Amir Khan was simply too big, too strong and too skilled for Paulie Maligniaggi tonight as he scored a 11 round stoppage over Paulie Maligniaggi. Khan won nearly every round using the same straight jab, right hand combination. He outboxed Maligniaggi and overpowered him. At the end of the fight Khan called out Marcos Maidana, who many insiders said he was ducking. Paulie simply didn’t offer enough power to keep Khan off him and was punished for it every round. Read on for a round by round coverage and final thoughts…
Round 1: Khan with his hands high using a good jab and short right hand on the inside. Another good stiff jab lands for Khan. Paulie responds with a flurry but not much lands. Khan lands another big right hand showing good precision in his punches. Khan using his height and reach advantages well landing from the outside and stepping away after landing. Round to Khan.
Round 2: Paulie coming on strong in round two but a bit short with his punches. Khan attempts to land his own but Paulie moving and ducking well. Big lead left hand lands for Khan. Both fighters throwing several combinations but not much lands clean. Round to Khan
Round 3: Both fighters jabbing and moving with Khan getting the better of it. Khan with his hands high, Paulie holding them low. It turned into a chess match this round with both fighters boxing on the outside. Round to Khan.
Round 4: Paulie not moving this round with Khan attacking with the jab. A big left hand lands for Khan. A big uppercut lands for Khan in the corner followed by a stiff jab. Paulie responds by dancing and shaking his arms. Khan lands another right hand from the outside and Paulie a short left hook. Round to Khan.
Round 5: Khan lands a good left hook to the body and attempts to follow up but the two fighters entangle in a clinch. Paulie getting out jabbed consistently. Round to Khan
Round 6: Khan continuing to jab and land big right hands. Paulie moving more this round attempting to counter. Round to Khan
Round 7: Double jabs now coming from Khan. Paulie having nothing on his punches at this point. Khan still looks strong and lands straight rights and lefts. A left hook to the body lands for Khan at the end of the round. Round to Khan.
Round 8: Khan landing jab, right hand combinations that knock Paulies head back. More jabs send back Paulies head in the middle of the ring. Round to Khan.
Round 9: Khan continues to beat Paulie with jabs and straight right hands. Khan asserts himself with a lead left hook. Paulie flicking a jab but doesn’t have anything else to answer Khan. Round to Khan
Round 10: Paulie starts the round going to the body and flicking a quick jab but Khan moves and blocks them all. Khan lands a big overhand right which sends Paulies head to the side. Round to Khan.
Round 11: Khan continues to beat Paulie to the punch landing more right hands and left jabs. Paulie has no answer for Khan and the referee comes in to stop the fight.
Final Comments: After all the talk outside of the ring Paulie simply did not have anything to deal with Khan inside of the ring. It seemed too easy for Khan. He dominated the fight. As trainer Nazim Richardson said, “Guys who talk and come in with spangles and fringes on their trunks can’t punch worth (expletive)”. And that was true tonight as Paulie had nothing for Khan. The jab to the head was the key for Khan and easily outboxed Paulie. There was nothing tonight here to suggest that Khan cannot deal with a fighter skillwise like Marcos Maidana. This was a fight where Khan built his confidence however its now time to see him against a fighter who can punch, bring on Maidana.
