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Boxing

Paulie Malignaggi names the hardest puncher he ever faced

Paulie Malignaggi names the hardest puncher he ever facedGetty Images
Paulie Malignaggi fought many great names.

As a two-weight world champion, Paulie Malignaggi had the opportunity to share the ring with many great fighters including Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton.  

Renowned for his incredible handspeed, Malignaggi displayed several great performances during his career as he dazzled his way to world title wins at 140lbs and the division above. 

After defeating Zab Judah in an all-New York battle in 2015, Malignaggi endured an upturn in his fortunes as he was stopped in welterweight encounters against Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia.  

Malignaggi would walk away from boxing in 2017 after losing to Sam Eggington in London, but who was the hardest puncher he faced during his time in boxing? 

"Miguel [Cotto] was a consistently hard puncher. The guy hit me, and I was actually asking myself if it was real,” said Malignaggi when speaking to The Ring in 2015 before having four more fights. 

“He broke my orbital bone in Round two and that’s damage you pick up in a car accident. Don’t believe all the bulls–t about an injury like that going numb either. The pain never goes away and it’s your adrenaline that carries you through.”

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