By Jim Dower: WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (32-4, 7 KO’s) made weight today for his fight against challenger Adrien Broner (26-0, 22 KO’s) tomorrow night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Looking drawn and thin, Malignaggi weighed in at 146.4 pounds. Broner looked a lot healthier in weighing in at a solid 146.8.
Malignaggi was really animated during the stare down with Broner, constantly talking and motioning for Broner to look him in the eyes. Broner turned away first and that’s when Malignaggi started getting really animated; thinking possibly that Broner was showing signs of fear. It looks like Malignaggi is trying to get an edge over Broner any way he can.
Malignaggi had dark circles under both eyes, and it’s pretty clear that it was difficult for him to take the weight off. A little over a month ago, Malignaggi had looked kind of chubby in the face, and Broner had kidded him about being overweight. There’s no question that Malignaggi had put on weight from after his close win over Pablo Cesar Cano last October.
After the weigh-in, Broner said “He needs a burger; he’s hungry. He starved to make weight. I’m going to f*** him up and then take him to get something to eat. I’m a big star; that’s why they pay me more than Paulie.”
Malignaggi said “He’s scared. When I look in his eyes, anytime I get in his face, he has this nervous smile.”
Broner didn’t look scared. He just doesn’t seem to like to stare down with his opponents because he’s not someone that tries to outstare his opponents like some fighters do.
Malignaggi is a huge underdog in this fight, as he doesn’t have the power or the speed that Broner has going for him. Malignaggi’s main weapon is his jab, but that’s probably not going to be enough to lead him to victory on Saturday night if he can’t keep Broner off of him.
***
Other weights on the card:
Sakio Bika 167.2 – Marco Antonio Periban 167.2
Seth Mitchell 243.8 – Johnathon Banks 216.6
Comments are closed.