Maddalone notches second straight win

Vinny Maddalone, a bruising Flushing heavyweight, has got to a point in his career where championship fights and title belts don't consume him. Making it onto a major network, such as HBO or Showtime, is the goal.
&#8220Of course you want a world title fight, that's every fighter's dream,” he said in a phone interview after winning a majority decision over Jermell Barnes at the Saratoga Springs Conference Center Friday evening in upstate New York. &#8220An HBO or Showtime fight, where I could make some money, that's where I want to be.”
Maddalone (27-3, 19 KO's) has been in the spotlight before, losing to Brian Minto for the second time on the Antonio Tarver-Roy Jones, Jr. III HBO Pay-Per-View card. A Holy Cross High School graduate, Maddalone lost that bout in Tampa, FL, just his third defeat, when he walked into a vicious left hook in the seventh round.
But now he's won two straight, with visions of more money and more exciting fights on the way. Although Maddalone will most likely never get a shot at a title, he could be an interesting draw for the aforementioned boxing networks; Arturo &#8220Thunder” Gatti, the popular welterweight, fought countless times on HBO because of his similar brawler style that drew blood and knockdowns, sellout crowds and television ratings, eliciting passion and excitement from the masses. Maddalone is by far one of the more exciting heavyweights, an entertaining, personable fighter who, like Gatti, has no fear of delivering pain or receiving it.
Against Barnes (17-12-1), who hadn't been knocked out in 29 previous fights, Maddalone understood the situation - there would be no knockout. So instead of the usual array of power punches designed for a quick ending, Maddalone took his time during the middle rounds, then revved it up at the end, earning the decision.
&#8220After the second round, I had a feeling the guy was going to stick around,” Maddalone said. &#8220I knew he was a tough guy. I knew I was in for 10 rounds. I had the mentality that I was going to pace myself. … You're not going to knock everybody out.”
Maddalone, who will fight again by November, nevertheless insists his style as a rampaging power puncher will not change. &#8220I'm definitely not going to change,” he said, later adding, &#8220That's how I fight. It's going to be attractive to anybody who watches. It's almost like a Gatti type of style, you know I'm going to bleed, I'm going to hurt, I'm going to hurt the other guy. That's what I'm all about.”