06.01.08 Malignaggi wins, but lacks magic

IBF light-welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi failed to turn on the magic as he scrapped to unanimous points victory over Herman Ngoudjo at Bally's Atlantic City Hotel Casino.

Malignaggi has been touted as a possible future opponent for Ricky Hatton and WBC champion Junior Witter - however he was pushed all the way by the unheralded fighter from Cameroon.

Although an entertaining fight, the Magic Man was expected to have little trouble seeing off Ngoudjo - but he was forced onto the backfoot by his rivals aggressive counter-punching.

Malignaggi, though, retained his title with scores of 117-111 from judge Al Bennett, 116-113 from Kenny Chevalier and 115-113 from Steve Weisfeld.

And Malignaggi admitted that this was not a vintage display.

He said: "It wasn't one of my better performances, but I felt I won the fight.

"At the end of the day, I have the heart of a lion and if you don't knock me out, I'm going to stay here.

"I actually thought he would be more aggressive. But he wasn't and I tried to be and wound up running into some punches.

"He was a worthy challenger and a good fighter. He buzzed me a little bit in the seventh."

Ngoudjo, who is now based in Canada, actually had Malignaggi in trouble in that seventh round - rocking him twice and widening a cut on his left eyelid.

However, ultimately Malignaggi had enough class to box his way out of trouble - although Ngoudjo thought he had done enough to lift the title.

He said: "I thought I won the fight, but Paulie is the champion and I appreciated (the opportunity.

"I thought I controlled most of the fight, but having three US judges may have hurt me."

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