In a junior welterweight fight (138.5 contract weight) former unified lightweight champ Juan Diaz (35-2, 17 KOs) won a controversial twelve round unanimous decision over former IBF 140lb champ Paulie Malignaggi (26-3, 5 KOs) on Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Malignaggi got off to a good start and was landing more punches with his lightening speed. Diaz cut Malignaggi over the left eye with a punch near the end of round one and Diaz suffered a cut over the same eye from an accidental headbutt in round five.
Malignaggi completely out boxed Diaz, Diaz was just looking for the homerun knockout. If you recall my previous article “Paul Malignaggi is getting raped“, that’s exactly what happen. I talked about a few facts as to why Juan Diaz will win and one of the factors was the judges David Sutherland, from Oklahoma, scored it 116-112 for Diaz, while Caiz and Van Hoy had it 115-113 and 118-110.
Personally I have no idea what fight these judges were seing but there is no way the score should have been 116-112 and 118-110. Even HBO’s Harold Lederman had Malignaggi wining by 2 points.
“I had to deal with a lot of politics,” Malignaggi said, his voice rising with emotion. “That was ridiculous. I knew I was going to have to deal with this…I’m telling you, this state never gives a fair shake to anyone coming to this state to fight hometown fighters. It never happens.”
When Malignaggi was asked about a possible rematch with Diaz, he said: “You know I ain’t getting a rematch, this is boxing; boxing is full of shit, I used to love this sport. I cannot stand doing this. The only reason I do this is because it gives me a good payday.”
Neutral judges were supposed to be installed but it never happened. I would have been happy to see a draw or split decision but unanimous and scores like that I have to agree with Paul Malignaggi that boxing is full shit!
Former two-time featherweight champion Robert Guerrero (25-1-1, 17 KOs) won the IBF junior lightweight championship by unanimously outpointing Malcolm Klassen (24-5-2, 14 KOs) over twelve rounds. Guerrero built an early lead and despite a cut over his left eye gave as good as he got when Klassen started coming on midway through the fight. Scores were 117-111, 116-113, 116-112.
In a bout for the vacant NABO middleweight title, the “Golden Child” Daniel Jacobs (18-0, 15 KOs) won a good action ten round unanimous decision over former “Contender” cast member Ishe Smith (21-4, 9 KOs). Smith had some moments, but Jacobs was more than equal to his toughest test. Scores: 96-93, 96-93, 100-89. Referee Laurence Cole deducted a point from Smith for a late hit after round nine.
All Photos by Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/GBP
Will do Frank. Thanks again.
James, check out my web site…
Thanks Jame for your kind words.
Frank, I am honored with your response. Your family is legendary and Tony is one of the best to come out of LA and the California Hall of Fame knows it too. I wish something would change as I feel the inconsistent and tainted scoring mars the sport and turns away fans. But, thanks Frank for your enormous contributions to the local and national boxing scene. We really need to do an article on you and your family, I know your stories would educate and entertain fans on this site. I hope you and yours are well.
Diaz lost plane in simple…..he needs too move down in weight back to his original weight class, he has no business with these heavier guys,
Same thing during the undercard fights, Daniel Jacobs, he was not effective enough to hurt his opponent at all, because he should have been in the junior welter weight division.
James, it the promoter with the commission appoval that brings the “safe ” judges to work their fighters fights, if the judge doesn’t vote for the promoters fighter in a close fight, he will never work for that promoter again, keep in mind that when a fighter goes into the other fighter’s home town as Paulie and my son Tony did when he fought Howard Davs in A.C in 1983, he is not going to win unless he score a ko.
Paulie should’ve got @ least a split decision, BOTTOM LINE!…..he had Diaz bloody the entire fight, he controlled the whole fight @ his pace, nd he was never knocked down or seriously hurt……i mean to say he was runnin is stupid becuz thas just his style of boxing nd he executed it just fine in my eyes. Diaz on the other hand is a brawler/slugger nd the ONLY thing i saw him brawlin with was those cuts above his eye. he never got a chance to slug Paulie but he sure was sluggin back a whole lot of water in his corner..Diaz never got a chance to put his game plan into use nd impose his will, but paulie sure did. i had Malignaggi winning a unanimous decision, but he got fucked!…maybe next time they shud put some of that vaseline in and around his asshole so it doesn’t hurt as much the next next time they wanna screw’em. ;D
Utter bullshit in the scoring. You wonder when a commission, promoter, someone will finally call out these idiots and get some young, clear eyed, unbiased judges to do the job.
@Frank Baltazar I couldn’t say any better. Fuck those Judges.
But he didn’t win, even though the crooked judges said so.
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