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04/23/2004 Archived Entry: "Al “Speedy” Gonzales’ Team Reacts to Malignaggi’s Win Versus Rocky Martinez"
Al “Speedy” Gonzales’ Team Reacts to Malignaggi’s Win Versus Rocky Martinez
By Juan C. Ayllon
(Highland Park, Illinois): April is famed for its fickle and terrible spring weather. Just a few days ago, thunder, lighting and several tornadoes scourged the greater Chicagoland area. At this particular moment on Friday, April 23, 2004, it’s sunny outside.
Patrick Doljanin, trainer of hot, rising prospect, Al “Speedy” Gonzales mused on last night’s events in New York City. Undefeated New York prospect, Paul Malignaggi (17-0-0, 5 KO’s), beat Chicago veteran, Rocky Martinez (40-10-0, 20 KO’s) by a lopsided unanimous decision. Malignaggi is someone that Gonzales has wanted to fight for a long time.
Commenting on the fight, Pat said, “Rocky’s a good fighter, but he’s far from where he was. He’s shopworn. Malignaggi won probably 9 of the 10 rounds. Rocky didn’t do anything. He followed him around like all the other guys.”
Continuing, Doljanin said, “We’re going to turn up the heat, [Gonzales' promoter] Dominic Pesoli is going to turn up the heat.” Referring to a potential match between Gonzales and Malignaggi, he said, “They’re two young guys at the same point in experience. It would make for a really good fight. I don’t know what Malignaggi's people are afraid of. They keep hemming and hawing!”
Referring to Gonzales’ earlier tough battle versus Jesse Feliciano, Pat said, “Malignaggi’s a walk in the park compared to Feliciano; Feliciano would have knocked his ass out and Al [Gonzales] will, too.”
However, should Malignaggi continue to postpone matters, the Gonzales camp has additional options. “Dominic spoke with one of the Duvas. Al may fight Demetrius Hopkins on ESPN or Oscar Diaz. They’ve also got Diaz.” Regarding a potential fight versus Hopkins, Pat said, “They’ve got June 18th as a date already. However, they don’t have the site. It may be Philadelphia, but that’s not for sure.”
Pat said that Diaz, Malignaggi, Hopkins and Gonzales are four fighters at the same point in their careers who should face one another. However, he emphatically added, “Malignaggi is the guy we want.”
