BoxRec

It's unlikely that this fight would happen anytime soon if ever, but I'm curious to know what people think about the matchup. Amir would have to move up 5lbs to the junior welterweight division (140 lbs), but I think it would be a good fight. Two fast handed boxers who both have pretty exciting styles (imo). I'm not really sure who would win this fight, but Paulie would have the advantage because he has a better chin, more experience and is the bigger fighter, but he doesn't have much power.

Amir Khan: 15-0 (12 KOs)

Paulie Malignaggi: 24-1 (5 KOs)

EDIT: Also interested in knowing what people think of Khan vs Edner Cherry?

As good as Khan is, PMag is a world class professional.

Khan would lose easily right now.

After watching Ngoudjo rocking Malignaggi allover the ring I could really see Kahn knocing him out in 3.

Malignaggi, despite his dubious Guido styling, has proved his mettle in that brutal fight with Cotto. This, coupled with his experience on the world stage, would negate Amir's advantages in speed and size at this moment in time.

Khan is still a relatively green pro. In a couple of years it will be a whole different matter.

Hagler2002 wrote:After watching Ngoudjo rocking Malignaggi allover the ring I could really see Kahn knocing him out in 3.

Same here, but I've only seen that fight from Malignaggi (and bits of the Cotto one). Malignaggi was rocked in that fight, and Ngoudjo could have ended it had he been a better/more powerful boxer.

Khan is better on the attack than Ngoudjo, so he certainly has a chace, however he also has a worse chin, and I think either could stop eachother, good fight actually.

I can't believe there are people on here seriously trying to make the case for Khan blowing away a current world champ one weight division up from the one he's been operating in.
While Malignaggi clearly has his flaws, he lasted 12 with Cotto and boxed the ears off N'Dou and Cherry.
Khan, meanwhile, was given a world of trouble by Limond and has yet to face anything remotely close to world-class.
One of Khan's greatest, if not his absolute greatest assets, is his speed, yet Malignaggi's strength in this department would mean Khan's usual advantage would be negated.
I'm not entirely dismissing Amir, and could happily accept a case for him beating Paulie in a couple of years' time, but to talk about him winning that fight now seems optimistic to say the least, while a KO in 3 is just nonsense IMO.

Malig is over rated but he is a world class fighter at the weight above.

One point not mentioned, it's clear Cotto wasn't himself at 140. The Cotto we've seen at 147 would stop Malignaggi without a doubt. Fair play to Malignaggi for going the distance in that brutal fight but Cotto was a shell of himself in there due to the weight making.

This talk is very premature. How about talking about Khan's prospects against world champs in his own division?

nickd wrote:One point not mentioned, it's clear Cotto wasn't himself at 140. The Cotto we've seen at 147 would stop Malignaggi without a doubt. Fair play to Malignaggi for going the distance in that brutal fight but Cotto was a shell of himself in there due to the weight making.

This talk is very premature. How about talking about Khan's prospects against world champs in his own division?

I agree that Cotto wasn't as effective at 140 due to weight-making issues, but a shell of Cotto is still light years ahead of the Willie Limonds of this world.

I'd pick Khan against Malignaggi too. Khan's chin has nothing to worry about against Malignaggi. Khan has better skills than Malignaggi. He has a better offensive arsenal. Khan is bigger and stronger than Malignaggi despite fighting at a lower weight class. He has better stamina

The only thing Malignaggi probably does better is he has a decent chin BUT given he doesn't have any sort of punch he bares no threat to Khan.

nickd wrote:This talk is very premature. How about talking about Khan's prospects against world champs in his own division?

Juan Diaz at 135 is a league above Malignaggi.

I think a couple of years down the road Khan-Diaz may happen. Khan is faster, naturally bigger, and Diaz is the better at mid-range. I think this will be a close fight when it eventually happens and I think the styles with both throwing combinations will make it Barrera-Morales type backburner

David Diaz - Khan should outbox David but David has some serious power so David has the punchers chance. If it goes the distance Khan UD

Casamaya - tricky fight that makes Khan look silly. But Khan outworks and outmuscles Casa at this stage based on Casas last outing

Katsidis - tough 50-50 match up imo. Khan is technically better with more compact punches, Katsidis is probably the more natural brawler. We'd have to see how Khan does when he gets pulled into the trenches. Katsidis probably has the skill to make Khan exchange with him.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote: The only thing Malignaggi probably does better is he has a decent chin BUT given he doesn't have any sort of punch he bares no threat to Khan.

With that line of thinking PN it would seem that all Khan has to fear from a world class fighter a weight division above him is punching power, which obviously New York's finest Guido doesn't have.

That said, it wasn't punching power that saw Limond put Khan on queer street, but well timed counter punching. I am sure you would agree that Malignaggi has the ability to deliver well timed counter punches?

Its not always the hardest punch that puts you away; more often its the one you dont see, or at least dont expect..

Malignaggi would give Khan more problems then many on here are giving him credit for.

Deserter wrote:

nickd wrote:One point not mentioned, it's clear Cotto wasn't himself at 140. The Cotto we've seen at 147 would stop Malignaggi without a doubt. Fair play to Malignaggi for going the distance in that brutal fight but Cotto was a shell of himself in there due to the weight making.

This talk is very premature. How about talking about Khan's prospects against world champs in his own division?

I agree that Cotto wasn't as effective at 140 due to weight-making issues, but a shell of Cotto is still light years ahead of the Willie Limonds of this world.

Totally.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:

nickd wrote:This talk is very premature. How about talking about Khan's prospects against world champs in his own division?

Juan Diaz at 135 is a league above Malignaggi.

I think a couple of years down the road Khan-Diaz may happen. Khan is faster, naturally bigger, and Diaz is the better at mid-range. I think this will be a close fight when it eventually happens and I think the styles with both throwing combinations will make it Barrera-Morales type backburner

David Diaz - Khan should outbox David but David has some serious power so David has the punchers chance. If it goes the distance Khan UD

Casamaya - tricky fight that makes Khan look silly. But Khan outworks and outmuscles Casa at this stage based on Casas last outing

Katsidis - tough 50-50 match up imo. Khan is technically better with more compact punches, Katsidis is probably the more natural brawler. We'd have to see how Khan does when he gets pulled into the trenches. Katsidis probably has the skill to make Khan exchange with him.

Good work.

I think Casamayor is a very winnable fight for Khan in a couple of fights time, he looks spent to me. That's the easiest and lowest risk title fight for him as it stands at the moment IMO.

Right now I think Katsidis might behead him. Khan's chin is still a major worry and Katsidis can crack with the best of them at 135. However Khan is technically far better and quicker.

Not sure if Khan will ever be ready for Baby Bull, he's a special talent I can see him ruling the roost for a long time at 135 and maybe 140.

David Diaz is another winnable fight for Khan although he would have to keep his chin protected.

So in order of winnable title fights for him I would say....

Casamayor
David Diaz
Katsidis
Baby Bull

Another thing to consider, does Limond hit harder than Malignaggi? I think not.

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:I'd pick Khan against Malignaggi too. Khan's chin has nothing to worry about against Malignaggi. Khan has better skills than Malignaggi. He has a better offensive arsenal. Khan is bigger and stronger than Malignaggi despite fighting at a lower weight class. He has better stamina

The only thing Malignaggi probably does better is he has a decent chin BUT given he doesn't have any sort of punch he bares no threat to Khan.

Fella, for someone who usually posts informed comments this is laughable. There's no way Malignaggi punches any weaker than Limond, Khan hasn't proven his skills at anything beyond domestic level yet and as for stamina, Malignaggi's gone the distance with a far higher calibre of opposition than Khan.
At this stage Khan remains completely unproven at world-class level so these sort of statements are impossible to back up with evidence.

Asterix wrote:

Hagler2002 wrote:After watching Ngoudjo rocking Malignaggi allover the ring I could really see Kahn knocing him out in 3.

Same here, but I've only seen that fight from Malignaggi (and bits of the Cotto one). Malignaggi was rocked in that fight, and Ngoudjo could have ended it had he been a better/more powerful boxer.

Agree. I thought Paulie might have been the future of the division, but after watching Ngoudjo getting robbed for the second time I'm not so sure now.

Khan has potential that far exceeds Malignaggi. Amir has excellent speed, has shown some power and some very keen finishing skills, though he has yet to fully mature. Malignaggi has picked up a title belt, lost to Cotto, beaten Ndou and barely scraped past Ngoudjo. We've seen the best of Paulie & it's not that great.

Autobarn wrote:Khan has potential that far exceeds Malignaggi. Amir has excellent speed, has shown some power and some very keen finishing skills, though he has yet to fully mature. Malignaggi has picked up a title belt, lost to Cotto, beaten Ndou and barely scraped past Ngoudjo. We've seen the best of Paulie & it's not that great.

And the defining word in that comment is 'potential'... all this talk of him KO'ing Malignaggi in 3 is ridiculously premature.

malignaggi is nowt special he only lasted the distance with cotto because cotto was weakened by weight making difficulties

Khan's not ready for world class at the moment. I think his career is now progressing at the right pace. At the moment, Paulie would make him look the relative novice he is, but in a couple of years it would probably be a different story. I think Khan should forget about trying to break Hamed's record as youngest British world champ and stop this talk of retiring at 24. He probably won't enter his prime until he's about 26 and that could be at 147. I think he's ready for 140 now (he now looks huge for a lightweight), but not for world class. If this means not fighting for a title at 135, then so be it, as bad defeats at the hands of a Diaz or Katsidis could result in his being damaged goods before reaching his peak. If - big IF - Paulie's still around in a couple of years, Amir can beat him and possibly own 140, as Hatton and Witter will more than likely be gone and, judging by the spare tyre around his middle at 135, I can't see Baby Bull moving up, unless it was for a showdown with Hatton.

Deserter wrote:

Autobarn wrote:Khan has potential that far exceeds Malignaggi. Amir has excellent speed, has shown some power and some very keen finishing skills, though he has yet to fully mature. Malignaggi has picked up a title belt, lost to Cotto, beaten Ndou and barely scraped past Ngoudjo. We've seen the best of Paulie & it's not that great.

And the defining word in that comment is 'potential'... all this talk of him KO'ing Malignaggi in 3 is ridiculously premature.

sur,e it's a fight that would never be made for at least 3 years

Deserter wrote:

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:I'd pick Khan against Malignaggi too. Khan's chin has nothing to worry about against Malignaggi. Khan has better skills than Malignaggi. He has a better offensive arsenal. Khan is bigger and stronger than Malignaggi despite fighting at a lower weight class. He has better stamina

The only thing Malignaggi probably does better is he has a decent chin BUT given he doesn't have any sort of punch he bares no threat to Khan.

Fella, for someone who usually posts informed comments this is laughable. There's no way Malignaggi punches any weaker than Limond, Khan hasn't proven his skills at anything beyond domestic level yet and as for stamina, Malignaggi's gone the distance with a far higher calibre of opposition than Khan.
At this stage Khan remains completely unproven at world-class level so these sort of statements are impossible to back up with evidence.

I'm just of the opinion that Khan has far greater talent than Malignaggi and this would be a good style match up for Khan. I'm of the oinion that Limmond was a bannana skin that Khan won't slip up on again. I'm also of the opinion that Khan doesn't have the china chin hes made out to have

All very premature this eh

Why not compare him to other young prospects he`ll likely have to meet along the way.

What about Devon Alexander?
I know he too is a division up, but Khan will be this weight by the time he is given the chance.