while Broner remained mostly on the defensive with his hands up like snakes waiting to strike, and when they did, his punches were extremely powerful and quick. Broner was, as Malignaggi stated, “sharp in his spots but he wasn’t busy.”

Broner’s punches were accurate and authoritative, however, he had a very low punch output. Both contenders continued to taunt each other, Paulie sticking his tongue out at Broner and Broner shaking his head at each of Paulie’s pit-a-pat punches, shouting “you can’t hit me.”

They continued to talk smack throughout the fight, and the crowd ate it up. Broner’s speed, skill, and defensive tactics were demonstrated throughout the fight, while Paulie’s stamina and strength were proven within each round, however none of Paulie’s punches seemed to make any type of impact.

Although it was an entertaining fight, Broner did not live up to the hype and did not impress with a winning knockout, but rather won by a split decision of 115-113 Broner, 115-113 Malignaggi, and 117-111 Broner.

In a post-fight interview Paulie Malignaggi stated that boxing is “full of shit” and “political bullshit” and that the decision always goes to the more politically connected fighter. Refusing to put the trash talk aside after the fight, Broner declared that he came to Paulie’s hometown, and “left with his belt and his girl.” Overall Malignaggi showed heart, skill, and stamina but failed to deliver punches with enough power to get Broner’s respect.

Broner exhibited flashes of brilliance and a devastating combination of speed and power but couldn’t close the show with the knockout that would have added to the 23 year old’s growing reputation.

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