The fog is now cleared from Manny Pacquiao’s destruction of Miguel Cotto and we won’t hear his name again until sometime in 2010. Everything about the event was perfect, the spirit of Filipino and Puerto Rican fans and the mainstream coverage put us on a springboard for a great 2010. One detail, historic in its context is now taken for granted in the boxing universe and that is the assumption that ALL the big fights happen in Vegas. Vegas as the boxing capital of the world is now an accepted concept, in other words there are adults who can’t reference a time when it wasn’t. The fight game if anything is much like baseball in that black and white footage is respected, referenced and woven into the modern tapestry. People born in 1974 have no problem paying homage to Ray Robinson and Manny Pacquiao is now synonymous with Henry Armstrong.  

That is why many like me believe boxing's long term prognosis is dependant on the revival of traditional “fight town.” What is a fight town? Simply put a fight town is a city with rich boxing history, a city that thrived during the “golden” years that ranged from the 1930's through the 1950's. From a chromosomal standpoint a “fight town” may offer cosmopolitan pursuits but will always remain blue collar at the heart. A fight town is diverse, with pockets of ethnic neighborhoods that hold on to traditions and loyalties. A fight town usually has a nickname that is so aptly christened you look up at the buildings and say it under your breath. Fight towns can be loud, rowdy and unforgiving to anyone who dares bring a half assed effort on their stages fields and rings. A fight town is the perfect place to settle a score, to right a wrong, or celebrate a historic presidential campaign. A fight town is a perfect place for Paulie Malignaggi and Juan Diaz to engage in battle for the right to move forward in the Jr. Welterweight division.  

The First Fight  

Malignaggi vs. Diaz I took place only four months ago, another indicator of the classic nature of this battle. Held in Diaz’s hometown of Houston, Texas, New York’s Malignaggi was wary of the location and officiating. Billed as a “crossroads” fight for both men, the loser would be relegated to undercard hell that may be fatal in a deep 140lb. division.  In front of a raucous pro-Diaz crowd the “Baby Bull” jumped out to an early lead using pressure and ferocious activity. By mid-fight, the boxing IQ that allowed Malignaggi to trouble Miguel Cotto with no firepower to hold. Malignaggi was earnest in the pre fight build up regarding his conditioning in previous bouts and showed naysayer's that he had the stamina to execute his pan. Jabbing and turning Diaz, who showed limitations against boxers proved fruitful as many (including myself) believed the Brooklynite pulled out a narrow decision. Not only did Diaz win the fight but one of the cards read 118-110! As if Paulie Malignaggi wasn’t even competitive. Malignaggi, for years one of the best mouths in boxing did more than spoke like a cheated fighter in his post fight interview-he spoke like a fan. He said some of the things we all say; that decisions like this make it hard for the mainstream to take our beloved boxing seriously. Malignaggi never said he was robbed, but he knew that he didn’t get beat by that big a margin. Oscar De La hoya ever the adroit promoter knew he had to side with the consumer and that is to his credit. To his credit Malignaggi took his campaign to Social Media (aka “the people”) and his post fight rant became a youtube favorite. Diaz and his handlers tried to deflect and take shots (at Malignaggi) but there was no moving forward without a clear victory at a neutral site- that’s why they call it a “crossroads” fight.  

The City of Big Shoulders 

If the Strikeforce MMA card is any indication, Chicago is still a fight crazed city no matter how much it may change. 8 Count Productions, Chicago’s version of Top Rank will serve as Co- Promoters for the event which will also feature a come backing Victor Ortiz. Hopefully, Warsaw’s Andrzej Fonfara (Super middleweight) and Eric “Loco” Estrada will be featured to give Chicagoans a taste of local stars on the rise. With large Hispanic and Italian contingency (shout out to Italian American Sports Hall of Fame) both Diaz and Malignaggi will be on “neutral” ground with a touch of the familiar. When President Obama pitched “The City” (that’s what we called it growing up in Champaign IL) for the 2016 games he called it “America’s melting pot” and nothing could be more true. Chicago is also perfect to host a contest of wills between the “bull” (Diaz) and “matador” (Malignaggi) from a historic standpoint. The Windy City is where Ray Robinson made another bull (named Lamatta) chase him into a brutal carving. He later caught a greedy Graziano looking for pay dirt with a counter punch that broke the Rock to pieces. Why wouldn’t it make sense to bring such a classic rematch of boxer and puncher to Chicago?  

What do I see? 

I can’t say for sure, but I will say that I don’t see Diaz winning without getting Malignaggi out of there and Miguel Cotto couldn’t do that. Both fighters are fighting for identity and neither wants to be known for his gallant defeats. Unlike the 50’s (and regrettably) the paymasters don’t pay for compelling content, Arturo Gatti (R.I.P.) was an anomaly. I see both fighters bringing even more urgency to the fight than before. What both fighters did well they will do sooner and at a higher rate of speed. This is a recipe for a great chess match. The winner will hopefully move on to more significant bouts against the likes of Tim Bradley and Amir Kahn; Malignaggi may even coax Ricky Hatton into another money bout in England. Whatever the results, boxing is always healthier when our attention is turned to a venue that is more “real” than the glitz of Las Vegas, a “fight town” populated with fighters in daily life - A “fight town” like CHICAGO.

11-19-2009