Eight years ago, at London’s O2 Arena, Paulie Malignaggi ended his competitive boxing career after Sam Eggington knocked him out in the eighth round. However, the retirement proved short-lived, as the Brooklyn-born former welterweight champion decided to try his hand at a new format, bare-knuckle boxing. Unfortunately, the experiment ended in disappointment, as he suffered a loss to Artem Lobov. It took another six years before the soon-to-turn 45-year-old made a comeback. This time, luck was on his side. At BKB 47 in Leeds, he headlined a card against Englishman Tyler Goodjohn.

In a blood-soaked battle, Paulie Malignaggi finally claimed victory by split decision. Yet, the former champion of Italian-American heritage paid a heavy price for his latest adventure. He was happy, but his face told a different story. From his recent post, it appears the injuries run deep.

Broken ribs, foggy vision – Paulie Malignaggi speaks out

Malignaggi was reportedly still at Leeds General Hospital when he uploaded the video early in the morning. Thanking supporters for their well wishes, he revealed that he had yet to be stitched for his open wounds. “I got here at 10:00. Still have not been stitched up, guys. They x-rayed me. Didn’t give me the results in my hands. They gave me a CAT scan. I’ve got, uh, broken ribs in the back from all the rabbit punches,” he said.

What concerned him more was the condition of his eyes. He experienced foggy vision and, suspecting bleeding, said the medical staff needed to check for a possible retina tear. However, for that, the swelling or bleeding must first clear. “I actually finished the fight from round two on not being able to see out of this eye, but I didn’t realize I wasn’t seeing out of this eye until the fight ended,” the former champion revealed.

Malignaggi attributed many of his injuries to fouls during the fight. Without them, the bout would have caused less damage and might have been less competitive. Still, despite the injuries and fouls, he felt that he and Tyler put on an entertaining show.

For a fighter to compete in his late forties, that too in an unforgiving sport like bare-knuckle boxing, is remarkable.

What’s next for Malignaggi after BKB 47?

It becomes even more astonishing when you consider he hadn’t fought for the last six years. Yet that’s exactly what Paulie Malignaggi, who outside the ring made a name as ProBox’s leading analyst, accomplished.

Tyler Goodjohn, a boxer with a 13-6 record, gave a strong account of himself and even managed to stagger the former world champion. Still, Malignaggi fought back, gaining ground inch by inch, ultimately claiming victory with scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 47-48.

Speaking about his plans with BKB, which recently partnered with talkSPORT for extensive coverage in the UK and Ireland, Malignaggi said, “I’m here for a good time, not a long time. I’d like to get a title shot after this with BKB. Nothing satisfies me more than accomplishment. It is bigger than money.”

For English fans, Malignaggi’s return carries historical significance. He was the last opponent the late icon Ricky Hatton defeated. Before Hatton’s historic fight against Manny Pacquiao, the British boxing great faced Malignaggi at the MGM Grand, ending the American’s challenge in the eleventh round.

As he aims to claim a championship in bare-knuckle boxing, fans should stay tuned for further updates.

Do you think Paulie Malignaggi should consider retirement, given how his latest match turned out?