Paulie Malignaggi vs Vyacheslav Senchenko 2 (immediate rematch)

[2128778]

What if Paulie and Senchenko would've squared in an immediate rematch in October 2012, 6 months after their 1st fight?

I still don't know, why Senchenko team didn't include the rematch clause in the contract, after winning the purse bid for the 1st fight and taking it to Ukraine? Paulie was the mandatory, I get it. But as we know, there are ways to get around it.

Anyway, in an alternative plot, the rematch takes place on that inaugural Barclays Center show instead of Paulie vs Cano. Paulie went to Ukraine to snatch the belt from Senchenko, so Senchenko comes to NY for a return bout and looks to regain his title.

How do you see the rematch going?

[gilgamesh]

If he could beat Senchenko in his home country why would you expect any different when they're in Paulie's home country?

[2128778]

If he could beat Senchenko in his home country why would you expect any different when they're in Paulie's home country?

I was actually one of those who picked Paulie to win the 1st fight. That said, I happen to know Senchenko in real life and we spoke on that Paulie loss. He was pretty fair in his assessment of what went wrong and what he could've done better if that rematch occured.

Small adjustments could've been made. That eye injury might not have happened in rematch. Different cutman could've been used.

Yes, lots of "coulda", "woulda" from me here. But I don't think the gap in level between Paulie and Senchenko is that big, really. So, little differences could've made their rematch play out differently.

Senchenko landed his jab pretty well in the 1st fight. But he couldn't follow it up with his right hand. Maybe, he would've found the home for it in rematch. Pablo Cesar Cano landed that right hand regularly on Paulie.

I think, there is a way for Senchenko to win that rematch.

[gilgamesh]

I forgot that he had stopped Senchenko. It's even worse than I thought then actually. Paulie usually didn't stop anybody.

The fact that Senchenko was somebody that Paulie could stop doesn't bode well for Senchenko's chances in the rematch. Neither does the fact that he was behind on 2 of the 3 judges cards in his own home country, which probably means Paulie had won the majority of the rounds to an objective observer.

[giacomino]

I forgot that he had stopped Senchenko. It's even worse than I thought then actually. Paulie usually didn't stop anybody.

The fact that Senchenko was somebody that Paulie could stop doesn't bode well for Senchenko's chances in the rematch. Neither does the fact that he was behind on 2 of the 3 judges cards in his own home country, which probably means Paulie had won the majority of the rounds to an objective observer.

I remember watching that fight. Paulie looked like a huge step up for Senchenko, who had been fighting mediocre opposition at home. The score didn’t reflect Paulie’s domination of the fight (you’re right, Paulie couldn’t break wind with his punch). IMO Paulie would win a clear UD in a rematch.

[gilgamesh]

I forgot that he had stopped Senchenko. It's even worse than I thought then actually. Paulie usually didn't stop anybody.

The fact that Senchenko was somebody that Paulie could stop doesn't bode well for Senchenko's chances in the rematch. Neither does the fact that he was behind on 2 of the 3 judges cards in his own home country, which probably means Paulie had won the majority of the rounds to an objective observer.

I remember watching that fight. Paulie looked like a huge step up for Senchenko, who had been fighting mediocre opposition at home. The score didn’t reflect Pauline’s domination of the fight (you’re right, Paulie couldn’t break wind with his punch). IMO Paulie would win a clear UD in a rematch.

Especially if you put it in New York City. He'd be determined to look good in his hometown, and this would be a perfect chance and opponent for him to do so.

Senchenko does have it over Paulie that he beat Hatton though while Paulie couldn't. Of course Hatton wasn't the same by the time Senchenko fought him, but nevertheless it's a little feather in his cap at least.

[2128778]

I forgot that he had stopped Senchenko. It's even worse than I thought then actually. Paulie usually didn't stop anybody.

The fact that Senchenko was somebody that Paulie could stop doesn't bode well for Senchenko's chances in the rematch. Neither does the fact that he was behind on 2 of the 3 judges cards in his own home country, which probably means Paulie had won the majority of the rounds to an objective observer.

That's fair. Though, it wasn't a knockout or that Senchenko was on queer street. It was due to a closed eye. As Senchenko told me, his cutman wasn't able to cope with it.

That said, the injury was legit in that it was caused by a punch.

P.S. Might not be a reflection of how Paulie-Senchenko rematch goes, but Paulie didn't really set the world on fire in New York against Cano.

[gilgamesh]

I forgot that he had stopped Senchenko. It's even worse than I thought then actually. Paulie usually didn't stop anybody.

The fact that Senchenko was somebody that Paulie could stop doesn't bode well for Senchenko's chances in the rematch. Neither does the fact that he was behind on 2 of the 3 judges cards in his own home country, which probably means Paulie had won the majority of the rounds to an objective observer.

That's fair. Though, it wasn't a knockout or that Senchenko was on queer street. It was due to a closed eye. As Senchenko told me, his cutman wasn't able to cope with it.

That said, the injury was legit in that it was caused by a punch.

P.S. Might not be a reflection of how Paulie-Senchenko rematch goes, but Paulie didn't really set the world on fire in New York against Cano.

True. Paulie didn't really set the world on fire in general, but he was a slick boxer with speed. He was a little bit past his best by the time Senchenko came into his life, so it's not out of the question Senchenko could've won a rematch, but I can easily understand why there simply wasn't one.

I doubt anyone except Senchenko wanted a rematch.

[2128778]

I forgot that he had stopped Senchenko. It's even worse than I thought then actually. Paulie usually didn't stop anybody.

The fact that Senchenko was somebody that Paulie could stop doesn't bode well for Senchenko's chances in the rematch. Neither does the fact that he was behind on 2 of the 3 judges cards in his own home country, which probably means Paulie had won the majority of the rounds to an objective observer.

That's fair. Though, it wasn't a knockout or that Senchenko was on queer street. It was due to a closed eye. As Senchenko told me, his cutman wasn't able to cope with it.

That said, the injury was legit in that it was caused by a punch.

P.S. Might not be a reflection of how Paulie-Senchenko rematch goes, but Paulie didn't really set the world on fire in New York against Cano.

True. Paulie didn't really set the world on fire in general, but he was a slick boxer with speed. He was a little bit past his best by the time Senchenko came into his life, so it's not out of the question Senchenko could've won a rematch, but I can easily understand why there simply wasn't one.

I doubt anyone except Senchenko wanted a rematch.

Perhaps. At that time in his career, that belt was Paulie's only way to attract some big names and to get big fights - Mayweather, Khan and Hatton rematches and etc (Senchenko rematch was a step back for him).

Granted, he didn't get any of the named fights. But at least, he got the Broner fight, when the hype around AB was at its highest.