Malignaggi beats N'Dou for IBF junior welterweight title
June 17, 2007
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) -- Paul Malignaggi won the IBF junior welterweight title Saturday night, outpointing champion Lovemore Ndou in a lopsided unanimous decision.
Malignaggi (23-1) used his speed and quickness to keep N'dou at bay. He landed a left-hook counter in the ninth round to score the fight's only knockdown.
Two judges scored it 120-106. One judge scored it 118-108.
Malignaggi's best weapon was his jab, which he landed often throughout the fight. He also threw several combinations that landed, and was the far more effective counter-puncher.
The 35-year-old Ndou, from Australia, spent a majority of the bout pursuing Malignaggi, but most of his punches were blocked.
A frustrated Ndou (45-9-1) had a point taken away in Round 6 after repeatedly hitting Malignaggi in the back of the head. Ndou landed one good right hand in Round 8, his best round of the fight.
The loss snapped a six-fight winning streak for N'dou, who captured the IBF title in Australia in February. He won a technical decision over Naoufel Ben Rabah.
It was Malignaggi's second title bout. The 26-year-old from New York lost a unanimous decision to Miguel Cotto in June, 2006 for the WBO light welterweight title.
Ndou was making his first title defense. He also lost a title fight by unanimous decision to Cotto in May, 2004.
June 17, 2007
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) -- Paul Malignaggi won the IBF junior welterweight title Saturday night, outpointing champion Lovemore Ndou in a lopsided unanimous decision.
Malignaggi (23-1) used his speed and quickness to keep N'dou at bay. He landed a left-hook counter in the ninth round to score the fight's only knockdown.
Two judges scored it 120-106. One judge scored it 118-108.
Malignaggi's best weapon was his jab, which he landed often throughout the fight. He also threw several combinations that landed, and was the far more effective counter-puncher.
The 35-year-old Ndou, from Australia, spent a majority of the bout pursuing Malignaggi, but most of his punches were blocked.
A frustrated Ndou (45-9-1) had a point taken away in Round 6 after repeatedly hitting Malignaggi in the back of the head. Ndou landed one good right hand in Round 8, his best round of the fight.
The loss snapped a six-fight winning streak for N'dou, who captured the IBF title in Australia in February. He won a technical decision over Naoufel Ben Rabah.
It was Malignaggi's second title bout. The 26-year-old from New York lost a unanimous decision to Miguel Cotto in June, 2006 for the WBO light welterweight title.
Ndou was making his first title defense. He also lost a title fight by unanimous decision to Cotto in May, 2004.
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