THE END OF A DREAM
ON November 22, 2008, Paulie Malignaggi fought Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Entering the ring, Malignaggi knew that the hopes and dreams and hard work of 28 years would be distilled into a handful of three-minute segments. Everything in his life had led up to this moment. Everything in his future would be influenced by it.
Malignaggi had turned pro at age 20 on July 7, 2001. “I had my dreams,” he said later. “Nobody starts boxing to be a club fighter. I thought of boxing as a way to carve my name in history and show people that I was on this planet.”
“I’m not just going to be a champion,” Paulie told his promoter, Lou DiBella, before his first pro fight. “I’m going to the Hall of Fame.”
Later, Malignaggi elaborated on that theme, saying, “My speed discourages everyone I fight. I’ve got hand speed and foot speed, but my best weapon is my brain. I know exactly where I am in the ring at all times. I’m always thinking in there, setting my opponent up and keeping him from setting me up.”
But Malignaggi had an Achilles heel – a notable lack of power that would limit him to seven knockout wins in 44 career fights. In a way, that made his ring accomplishments all the more impressive. Often, when he went into battle, his opponent was armed with a machete while Paulie
