UIC PAVILION, Chicago, IL
JUAN DIAZ Houston, TX 138.4 lbs, 35-2 (17 KO’s)
PAULIE MALIGNAGGI Brooklyn, NY 138.6 lbs, 26-3 (5 KO’s)
First things first. . .as far as rematches go, this is a hot one. Their first fight was a candidate for Fight of the Year, and it was in Diaz’s homeown of Houston, TX. Diaz won a close and controversial decision, prompting Malignaggi to spout off about a “home cooking” decision, which he might actually have had a point about. This time they fight for the NABO junior welter title on neutral territory.
The first round was pretty much cat and mouse, with no true aggressor, but Malignaggi had the “crowd advantage” as the cheers of “Paulie, Paulie, Paulie” could be heard throughout the stadium. Diaz also has more than his share of fans here, and the “Diaz, Diaz, Diaz” chants were screamed at the exact same volume. Paulie used his slick boxing skills to take the second round with his uppercuts right through Diaz’s defenses. A cut opened up over the left eye of Diaz, probably the same cut he suffered at the hands of Marquez, which reopened for Malignaggi in their first fight. Rumor has it that it never healed properly. At the end of round three, Diaz lands a couple of left hooks, which Malignaggi shrugs off with a smile. Malignaggi took the fourth round with his accurate jabs and hooks on the outside.
Diaz is more successful in the fifth with his inside hooks to the head and body. Paulie acts as if they don’t bother him, but we’ll see. Paulie comes out and totally dominates the sixth with his accuracy on the outside, even wobbling Diaz towards the end of the round. I can’t help but think, that since styles make fights, these two were absolutely MADE to fight one another. Slick, brash boxer versus forward-moving humble hook-thrower. The seventh wasn’t exactly action-packed, but Paulie’s jab kept Diaz at bay. Eighth round finds Diaz pushing forward, scoring to the body, and winning the round. Diaz took the ninth round too, still by bulling forward, making Paulie circle more than usual, not allowing him to get set and score, himself.
Round ten finds Diaz’s glove touching after eating a right hook, and it being scored a knockdown. This will be considered controversial, since replays show that Diaz’s hand almost touched, but didn’t. Diaz takes the eleventh. Diaz also takes the twelfth, although just barely. The action in the last round causes the entire UIC Pavilion to get on its feet and cheer on their favorite.
Scores: 116-111 all for Malignaggi, the new NABO junior welterweight championship. Congrats, Paulie. You earned it.***Special thanks to Golden Boy Promotions, Dibella Promotions, and 8Count Promotions for issuing Bolo Punch the credentials for to cover this event.
Photography by Emil Kegebein LegUpPhotos.com. All photos are the sole property of Bolo Punch, and cannot be used without permission. Ringside report by Chris Guzman. No portion of this report can be used without permission.
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