Normally, when two boxers are about to square off, there’s plenty of trash talk flowing and the animosity is thick. But Zab Judah against Paulie Malignaggi on Dec. 7 at Barclays Center pits two friends who share nothing but respect.
Yet, both fighters insist their matchup won’t be dulled by their friendship.
“Yeah, Paulie and I have a great respect for each other,” Judah said recently. “But at the end of the day, there can only be one winner and I am going to take that route.”
It’s being billed as the battle of Brooklyn natives, a showdown that seemed to be a long shot years ago when the two fought in different weight classes. But it became inevitable with boxing’s emergence at Barclays Center. It’s also a testament to both boxers that they remain relevant enough to be matched up in a nationally televised main event that isn’t even a major title bout.
Judah (42-8, 29 KOs) and Malignaggi (32-5, 7 KOs) are viewed as past their primes after both won titles at junior welterweight and welterweight. But they have remained viable by being competitive against top opposition.
Malignaggi, 33, lost a split decision to unbeaten Adrien Broner last June at Barclays Center, while Judah, 36, lost a decision to unbeaten junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia last April at Barclays. The winner on Dec. 7 could get another chance at a world title.
“The competitor in me is driven by winning,” Malignaggi said. “Winning means everything to me. Yeah, Zab is someone I respect and looked up to coming up, but winning means everything to me. I’m a competitor in anything I do, especially boxing. It’s not hard to get up for a fight like this. You can still respect your opponent and still get up for a fight. We’re both wearing eight ounce gloves, so I’m sure once someone gets hit we’ll both be throwing arms at each other.”
The main event headlines what should be an entertaining card. Devon Alexander will defend his IBF welterweight title against Shawn Porter, while Erislandy Lara carries his interim WBA super welterweight title against former champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout. Also, Sakio Bika defends his WBC super middleweight title against Anthony Dirrell. Showtime will televise.
Judah and Malignaggi are technically fighting for the NABF and NABO welterweight titles, but the unofficial crown of king of Brooklyn means more.
“To be crowned the king of BK, that’s a very big accomplishment coming from Brooklyn,” Judah said. “There’s one thing a lot of people will tell you — there’s a pride about being from Brooklyn. Now we’ve got the opportunity in a sport that I’ve been in for the last 18 years of my life to be called the king of it. I’m excited for this one, and that’s where the motivation comes from on my part.”
Malignaggi agreed: “I don’t run into Adrien Broner fans in New York or other people’s fans in New York. But I can run into Zab’s fans and that is a mini-motivator itself.”
Tickets priced from $25 to $250 remain available at the usual outlets.
Sergey Kovalev makes the first defense of his WBO light heavyweight title Saturday night when he faces Ismayl Sillakh of the Ukraine from Quebec City, Canada. HBO will televise. The hard-punching Kovalev (22-0-1, 20 KOs) captured the title last August by stopping Nathan Cleverly in the fourth round in Wales. Kovalev has won 10 of his last 11 fights by stoppage. This is the first world title shot for Sillakh (21-1, 17 KOs).
“Sillakh is a dangerous fighter, one of the strongest punchers that I have fought so far,” Kovalev said. “I know that he wants to take my title, but I will not let him. I waited a long time to get the title and I intend to keep it a long, long time.”