Bill Calogero, TheDailySports.com: Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi retains his IBF Jr. Welterweight Title by winning an extremely close twelve-round fight with Herman Ngoudjo on Saturday night. The fight was broadcast live from Balleys Resort & Casino in Atlantic City on ShowTime’s Championship Boxing.. There was hype before the fight. There was a lot of “I’m gonna do this and I’m gonna do that” from both fighters prior to entering the ring on Saturday night, but when the first bell sounded to start the twelve round contest, it was clear that Paulie Malignaggi and Herman Ngoudjo both came with the desire to leave as the IBF Jr. Welterweight Champion.
In the first round, Paulie worked his fast, crisp and powerful jab with perfection. He was on his toes and was able to control the round primarily with his jab, doubling and tripling it up for the full three minutes. He only threw seven right hands, three that landed on Ngoudjo’s head, three that landed on Ngoudjo’s body and one that missed altogether. Out of the seven, four came in the last thirty-eight seconds of the round. Herman Ngoudjo wasn’t able to do much during the round except land a couple of body shots. I gave this round to Malignaggi by a landslide.
The second round was almost identical to the first except during this round, Ngoudjo was able to get in a little closer and land several solid body shots. He also scored with three or four hard looping right hooks to Paulie’s head. Malignaggi used his hand and foot speed to effectively score with jabs from every angle followed by an occasional right hand to win the round on my scorecard.
Herman Ngoudjo came out much more aggressively for the third round. He began to bring the fight in close and by doing so was able to land his right hand to the jaw of Malignaggi several times one appearing to open up a cut over Paulie’s left eye. He also was working Paulie’s body very effectively. Malignaggi continued to work his jab, but he was not throwing it as much because of the pressure he was receiving from Ngoudjo. During the last minute of the round, Ngoudjo landed two very hard rights flush on the jaw of Paulie Malignaggi. This was a close round, but based on aggressiveness and the solidness of his punches, I gave this round to Herman Ngoudjo.
As the fourth round began, the cut over Paulie’s eye was noticeable. It didn’t seem to bother him, but was visible. During this round, Herman Ngoudjo basically roughed up Paulie Malignaggi in my opinion. He was able to land hard shots both to the body and head of Malignaggi throughout the round. He pressed the fight and kept it toe to toe. Paulie did throw his jab, but not enough to win the round on my card.
The fifth round saw a lot of what we saw in the fourth. Paulie seemed to be tiring and Herman pressed the fight. It was Ngoudjo who was getting his punches off first. Paulie was forced into a defensive mode for this round and threw very few punches. I gave the round to Herman Ngoudjo.
Paulie looked re-energized as he came out for the sixth round. Although Ngoudjo still was trying to press the fight, and continued to land the harder punches, Paulie was able to do what he did in the first two rounds and throw his jab, crisp and hard at times, from all angles keeping Herman from putting him in any danger. I gave this round to Malignaggi.
As soon as the bell sounded to start the seventh round, Herman Ngoudjo came out the aggressor. It was he who was able to land his jab and keep Malignaggi under control. He landed two powerful rights that landed flush on Malignaggi’s jaw stunning the Champion. Paulie was able to work his way out of trouble and into the center of the ring as Ngoudjo was successfully landing hard shots both to the body and head of Paulie. At one point during the round, Ngoudjo savagely worked Paulie’s body by landing back-to-back five-punch combinations. This round was clearly Herman Ngoudjo’s.
The eighth round looked to be a round where both fighters took a rest. It was a very close round and was hard to score. Paulie landed his jab and kept moving. Herman continued to throw punches both to the body and head of Malignaggi. Based on being the aggressor, and the fact he was landing the harder punches, I gave the edge in the round to Herman Ngoudjo.
Rounds nine and ten saw Paulie come out and do what he does best. He worked his jab and kept moving, scoring at will and controlling both rounds on my scorecard. He also introduced, at the advice of his corner, an effective uppercut that landed and scored to add to both of these one-sided rounds.
The last two rounds in my opinion seemed like one continuous round. What I saw was Paulie Malignaggi try to use his jab and feet, but Herman Ngoudjo would have no part of it. He roughed up Malignaggi with hard body shots and right hooks that were landing flush on Paulie’s jaw. Towards the end of the twelfth and final round, another crushing right hand from Ngoudjo stunned Malignaggi again. I gave both the eleventh and twelfth rounds to Herman Ngoudjo.
It was a good fight. I don’t think anyone can argue that, but I am sure people will argue the decision or at least with mine. One judge at ringside saw the fight 115-113, one had it 116-113 while the third had it 117-111 all in favor of Paulie Malignaggi giving him the unanimous decision win and his first successful title defense.
I however, scored the fight 115-113 in favor of Herman Ngoudjo. I feel Herman edged Paulie out on the scorecard based on his aggressive attack for most of the fight and the fact that seemingly all of his punches that landed were solid ones. Paulie landed a lot of punches too, but none with much power. Nonetheless, the fight was close and it really doesn’t matter what my scorecard said. All that mattered is what the ringside judges cards added up to and they added up to a win for Paulie Malignaggi.
Paulie improves to 24-1 (5 KOs) and according to him, “wants money fights” next.
Herman Ngoudjo was all smiles after the fight, but clearly thought he won. He wants a rematch but I doubt he will get one. Ngoudjo drops to 15-2 (9 KOs) but will surely be back in a big fight soon.
I think that it was great to have a Championship fight kick off the New Year on ShowTime in primetime. I am also glad to see that pro boxing is picking up where it left off in 2007 with quality, competitive bouts. Lets keep this going! Who said Pro Boxing is dead?
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