Jerry Glick reporting: Paul “Magic Man” Malignaggi took time away from his serious training to give the media and local fans the opportunity to see his progress as he prepares to meet Amir Khan, 22-1 (16 KOs), for the Brit’s WBA Junior-Welterweight belt.
Former World Junior-Welterweight Champion Malignaggi, 27-3 (5 KOs), met the media at The Evolution Boxing Gym in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Why in Bensonhurst? Because that’s where Paulie lives when he’s not in Florida, and he wanted to have his open to the public workout where his neighbors could come and see him as he prepares for his shot at Amir Khan’s belt at Madison Square Garden on May 15th. The show will be promoted by Golden Boy and DiBella Entertainment. Also on the show will be a showdown between former world champ Nate Campbell and Victor Ortiz.
Malignaggi worked out in the ring shadow boxing to a rap song called “Magic Man” by The Six Seven Mob. He worked the pads with trainer, Sherif Younan, and hit the various punching bags including the heavy bag and the speed bag.
Malignaggi looked as fit as ever with not an ounce of fat anywhere on his body. He punched fast and appeared to be putting more power behind his jabs and combinations while retaining his speed.
He remarked that he will wait to see if Khan has the good speed that his trainer Freddy Roach has said he has.
“When you’re in there with someone who knows what they’re doing, that’s the key. Everyone could be fast with a bunch of bums,” said a sweaty, but not winded challenger as he sat fielding questions after he worked out.
The trash talk has begun with team Khan promising to stop Malignaggi in three rounds, but the Brooklyn fighter said that he’s heard all that before.
Malignaggi has been training in a gym that is hidden away in Coney Island. Don’t look for it because there is no sign, and it doesn’t need one because it has no name. Rather than go to a training camp in the mountains, Malignaggi decided that he would situate himself in familiar surroundings while at the same time he has solitude and he can get back to the basic boxing scene; no one there trying to lose weight; no non-boxing people, no distractions.
“That place has been around for awhile. It’s in the projects. There are no signs, so you really don’t know it’s there unless you know it’s there,” said Malignaggi. “It’s really private, it’s ghetto. You get back to your roots, in a way; kind of like Rocky III, that kind of thing.”
He is training there because only boxers go there.
“You don’t get any white collar people showing up to take the ring when you need it, or hitting the speed bag when you need it. Nobody is going to go into that gym unless they’re a fighter. When I’m training I want to stay focused. I’m a people person, but when I’m training I don’t want to be bothered.”
THE HAND
“The hand (issues) of the past are a thing of the past,” said the former IBF 140 pound champion. “I feel healthy. I feel strong. I got my strength coach (Mike Camp); I got my head trainer, Sharif in there. I made the right changes.”
Malignaggi repeated for emphasis, “I made the changes. I had some stupid ass managers, stupid ass trainers, and now finally that’s a thing of the past. I am going to live and die by my own decisions.”
MALIGNAGGI ON ROACH
Khan’s trainer Freddy Roach was quoted as saying that Malignaggi won’t last three rounds.
“I’m worried man,” mocked Paulie. “Look how scared I am. Amir is a little bit naïve about what he’s getting himself into. Freddy Roach knows what he’s getting into. He just likes to talk. He’s a little bit of an egomaniac. He had shitty career as a fighter; as a trainer now he’s trying to get it back.”
Malignaggi added that when Roach talks the media reacts, according to him. With a success like Pacquiao under his belt boxing folks do tend to look up when Roach speaks.
“He wants his name in the press,” said Malignaggi. “The guy’s an egomaniac.”
PUNCHLINES
SADAM ALI
Also in attendance was young welterweight prospect Sadam Ali who is undefeated in six fights with three by knockout. He and his dad, Dave, are currently building a new gym in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn called “The World Kid Ali Sports and the Sadam Ali Gym.” There is nothing like thinking ahead and opening a boxing gym is something that most fighters don’t think about until after they retire from the ring. The grand opening will be announced soon.
EVOLUTION GYM
The gym where Malignaggi worked out for the media, located on 86th Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, was small but functional with rustic looking bare brick walls that give it a feel of an old boxing gym. The owner Anthony Pezzolanti teaches boxing there. He was very pleased to have a neighborhood champion pick his establishment to work out in for the media.
“It’s an honor having Paulie Malignaggi doing an open work out in our facility,” said Pezzolanti. “He’s really giving back to our community.”
Having seen the workout, he is indeed hitting a lot harder than usual
