Showtime Kicks Off '08 With 4 Fights This Weekend

[swerb]

Two Friday night, two Saturday night.

Fri night, two brothers (Lamont and Anthony Peterson), both unbeaten, neither of who I've seen fight ... have step up fights. Ones a welterweight, ones a middleweight.

Sat night, in a fight I'm really looking forward to, Paulie Malignaggi takes on Herman “The Black Panther” Ngoudjo. Totally opposite styles. Malignaggi dances, talks shit, and throws jabs. No power. 23-1, only loss a tough fight with Cotto a couple years back. But just 5 KOs. If you've never seen Malignaggi fight before, hes a trip. And sure to be in rare form as the headliner on a Sat night Showtime card.

Ngoudjo's only loss was a controversial split decision against Jose Luis Castillo in their "winner gets to get beat up by Ricky Hatton" battle.

[Guest]

Malignaggi is a good fighter.
Cotto beats his ass for 12 rounds and he kept coming back for more.
I'm looking forward to seeing him again, I like his style.

[swerb]

Malignaggi fight from 2-3 years ago against Cano showing on one of the Showtimes right now ...

[Guest]

Peterson brothers looked good, but not great.
They are young and have great futures.
Great defense on both of them which will help down the road.

[swerb]

Yeah, I thought both the Petersons looked pretty good. Id agree that they have a little ways to go to compete with the top tier in their respective divisions, but both are hard to hit, great athletes, and still have youth on their side.

A great story to keep an eye on though. Two brothers, both unbeaten. Im sure Showtime will stay on top of those two and we'll likely see their next couple fights as same card features again.

Malignaggi in a battle here through five. Good fight so far.

[Guest]

Malignaggi got a gift tonight.
I had him losing, draw at best.

[swerb]

Thought Malignaggi was done in the 7th. Was hurt bad, had no legs. Held on, stayed away in the 8th, and came back to form in the 9th. Good win that showed some grit against a legit foe.

I think Ngoudjo laid out the blueprint for beating Paulie though. Get inside, make him uncomfortable, and to keep him from throwing 60 jabs a round. He almost had him in the 7th.

Whos next? Hatton? Judah? Margarito? Cintron? Juan Diaz?

[Guest]

Paulie's got a ton of heart, he showed that in the Cotto fight.
I don't see him in the same class as the guys you mentioned really. He's a good fighter that has no power.
I think he would lose to all the guys you mentioned.
Him fighting Hatton would be the one I would want to see the most because of the style difference.
Juan Diaz would destroy him like Cotto did.
Margarito and Cintron are possibly fighting each other soon.

[Guest]

Malignaggi called out Hatton.

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