A Boxing Fan and a Magic Man

Evening all,

Thanks for viewing this post and we’re very excited to be speaking with welterweight professional boxer, Paul ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi. Fighting out of Brooklyn in New York, Paulie has a brilliant current record of 30-4. Already on his C.V. are some big names in the boxing world and most people in the UK will already know he’s fought our very own Ricky Hatton and Amir Khan. He was declared the IBF Light Welterweight Champion in 2007 and is currently preparing for a WBA World title fight in a weeks time against unbeaten Vyacheslav Senchenko. Paulie is always on Twitter, if you’d like to follow him you can do so over @PaulMalignaggi. Okay, lets goooooooooo!

PS
Hi Paulie and thanks again for agreeing to do this interview. I guess the first question has to be how old we’re you when you first put on a pair of boxing gloves?

PM
I was about 13 years old.

PS
I think its fair to say you love Twitter. In fact you’re the Twitter King! What I love about you is that you always find the time to reply to your fans. Something which not everybody does! Be honest with me though, do the haters touch a nerve sometimes?

PM
Maybe, if it was 15 years ago but now I’ve heard and seen it all. They say the same stuff over and over so I’m use to it. I keep it moving and just laugh.

PS
Is it possible to describe a typical day in the gym?

PM
I get to the gym and use the jump rope to get a sweet going. Then I shadowbox, do some pad work, bag work, then back on the jump rope but heavy then finish off with some ab work.

PS
There’s been a few boxing movies made over the years, what’s your favourite?

PM
The Fighter was great, Rocky of course and Raging Bull is a classic.

PS
Who do you think has been the UK’s greatest boxer of all time?

PM
Man, that’s a tough one! I don’t think I can answer that.

PS
I live in the UK and you’ve fought two of our boxing greats in Hatton and Khan. Who was technically the better boxer between the two?

PM
LOL! That’s easy. Khan is a better boxer. Hatton was a tough come forward fighter.

PS
You’ve fought in the UK once, what did you make of our Country and would you come back?

PM
Loved it and yes hopefully soon! The UK fans are great!

PS
You currently have an excellent record with fights against some big names. No-one can ever say you’ve ducked anyone! I read somewhere that you said Cotto was the hardest you’ve ever fought, how do you think he’ll do against Floyd?

PM
Floyd will know he was in a fight that’s for sure. Cotto is a hard hitter.

PS
In your fight against Cotto, it was rumoured in the UK you suffered a broken jaw, was that true? On that note, I just want to take this opportunity to say thank-you for playing your part in that fight. It’s still one of the best fights I’ve ever seen.

PM
Thank-you for the love it’s an honor. No, I didn’t have a broken jaw. I had a broken orbital bone.

PS
Bit of a stupid question as I already know the answer but how special was it to win the IBF title in 2007?

PM
That’s a day I’ll never forget and a story I can tell my kids.

PS
What does the future hold for you after you hang up your gloves?

PM
No clue! LOL! That’s a good question and I need to answer myself. Ha!

PS
My wife just asked me what I’m doing and I told her I’m emailing the Twitter king. After I told her your real name (she’s not that big on boxing or Twitter) she replied “Oh yes, is that the guy who had his hair-cut halfway through a fight in the UK?” Sorry Paulie! LOL!

PM
LOL! It’s all good! At least I’ll be remembered!

PS
Thanks again Paulie and all the best against Senchenko. Bring home the belt champ!

PM
No problem and will do!