Billy’s Boxing Blog

I can’t imagine any scenario that calls for a rematch more than this. And can you imagine how big that fight would be in New York City?

Likewise after speaking to Paulie on a separate call, their thinking is exactly the same. Said Paulie, “I know nothing is going to get changed but what I would like is to get a rematch. If they can do that I will be happy. If HBO would put up the money and force Diaz and his people into giving me a rematch, because I don’t think Diaz wants to see me again. But if HBO would put up enough money to make a rematch feasible to them and agreeable to me then maybe we can get a rematch.”

And when you cut through all the horse hockey that went down this weekend the fact of the matter is it was a darn good fight and would likely be even better in the sequel. A thought that both DiBella and Malignaggi agreed with. ” It’s a fight everybody would want to see. The right thing to do by HBO and Diaz’s people is to make this rematch happen. We can do it on neutral ground or we can even do it at The Garden in New York, I am sure plenty of people will show up. Madison Square Garden is the mecca of boxing, let’s do it there,” said Paulie. 

As to his outburst after the fight Paulie stuck to his guns but softened his stance just a bit saying, “ I still agree whole heartedly about what I said about me winning after the fight. The only thing I said about I used to love boxing but now I hate boxing was wrong, I love boxing, I just hate what people have done with it. It’s a noble and beautiful sport but people have ruined it, and I wish that’s how I said it on Saturday night.”

After going to everyone he could beforehand and getting no help whatsoever it’s not hard to see why Paulie was so upset. “That’s why I made the point about all this before the fight, I saw this coming. I reached out for a helping hand before the fight and nobody in boxing circles, media, no one reached back to help me out. That’s why boxing will always be a joke…people won’t help fix it. You had a chance right there to help boxing and everyone just sat back and watched. That’s what makes boxing a joke and it’s why boxing is not a main stream sport anymore,” Malignaggi stated firmly.

Lou co-signed on Paulie’s thoughts by saying, ” Paulie went to anybody he could beforehand not to let exactly what went down happen, and the funny part is his worst fears came true.”

And just in case you forgot what those fears were allow me to quote DiBella who ran down the scenario point by point, ” I had no leverage as Paulie’s promoter, none! They made him jump through hoops so we had to agree to a ridiculous weight that caused the kid to suck down to nothing…138.5 pounds! He hasn’t made that weight in 7 years. There was the small ring, everything was stacked against Paulie and the one thing he was really counting on was the neutrality of officials because he new he was going into the lions den and he was always afraid of fighting in Texas.”

Personally I have heard about this promise of neutral officials from more than one source but anyone who looks at the list of assigned officials on Saturday night knows darn well that either there was no promise made or the promise was broken. You go ahead and decide for yourselves what you believe to be true.

What no one can deny is the controversy left in the aftermath. Likewise no one can deny the fact that this was a pretty darn good fight, and I think most hardcore boxing fans would agree that they would like to see a rematch.

The question is will someone, anyone step up to the plate and do the right thing by letting these two young fighters settle this in the ring on neutral ground.  

If you are a promoter who started your company with the mission statement claiming your company, strives to become the leading Boxing Promotional Company through integrity, honesty, hard work and determination, then I think you should already know the answer to that question.

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