Brooklynâs Paulie Malignaggi and Herman Ngoudjo of Canada werenât exactly spreading good cheer when they got together on a conference call with reporters.
By GEORGE WILLIS
Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007–Brooklynâs Paulie Malignaggi and Herman Ngoudjo of Canada werenât exactly spreading good cheer today when they got together on a conference call with reporters. Before any questions could be asked, Malignaggi and Ngoudjo launched into their own verbal sparring, trading insults, trashtalk and vows to beat the otherâs butt.
The two will meet in the ring on Jan. 5 at Ballyâs in Atlantic City when Malignaggi makes the first defense of the IBF junior welterweight title he earned last June by out-pointing Lovemore Ndou. Showtime will televise.
Malignaggi accused Ngoudjo, the mandatory challenger, of ârunning his mouth,â just before the teleconference began. âIâve said nothing but respectful things about him until today,â Malignaggi said. âI looked at him as a workmanlike fighter. Now heâs a workmanlike fighter with a big mouth.â
Never at a loss for words, Malignaggi told Ngoudjo, âYou’re going to fight the best fighter youâve ever fought in your life. Iâm going to punish you. Iâm going to use your head like a pin-ball, and Iâm going to remind you about this conversation when itâs the fifth and sixth rounds and Iâm kicking your (butt).â
Malignaggi (23-1, 5 KOs) was hoping to lure a big-name opponent for his first title defense and was frustrated it took six months to get back in the ring. But a victory over Ndou could land him a date with Ricky Hatton later in 2008. Hattonâs attorney has said Hatton plans to fight in the UK before possibily facing Malignaggi in Madison Square Garden.
The first step for Malignaggi is to defeat Ngoudjo (16-1, 9 KOs), who lost a split decision to Jose Louis Castillo last January. âThis is the chance for Paulie to show people why heâs a future star,â said Malignaggiâs promoter Lou DiBella.
The under card features some prominent names: including Ndou, unbeaten Philly heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon, and former light heavyweight champion Glen Johnson.
Tickets priced at $250 and $125 are on sale at the Ballyâs Box Office, by calling DiBella Entertainment at (212) 947-2577, or at http://www.TicketMaster.com.