Round By Round: Paulie Malignaggi vs. Lovemore N'dou

Manchester, England is the site for Ricky Hatton's homecoming fight, but first up is Paulie Malignaggi's rematch with Lovemore N'dou, a fight that wasn't exactly competitive the first time around. A video package takes us inside the head of the Magic Man, who promises to excite the crowd with flashy combinations. He'll have to hope that's enough to do it, because he doesn't get it done with his power.

The announcers discuss the fact that Paulie's trainer wasn't thrilled that Malignaggi moved his training camp to Sicily. Michael Buffer is ready to start the introductions, bringing N'dou to the ring first. The tale of the tape shows Paulie is nine years younger and has small height and reach advantages. Malignaggi is wearing what looks like a luchadore (Mexican wrestler) mask. The fans don't seem to be digging it, but that may be the point.

Round 1

Paulie comes out working the jab. N'dou trying to throw the right in response. He's actually landing more in the early going. Now Paulie flurries and a jab lands flush. Flurry along the ropes by Malignaggi. Quick shots to the body as they tie up. Sloppy exchanges along the ropes; Paulie is clearly quicker but doesn't look super sharp yet.

Franchise: 10-9 Malignaggi
Uatu: 10-9 N'dou

Round 2

The announcers are really giving Paulie crap for his long hair. He's jumping in with the jab again. Nice short lefts both ways. Lots of wrestling in close that the ref is letting go. A couple of left hooks by N'dou and more grappling. Big swing and miss by Malignaggi coming in. Right hand by N'dou; flurry in response by Magic Man. Neither fighter got too much done in that round.

Franchise: 10-9 Malignaggi
Uatu: 10-9 Malignaggi

Round 3

More wild swinging and missing right out of the gate. Paulie goes back to the jab. N'dou trying to load up but can't find the range when he throws. Left and a right by N'dou and the announcers think Paulie's glove touched the canvas. Malignaggi feinting but not always finding any openings. Tough round to score but N'dou may have won it off of one exchange.

Franchise: 10-9 N'dou
Uatu: 10-9 Malignaggi

Round 4

Paulie may have a cut along his right eye. His jab is in evidence once again. Backed into one corner for more ugliness. Paulie goes to the body and N'dou's right hand response is picked off. Magic Man ducking and snapping off quick lefts. Not sure if this is the showcase Paulie hoped for, but he is winning so far.

Franchise: 10-9 Malignaggi
Uatu: 10-9 Malignaggi

Round 5

Nice flurry backs Lovemore all the way up but he shakes his head as if to say he's not hurt. Paulie dancing around in both directions so he's not there to be hit. Rare right hands by Paulie coming in. Quick exchange and Paulie gets the best of it, then N'dou knocks him off balance with a right hand. Thudding left by Lovemore. The ref is getting a little more involved as things progress. More dancing until the end of the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Malignaggi
Uatu: 10-9 Malignaggi

Round 6

Paulie circles but N'dou lands a quick two-punch combo. A right finds the mark as well. Magic Man backs his foe into the corner but can't land clean. They tie up in the center. Paulie goes back to the jab; nothing much of consequence landed in the second half of that round.

Franchise: 10-9 N'dou
Uatu: 10-9 Malignaggi

Round 7

Malignaggi getting instructions to triple up on the jab; that's pretty much all he's been doing. He snaps N'dou's head back with a few more and they tie up again. Finally a right hand by Lovemore. Paulie goes right back to the jab. N'dou has the right hand cocked but he's not letting it go. Paulie lands lefts to the body and head. Nice right hand to the head by N'dou; biggest shot so far. The announcers think Paulie may be hurt but I'm not so sure.

Franchise: 10-9 N'dou
Uatu: 10-9 N'dou

Round 8

After tasting the right last round, Paulie goes back to circling. The ref calls a timeout so Paulie can get his long hair tied back again; the fans aren't amused and let go with some boos. N'dou stalking and Malignaggi not throwing as much in return. Lovemore also landing a few jabs now. Right to the head and left to the body by N'dou. Paulie tries to throw to the body as they wrestle. Quick left hook by N'dou coming in. The challenger laughs a bit as the round comes to a close.

Franchise: 10-9 N'dou
Uatu: 10-9 N'dou

Round 9

No lie: Malignaggi got his hair cut between rounds. He seems to have a bit more spark now and works multiple jabs. Short left by N'dou. Lovemore loads up a right. Nice exchange int he center of the ring. A little better round for Paulie and his corner is telling him the fight is close.

Franchise: 10-9 Malignaggi
Uatu: 10-9 N'dou

Round 10

Wrestling along the ropes, then both guys land lefts in the center of the ring. Neither guy looking too good right now. N'dou still looking for that right hand. Nice combo by Paulie and he dances back out of trouble. Malignaggi trying to make sure he wins this one with a flurry of light punches. Quick jab by Paulie as the round ends.

Franchise: 10-9 Malignaggi
Uatu: 10-9 Malignaggi

Round 11

Neither man can get the upper hand inside. The announcers want to see more from N'dou. N'dou comes firing off the ropes but nothing big lands. The fans are a little louder, but probably because this one is coming to a close. Good quick combo by Paulie. Short rights by Malignaggi and he did enough to win this round.

Franchise: 10-9 Malignaggi
Uatu: 10-9 Malignaggi

Round 12

The announcers are speculating that Paulie has hurt his right hand, a problem that has plagues him before. N'dou lands a right hand that sends Malignaggi stumbling back. Not exactly a final round for the ages. Left by N'dou and Malignaggi fires back. Right to the body by Lovemore; left to the head by Paulie and it's over.

Franchise: 10-9 N'dou
Uatu: 10-9 N'dou

Franchise and Uatu both score it 115-113 for Malignaggi. The judges score it 115-113 N'dou, 116-112 Malignaggi and 116-113 Malignaggi. The winner by split decision, and still IBF light welterweight champion, Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi.

Apparently Malignaggi broke his right hand (again) during the fight. He tells Wally Matthews he broke it during the sixth round, and he had to stop jabbing as well because N'dou was timing it. Paulie admits that the hair may have caught him a round or two and will never wear it that long again. He vows he'll be a better fighter with two hands if he gets a shot at Hatton.