APRIL 9 “ACTION HEROES” HBO PAY-PER-VIEW® UNDERCARD
LOS ANGELES, March 23 – Former Junior Welterweight World Champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi will step back onto the big stage against Puerto Rico’s Jose Miguel Cotto in a 10-round welterweight fight on Saturday, April 9, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on the “Action Heroes” HBO Pay-Per-View event.
“We promised to deliver the best fights for the April 9 pay-per-view and we are continuing to do that with the addition of the always-flashy and exciting Paulie Malignaggi against the experienced Jose Miguel Cotto,” said Oscar de la Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions. “It is going to be a clash of a boxer versus a puncher, plus Paulie is looking to avenge his loss to Jose Miguel’s older brother, Miguel Cotto, in a fight you won’t want to miss.”
Flashy in and out of the ring and blessed with the heart of a lion, Brooklyn’s Paulie Malignaggi (28-4, 6 KO’s) has regrouped and now, fighting at welterweight, the “Magic Man” is in top-notch form as he pursues a world title in a second weight class. Coming off of a sixth round technical knockout win over Michael Lozada in December, the 30-year-old Malignaggi can’t wait to show off more of his new tricks on April 9 against the brother of the man – Miguel Cotto – who handed him his first professional loss.
“I’m very excited to be on this great card that is generating a lot of buzz,” said Malignaggi. “I think fighting Cotto is a good test and an important next step at this point in my career as I climb back to the top of the sport. His brother Miguel is the best fighter I have fought in my career, so I know when fighting a ‘Cotto’ I have to be prepared. I’m excited for the challenge and the chance to keep proving ‘naysayers’ wrong.”
A 14-year veteran who can do it all in the ring, Caguas’ Jose Miguel Cotto (32-2-1, 24 KO’s) represents Puerto Rico with heart and pride every time he steps through the ropes. A longtime lightweight contender who has continued to find success as he has moved up in weight, the 33-year old Cotto has won four of his last five fights. His most recent fight was a fourth round technical knockout win over Christopher Henry in November. He returns to Las Vegas for the first time in nearly a year and expects a win against Malignaggi.
“This is going to be a great fight,” said Cotto. “I’ve been in the gym training my hardest and I feel ready. Having a big win over Malignaggi will move me closer to a title opportunity. I will not let this one go by.”
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
