In the Paulie Malignaggi vs Lovemore N’dou bout the Sicilian showman Malignaggi stepped into the ring with long braided extensions in his hair that almost cost him his I.B.F Jr. welterweight title. Malignaggi, 25-1, 5 KO’s, was his usual quick stylish self in the opening minute, but once the two boxers had some exchanges, Paulie’s braids got in the way of his vision as his hair tie came undone and the hair dangled in his eyes. Fighting half blinded by the braids in his face, Malignaggi got drilled by Lovemore with a right hand that buckled the Italian’s knees for a moment. Malignaggi recovered and box
ed and moved to end the round luckily. The Paulie Malignaggi vs Lovemore N'dou boxing odds favored the #1 ranked contender Malignaggi at -1000.
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After taping Paulie’s hair for the beginning of round 2, Malignaggi used distance, and some quick flurries, before tying up N’dou or briefly fighting inside. N’dou was game all night but his lack of footspeed was hindering him. In round 6 Malignaggi broke his right hand once again. Paulie Malignaggi breaks his right power hand in about 40% of his fights. Malignaggi was not the same fighter after the fracture in his hand as he clinched often and his punch output was weak. N’dou simply didn’t have enough power and speed to catch Malignaggi with more than single right hands, which N’dou smacked Paulie with in almost every round. Paulie showed a good chin and heart as he gutted the fight out down the stretch to get a hard earned win by split-decision. Final scores read: 116-112, 116-113 for Malignaggi and 115-114 for N’dou.
N’dou, 46-10-1, 31 KO's, wasn’t creative enough in his offense, or active enough with his punch output, to pull off the upset as a +550 boxing betting underdog. In a proposed Ricky Hatton vs Paul Malignaggi fight, I would have to make Hatton a 6-1 boxing odds favorite against the “Magic Man” Malignaggi if the fight is in the UK, 4-1 if the fight is in Las Vegas. Hatton have had a little something taken out of him from Mayweather Jr. but Paulie’s hand problems could make him vulnerable to the relentless Hatton. The winning TOTAL in the Paulie Malignaggi vs Lovemore N'dou bout was the OVER 10.5 rounds prop at -650 odds.
