Brooklyn's own charismatic and flashy world champion Paulie Malignaggi won a closely fought junior welterweight bout over Cameroon's Herman Ngoudjo at Bally's Atlantic City by unanimous decision. The judges scored the bout 117-111, 116-113 and 115-113.

Ngoudjo, a 6-1 underdog coming in, proved to be much more than a foil for Malignaggi, the young champion making his first title defense.

In the early rounds, Malignaggi used his trademark jab and quick footwork to keep Ngoudjo at bay. But in the middle of the fight - rounds 4-7 - Ngoudjo turned the tide with an effective jab of his own and some punishing overhand rights.

Malignaggi is a fighter who thrives on the outside, but Ngoudjo, at times, seemed to beat the champion at his own game. In the seventh, Ngoudjo landed several heavy right hands forcing Malignaggi to get inside and clinch his foe.