IBF World Junior Welterweight Champion Paulie Malignaggi To Serve As Ironmen Honorary Captain
January 22, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
NEWARK, NJ- The New Jersey Ironmen (10-5) announced today that IBF World Junior Welterweight champion Paulie 'The Magic Man' Malignaggi will serve as the honorary captain for the Ironmen when they host La Raza de Monterrey this Friday at Prudential Center. Prior to the 8:00 p.m. kickoff, Malignaggi will kick out the ceremonial first kick to New Jersey goalkeeper Tony Meola.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to have Paulie come serve as our honorary captain this Friday," Ironmen General Manager Tony Novo stated. "Anytime you can have a world champion come out and get a game started, you know it will be a special evening."
Malignaggi became the IBF World Junior Welterweight champion when he defeated Lovemore N'dou in a 12-round unanimous decision on June 16, 2007. He successfully made his first title defense on January 5, 2008, by taking a unanimous decision victory over Herman Ngoudjo. Malignaggi, a huge soccer enthusiast, spent a week in Italy training with AC Milan in preparation for his fight with Ngoudjo.
Malignaggi has amassed a profound 24-1 record in his professional career with five knockouts. The Magic Man, as Malignaggi is more commonly known, made his professional debut at the age of 20, scoring a first round knock out of Thadeus Parker on July 7, 2001. Prior to that, he had a stellar amateur career. He was the winner of both the 1998 and 2001 New York Golden Gloves Amateur Championships in addition to winning the 2001 U.S. National Amateur Championship and the 2001 Everlast U.S. Championship.
Malignaggi was born in Brooklyn, New York, but he moved to Siracusa, Sicily, when he was only a few months old. At the age of six, he moved back to the United States. He began boxing when he turned 16 years old, and he still trains at the same facility that introduced him to the sport, Gleason's Gym, in Brooklyn.
The Ironmen improved to 10-5 on the season following a 17-14 win over the California Cougars this past Saturday at Prudential Center. The club is currently at the midway point of their inaugural season and is a game back of the MISL leading Detroit Ignition (11-4).
Fans ordering at least a pair of advanced tickets at the $20 level or higher for Friday's game will receive a free soccer ball. To take advantage of this offer, call 1-800-IRONMEN today!
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