The Neutral Corner

Lots of news, so pay attention:

Brooklyn's Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) briefly returns home this weekend from his Las Vegas training camp, where he is preparing for his November 22 showdown against Ricky Hatton to determine the world's No. 1 junior welterweight boxer, to be honored in Monday's annual Columbus Day Parade on 5th Avenue in New York City.

Past Italian or Italian-American sports celebrities honored in previous Columbus Day parades include racecar driver Mario Andretti, boxing champion Nino Benvenuti, and baseball managers/players Joe Torre and Bobby Valentine.

"I am very, very proud of my Italian heritage," Malignaggi said. "I am honored to be a special guest in this great parade that I've watched for so many years."

There will be a book signing by Emile Griffith and author Ron Ross on October 14 at Portobello’s Pizzeria & Sicilian Kitchen 83 Murray Street (between West Broadway and Greenwich St.) at 4 p.m.

Ross has penned Emile's story in the book, “NINE… TEN… AND OUT! The Two Worlds of Emile Griffith.” On hand at the event will be Ross, Griffith, Vito Antuofermo, the former middleweight champion and promoter Lou DiBella, whose company DiBella Entertainment published the book.

Cedric Kushner's Gotham Boxing has reached an agreement with Bob Duffy's Ring Promotions and Irish Ropes to promote "The Grande Event" – featuring "Ireland's" John Duddy, Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin, Pawel "Raging Bull" Wolak and Jorge Luis "The Truth" Teron – Friday night, November 21 at the famed Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan.

"I'm really excited about having put together this show," promoter Cedric Kushner said, "which features four main events on the same show. I've had a lot of co-operation from the managers and promoters involved with the principals on this show. In addition to the four principal bouts, I plan to put some of the most talented young boxers on this show as well. It's truly going to be a Grande Event."

The four principal fighters, or the Big Apple's "Fab Four," have a combined pro record of 89-1-1 with 62 knockouts. All four principal fighters are scheduled to be in 10-round bouts against opponents to be determined.

On Wednesday October 29th Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing will present an exciting night of boxing broadcast live on GoFightLive.tv from the beautiful Roseland Ballroom in New York City. In the main event of the evening the WBO #8, IBF #10 and WBA #11 rated Jr. welterweight in the world, "Mighty" Mike Arnaoutis (20-2-2, 10KO) returns to New York fresh of his third-round one-punch knockout over Nasser Athumani back on September 5th.

Arnaoutis who rides a three fight win streak looks to stay busy when he takes on Ben Ankrah (11-7, 3KO) as a title shot looms on the horizon for early 2009.

DiBella also has Broadway Boxing card scheduled for October 22. The show includes Edgar Santana vs. Luis Rodriguez as well as Randall Bailey, Gary Stark Jr., Tor Hamer, Will Rosinsky, Philip Jackson Benson and Hajro Sujak in action at B.B. King Blues Club.

-- CASSIDY