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Outrageous,Outspoken and not willing to be Outdone An Interview with Paulie Malignaggi

posted by Kathleen Holland on June 11, 2008, in Punch Lines By Judi Abate

By Judi Abate
Boxing Diva

Love him or hate him...he's just Paulie. Yes, he is the IBF Jr. Welterweight champ of the world with an impressive record of 25-1-0 and he's also anything but a choir boy. The way he comes across to most of the boxing community be it, blunt, outlandish or cocky with an oversized personality is just one side of Paulie Malignaggi there are many sides yet to be discovered if you take the time to look deep enough. No one can deny that Paulie has the looks that turn peoples heads. Paulie is the whole package.

Truthfully I didn't exactly know what to expect from Paulie during this phone interview. Would he be outgoing and accommodating during our conversation or would he be bitter and sarcastic from mounds of criticism he has been receiving concerning his last fight with Lovemore N'dou? ( He did win the fight by SD but that isn't what all the buzz has been about.) Paulie was laid back and extremely talkative which made the time spent with him very memorable. Somewhere, somehow during this interview I became a true believer in the 'wonder' that is Paulie.

One of the questions, I asked Paulie knowing that everyone has an opinion of him be it good or bad, What were the qualities he admired in others? Instantaneously he replied honesty. He doesn't deal well with people who put up fronts. He doesn't want or need people around him telling him he looks good in training when in reality he sucks. Paulie can deal with the truth if people have the courage to give it to him straight and back it up with facts. Seeing Paulie so human made an enormous impression on me.

Paulie's answers tell alot about the person he is on the inside and not how he appears to the masses. You can complain about his hair or lack of it, you can complain about his trucks, aka the skirt and we surely have had opportunities to complain about his overall loud mouth but when you realize that is only showmanship you begin to see the real Paulie underneath it all.

In the name of honesty, I had to admit to Paulie that I wasn't always a fan of his. He understood. That alone spoke volumes on his mature and realistic views. I preceded to explain to him how and why that changed. His die hard performance against Miguel Cotto had made a true fan out of me but also having this opportunity to speak with him and to get to know what makes him tick has increased my respect for him and his boxing ability, heart and dedication ten times over.

Paulie is nothing I expected him to be and everything I hoped he would. A very impressive boxer, a terrific, down to earth good guy and a very unique individual who can make you do a complete 360 in your opinion of him without you even knowing what hit you. Paulie is BELLISIMO.

Let's talk to Paulie:

JA Looking back on your last fight what is your reaction?
PM I'm a little bit disappointed. I'm my own worst critic when it comes to my performance in the ring. I wish I could have shown my best. I could have done better. Breaking my hand didn't help.

JA How did training camp help you win this bout?
PM I was in good shape. Going the distance was not a problem at all. I tried to be smart during this fight.

JA Being a rematch do you think that made the fight any easier?
PM Lovemore is a tough fighter and I knew he would give it his all.

JA There's talk of you and Ricky Hatton in the fall. Who do feel wants the fight more?
PM I want it more. I want to leave my mark on the sport. I will take care of Hatton for sure.

JA Are you thinking ahead to the future, beyond Hatton?
PM I have to readjust my goals because of the hand injury. I will definitely make the most of the fights I have left.

JA How big of a difference is there between the real Paulie and your ring persona?
PM I'm laid back and enjoy being able to chill. My ring persona is explosive. I'm kinda like the Incredible Hulk. I prefer to be real, myself.

JA Will there be any problem with you motivating yourself for the Hatton fight because of the hand injury?
PM No. I'm plenty motivated. I want to be in the gym now. I want to train but can't at this time. I'm ready to go even with the hand being injured.

JA What is your reply when people say you haven't enough punching power?
PM Everyone has an opinion. I have had alot of surgeries and yet my punching power has been enough to be successful.

JA What is your greatest boxing memory?
PM Winning the World Championship

JA What is your funniest boxing memory?
PM When I was 15 it was my first day of sparring and my trainer said to go get my equipment. I did and came into the gym with the cup on my head and told my trainer it didn't fit. Everyone was laughing and finally they told me what and where the cup belonged.

JA What is your most painful memory?
PM Physically, it was the second time I broke my hand. Emotionally, it was losing to Cotto.

JA What qualities do you most admire in people?
PM Honesty.

JA Do you feel you're a prima donna boxer?
PM I value my looks. But fighting with the injuries I've had does not make me pampered at all.

JA What comes easiest to you in boxing.
PM I'm not sure. I'm a good listener. I picked up boxing quickly at 16. It's something I just get.

JA You are very outspoken, is this talk gamesmanship or something more?
PM It's a little bit gamesmanship and a little bit of being brutally honest.

JA I have to mention the mask and the dread locks. What were you thinking?
PM I have a reputation for being a flashy boxer. It was a new country and I wanted to do something to impress the fans so that they would remember me. It was a learning experience. I was trying to hard to impress people with my antics and not doing enough to impress them with my skills. It's the first and last time for the dreads.

JA I don't know if you had to ever field comments on your trunks but is there a reason you like that particular style?
PM I've tried to emulate Hector Camacho. They are actually more comfortable than shorts.

JA Favorite color?
PM Anything that stands out and says look at me.

JA Favorite food?
PM I like to eat. Since I'm Italian I love all that type of food. Rigatoni with vodka sauce is one of my favorites but I also like many types of food.

JA Favorite snack?
PM Chocolate bars

JA One thing people would never guess about you?
PM My ring music is completely different than the type of music I listen to leading up to the fight. I like to listen to 80's rock music.

JA If you could be an animal you would be...
PM In the ring, a tiger refusing to go down. In real life, any animal that likes to relax and chill.

JA If you could have a superhero power it would be...
PM The ability to fly.

JA 3 words to describe your personality.
PM Sometimes outgoing, sometimes timid and all thetime real.

JA What is one thing that is always in your frige?
PM Water. I like to keep hydrated.

PM This is a pretty cool interview. Some interviews ask the same old questions 10 times over and it gets old.
JA Thanks. I try to ask questions that will give the boxer a voice as well as show the fans that there is another side to every boxer.

JA How do you relax?
PM Sleeping and spending time with friends.

JA What one modern convenience can you not live without?
PM My cellphone and my car.

JA Does it bother you to be confused with John Gotti's grandchildren?
PM No. Success is success. I was mistaken for them earlier in my career and I just wished people would know who I was.

JA Who are some of your favorite fighters today?
PM Floyd Mayweather Jr. He has the ability to look good every time he goes into the ring. I truly appreciate his ability to make decisions while in the ring.

JA What are you afraid of?
PM Failure in boxing and in life.

JA What do you think about women's boxing?
PM To each her own. They have a right to do what they want to do. Woman boxing needs to be brought into the spotlight.

JA What do you think of MMA?
PM It's a combat sport and I respect them.

Ja What is your pet peeve?
PM People who eat in front of me when I'm in training camp and people who tell me what I want to hear instead of telling me the truth.

JA Favorite ice cream?
PM Vanilla soft serve with rainbow sprinkles from the Mr. Softie truck.
JA Totally!

JA When training your usually in bed by...
PM 12-1am. I run at night and am not a morning person.

JA Getting back to some serious business. Will you give a Cotto performance against Hatton?
PM I will give it my all. I will make smarter decisions and remain calmer. After the Cotto fight people respected me alot more.
JA That is true for me as well.
PM No one knows how I was fighting hurt in many of my fights. People judge me by my mouth and appearance but they need to judge me on my boxing skills and heart that is what really matters.
I just don't know why people want to hate on me. I guess it's easier to be the bad guy then the nice guy.

JA To gain more respect in the sport do you feel you need to KO Hatton?
PM It would be great. It would be very special for my career.

JA Would you like a rematch with Miquel Cotto?
PM I always wanted it. I have to pick and choose my bouts carefully. This is the fourth time I broke my hand in five years. I might have 5 or 6 fights left.

JA Are you worried about breaking your hand again?
PM It's been broken so many times I'm not too worried. To be honest, I'm upbeat and thinking positive thoughts.The surgery went well and soon I'll be ready to get back to training and fighting.

JA Before we wrap up, How can we keep boxing strong?
PM Weed out the hypocrites. Selfish people are ruining the sport of boxing.

JA Any closing words to your fans?
PM I appreciate all my fans. I wish I could box longer for them but I have to look after my future. I will have to play it by ear. I want to be able to have use of my right hand after I leave boxing. I will definitely go out with a bang when the time comes.
People hate on me now saying I'm this and I'm that but I bet they will miss me when I'm gone and appreciate me more than when they had me around. Thank you for the interview. It was pretty cool.
JA It was my pleasure.

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