Magic Man Malignaggi Can Make Broner’s Undefeated Streak Disappear, No Problem

Paul Malignaggi 146.4 vs. Adrien Broner 146.8 (WBA welterweight title)

While lesser upsets happen all the time and even bigger upsets reroute the course of boxing, one thing is for certain this weekend: fans will be tuning in with major curiosity. Sure, the plan might be for the 15-1 favorite, Adrien “The Problem” Broner (26-0), to steamroll past his veteran opponent tomorrow but if history has taught us anything it is to expect the unexpected. “The Magic Man” Paulie Malignaggi (32-4) toppling his younger foe is not completely out of the question when paralleled to other scenarios comprised of the same components. Broner is jumping up from lightweight all the way to the 147 lb division in enemy territory, a feat not at all common or popular in the sport due to the ramifications on a man’s mental & physical ability. Here is a glimpse into the past to prepare for the future in what could be the biggest upset this summer tomorrow night at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Preordained Plans Aren’t Always So Ordained

Last year on June 23rd, Showtime televised a match between 12-1 favorite, Victor Ortiz, taking on a relatively unknown Californian named Josesito Lopez. In what many experts felt was a tune-up fight for Ortiz to prepare for a fall match-up that year against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Victor was presumed to triumph over Lopez in hopes to promote a September clash between the two young superstars. Unfortunately, Lopez never got the memo and after weathering his opponents’ storm, gave Ortiz a broken jaw in the 9th round earning a TKO as well as instant superstardom. Not only did Josesito Lopez sidestep the odds makers whose original numbers equated to him being destroyed, but the Riverside native actually landed the September fight against Saul Alvarez which earned him his biggest paycheck to date with a whopping 6-figures. Broner has already been compared to other 147-pound greats before diving into the welterweight shark tank, if he isn’t careful and looks past his opponent just as Victor Ortiz did, Malignaggi might sink Adrien’s hopes of flourishing in a higher weight class.

The Wait is Not Worth The Weight

In contrast to Broner, Malignaggi has seen bigger and tougher opposition such as fighters like Miguel Cotto, Amir Khan and Juan Diaz. Whether in triumph or defeat, Malignaggi has felt the power, stress and push of moving up in weight while Broner is completely inexperienced to it. A few years back, an undefeated KO artist in “The Ghost” Kelly Pavlik moved up from middleweight to challenge living legend, Bernard Hopkins, at 170 lbs. With Pavlik going in as a 7-1 favorite, no one expected anything other than a one-sided thrashing when the two met in Atlantic City. Well, the fight was lacking in competitiveness as a fighter that night was truly embarrassed, sadly it wasn’t the one everyone expected. One judge’s score of (118-108) reflected the unanimous decision masterpiece by Hopkins who easily handled his young adversary. Later, Kelly revealed that the higher weight made him flat, deflating his offense. He should have waited to fight Hopkins north of his usual 160-pound weight or taken a few tune-up fights to adjust but time was of the essence and glory waits for no man. One weight class is enough but again, Broner is hopping over two in his rushed desire to go down in history as a multiple-division champion. If he is lacking power or conditioning this weekend there really won’t be anyone to blame but himself when he easily could have waited for a better time to move up.

One thing is to lose humbly on points but the other is to be humiliated for the first loss in a boxer’s unblemished record. A mega-match occurred 7 years ago in the same weight as tomorrow’s clash when undefeated champions, Ricky “Hitman” Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jr. , stepped into the ring for a highly anticipated collision between elite warriors. Regrettably, Hatton’s team casually overlooked that Ricky wasn’t a true 147-pound fighter, his best success manifested as a junior welterweight. Nonetheless, the glitz and glamour of another world title overwhelmed the Brit’s logic and reason as Manchester’s hero marched forward in search for immortality. It was not to be. Hatton suffered his first defeat at the hands of Mayweather that night but also the speed and power from a true 147er resulted in a 10th round TKO loss for the “Hitman”. Like the Pavlik vs. Hopkins fight, another case of an unbeaten fighter biting off more than he can chew by traveling upwards on the scales. If Broner doesn’t bring the same hand speed and power from the lower weights, how will he digest getting hit by a bigger man?

The headliner for the Showtime main event features a star on the rise in “The Problem” challenging welterweight title holder, Malignaggi for his WBA strap. The bout is scheduled for 12 rounds inside the latest home of championship boxing, The Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York and that in itself points out a distinct advantage already going to the champ; home field advantage. If the weight is not a factor, can Broner get a fair call in “The Magic Man’s” backyard? Will the pro-east coast crowd play a role in the eyes and ears of the judges if Cincinnati’s Adrien Broner can’t put Paulie away early? With odds makers calculating Broner as a 15-1 favorite this weekend, the numbers alone tell us that Malignaggi has quite a steep hill to climb in his title defense but what allot of people might be overlooking is that Broner could have some problems of his own if he can’t make weight issues and questionable decisions vanish with a highlight reel KO. Let’s just hope both bring their best on Saturday and a classic title fight appears with both men showing some new tricks up their sleeves.