Broner Split Decisions Malignaggi in Dangerous Unlevel Ring at Barclays Center
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Head Boxing Correspondent
Brooklyn,NY (June 23rd, 2013)– The show must go on is a well-known phrase in show business, meaning that even in the presence of troubles or difficulties, the show must still continue for the waiting patrons. This reflects onto boxing the fact that the fans themselves are unlikely to know about what problem exists unless they know about it beforehand, as the live boxing show is something that transcends reality.
Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner may have somehow won a split decision over Paulie Malignaggi, but the real ‘problem’ story was the dangerous unlevel ring in place for the fight card, which became more evident as time progressed. By the time Broner versus Malignaggi went live for the main event on Showtime and center stage at Barclays Center on Saturday night, June 22, 2013, the center of the ring was an uphill, and the sides of the ring were a downhill. Malignaggi, whose goal was to avoid getting caught on the ropes, fought an uphill battle-literally-in center ring.
The unlevel ring, which represented a safety danger, was evident when the referee was overheard on television telling both fight corners “There’s nothing we can do about it.” As such, the last three bouts, all titular, should be declared no-contest.
Maliganggi, the ‘Magic Man’, appeared to win the first six rounds and the tenth round on punch volume. Malignaggi excelled in body combination jabs cutting a furious fast pace for the first six rounds. Malignaggi also outpunched Broner in the eighth round. While many rounds were close, the televised commentary was exactly like Malignaggi had predicted-the commentary apparently had stars in its eyes for Broner as ‘the next Floyd Mayweather’. Broner, who lost the first three rounds at lightweight to short Gavin Rees, could not hurt Paulie in the slightest after moving up from lightweight to welterweight.
Paulie could not hit with power, but his body work was accurate and effective. Malignaggi’s game plan, to score with jab combinations to the body while moving left and right, was carried out to perfection. Broner, who starts slow, carried out his game plan to to land his power shots in the later rounds. Maliganggi’s pace slowed in the second half of the fight, but he jabs and counterjabbed well enough while moving to keep the bout interesting and competitive.
Real Combat Media scored the bout 115-113 for Broner, but we admit many of these rounds were very close and difficult to score. Broner, 23, Cincinnati, Ohio, is now 27-0, 22 knockouts. Malignaggi, 32, Brooklyn, New York, is now 32-5, seven knockouts. Judging by the way Tom Schreck had the bout scored 117-111 for Broner, giving Broner nine rounds when Malignaggi clearly won the first six by both punches thrown and landed, clearly the glitter of the promotion of the event swayed the judge.
Result: Adrien Broner Win Split Decision 12 Paulie Malignaggi
Broner wins the World Boxing Association Welterweight title, his third world title
Scoring: 115-113, 117-111 Broner, 115-113 Malignaggi.
Referee: Benjy Esteves Jr.
In a regrettable preliminary to the main event stinker, the rematch between Seth Mitchell and Johnathon Banks stunk out the house to the chorus of boos for most of the 12 round affair. Banks had Mitchell in trouble several times, but failed to finish him. Waiting for counter opportunities, Banks waited all night as Mitchell did not come forward this time and fall for the traps Banks tried to set up. Banks had no ‘Plan B’ to attempt once his ‘Plan A’ failed. So he rarely threw a punch and waited. Mitchell stayed out of range for the most part, and held much better in the rematch.
Banks went down in the second round, from what appeared to be a short inside hook followed by a push which sent an off balance Banks to the canvas for a two count. It did not appear to be a knockdown, providing solid grounds for the instant replay. Without this so-called knockdown, judge Don Trella, who scored the bout 114-112 for banks, probably would have created a majority draw situation.
This was a stinker. Neither man wanted to fight, so neither man deserved to win., At best, it was a draw, noteworthy because it wasn’t even worth scoring. True, Mitchell threw more punches on average, as Banks landed his punches in only the rounds he won big for the most part. But Malignaggi threw a zillion punches against Broner, as Tavoris Cloud did against Bernard Hopkins-however it is punches landed which decides the fight. The punch count does not decide the fight. Banks landed the only punches of consequence, but cautiously failed to floor the gas pedal in this bout.
In similar bouts, the lack of boxing could have yielded a double disqualification. Perhaps the second round push called a ‘knockdown’ somehow kept this bout alive.
My thoughts go back to the ten round Bahamas heavyweight bout between faded former world champion Muhammad Ali versus the late world champion Trevor Berbick in 1982, which looked like a yukky stinky draw to me back then too.
Mitchell, 31, Brandywine, Maryland, is now 25-1-1 with 19 knockouts. Banks, who turned 31 years old the day of this fight, Detroit, Michigan, falls to 29-2-1 with 19 knockouts. Mitchell cannot take a power punch. Putting Mitchell in with Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, Robert Helenius or Tyson Fury would be a big mistake as he would be exposed again. Golden Boy probably will put Mitchell in with a big name his next bout, which should prove to be another major mistake.
Result: Seth Mitchell Win 12 Johnathon Banks, Heavyweights
Mitchell regains WBO NABO and wins WBC International Heavyweight titles
Scoring: 114-112, 115-112, 117-109 for Mitchell.
In the other preliminary bout to the main event, Sakio Bika, an Australian transplanted in Cameroon, finally won a world title by winning a 12 round majority decision over 20-0 Marco Antonio Periban of Mexico. Periban called Bika’s win a lie and a fake after the bout, stating everyone saw him win the bout. Both fighters gave their all with punching and counterpunching, and occasional toe-to-toe action. Both fighters appeared to be cut by accidental head butts, which did not affect the outcome of the bout. Bika appeared to win the bout in the toe-to-toe slugfest of the three minute twelfth round, as Periban appeared to punch himself out in the beginning of the round, allowing Bika to finish strongly. Neither man hurt.
Periban could have earned a draw by winning the twelfth round, but having never been 12 rounds before, did not pull out the championship round of rounds.
Sakio Bika has been a number one contender super middleweight gatekeeper for years, beating everyone at 168 pounds but not winning the big title bouts against Sam Soliman, Marcus Beyer, Joe Calzaghe, Lucian Bute, Andre Ward, and Jean-Paul Mendy. Bika decisioned 25-0 Nikola Sjekloca over 12 rounds in Atlantic City this past February in the final WEBC eliminator before this bout. Bika has fought the division’s best without ducking anybody, and is deserved, it can be safely said.
Sakio Bika, 34, Sydney, Australia, is now 32-5-2, with 21 knockouts. Marco Antonio Periban, 28, Mexico City, Mexico, falls to 20-1 with 13 knockouts. Periban is a highly skilled technical fighter with magnificent foot movement. Periban will probably get a Bika rematch or another world title opportunity if he wins his next bout. Andre Ward might fight Bika again, if only to take his WBC title strap away.
Result: Sakio Bika Win Majority Decision 12 Marco Antonio Periban
Wins Vacant World Boxing Council Super Middleweight title
Scoring: 114-114 a draw. 115-113, 116-112 a draw.
Faded former WBA light middleweight champion Joachim Alcine lost for the fourth time in his last six bouts on the undercard, dropping an eight decision to unbeaten Julian Williams, who dropped Alcine three times. Alcine, who has been knocked out in the first round by Matthew Macklin and Alfredo Angulo, but still had enough left to decision woefully overhyped David Lemieux over 12 rounds, should now retire.
Barclays Center Undercard Bouts
Julius Williams Win 8 Joachim Alcine, Light Middleweights. Alcine down 3 times.
Juan Baby Tito Dominguez KO 1 Brad Patraw, Super Bantamweights (1:36)
Marcus Brown RTD 2 Ricardo Campillo, Light Heavyweights (1:00)
Frank Galarza TKO 4 Romon Barber, Light Middleweights
Robert Easter TKO 3 Antoine Knight, Lightweights (1:46)
Jamel Herring Win 4 Calvin Smith, Lightweights (40-36, 40-36, 30-35)
Rau’shee Warren RTD 2 Jiovanne Fuentes, Bantamweights (1:04)
Warren, a three time Olympian, was the 2007 World Amateur Flyweight champion.
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