By Rick Reeno

Less than two weeks ago at New York's Madison Square Garden, WBA junior welterweight champion Amir Khan dominated Paulie Malignaggi for eleven rounds before referee Steve Smoger stepped in to stop the fight.

It was believed, at least by the media, that Malignaggi would walk away from the sport. In Malignaggi's last few fights, his movement was slowing down and he was more stationary than he had ever been in the past. BoxingScene.com spoke with Malignaggi's co-manager, Josh Dubin, who made it clear from the start of our conversation - "mark my words, you have not seen the last of Paulie Malignaggi. He is not going out on that note."

Apparently, Malignaggi has been struggling to make weight for his last couple of fights. Dubin tells BoxingScene that Malignaggi has been forced to cut at least 20 to 25-pounds, which includes muscle mass, before his last couple of fights. Because of those struggles, Malignaggi is going to move up to the welterweight division.

"He lost the fight….it happens. It wasn’t his night that night. It was amazing to me that the first thing everybody did was write him off; that he should retire. It’s utterly ridiculous. He had an off-night and I don’t think he can make that weight anymore. To take 20-25-pounds off, that amounts to muscle, isn't healthy," Dubin told BoxingScene.com.

"He obviously didn’t have his legs that night His legs are his weapons. His legs are his offense. His legs are his defense. This is not to take anything away from Amir Khan. The kid is a sensational fighter. He was the better man that night and he deserves all of the credit in the world. Beyond that he is surrounded by good people and we wish him all the best."

“Paulie is 29-years-old. If I thought there was any remote risk where he would exposing himself to injury by continuing to fight, I would personally make it my business to make sure he would never step in a ring again. As a precaution, he is going to check on his neck, which has been an ongoing problem. We are going to see a specialist this week. Let’s not lose sight of the fact, Paulie did not get knocked down in the fight and he did not lose consciousness.”

When you sit there and think about Malignaggi's decision to move up, the most logical thought jumps up - the lack of power in Malignaggi's punches. Dubin believes Malignaggi will become a better puncher at welterweight. He says the public underestimates Malignaggi' s power because they focus on his record, which has tally of five knockouts in thirty-two professional fights. 

“I think a step up to welterweight is certainly in order. People say 'he got no power at 140, so how is he going to fight at welterweight?' His power will step up accordingly. Paulie is not as light a puncher as people make him out to be. Amir Khan did not walk out of that fight without welts on his face. I think that seven pounds is going to make huge difference. When he was getting down to the 150s, he was already losing his legs. This way he can make weight and won't have every ounce of energy sapped from him," Dubin said.

One fight Malignaggi and his team plan to explore in the immediate future is an overseas scrap with Matthew Hatton, the younger brother of Ricky Hatton. If there is one fight that Malignaggi wants to avenge before he pulls the curtains on his boxing career, it would be the 2008 TKO loss to Ricky Hatton. That fight is probably never going to happen because Ricky is semi-retired and has no immediate plans to fight again. Ricky's brother would be a satisfying alternative.

"This is something we've discussed amongst our team and with Lou [DiBella]. It’s something we certainly want to see where that goes. The next best thing to getting revenge on Ricky Hatton is getting revenge on his brother. Its something Paulie wants to do. He wants clear his name of the Hatton stigma. Paulie is big star over in the UK. He loves it over there and he loves the fans over there. I think it would be a great, great fight," Dubin said.

Plans are currently being discussed for Malignaggi to make his welterweight debut in Italy. A local promoter has reached out to Malignaggi's promoter, Lou DiBella, to make the event possible.

"I think he would take one interim-fight to get comfortable at 147. And we’re thinking about possibly doing that in Italy. Paulie has always wanted to fight in his hometown of Italy and there has been quite a bit of interest from the local promoter there who wants to work with Lou to make it happen. Lou has expressed interest in making it happen and we're working in that direction. It’s going to be sooner than later," Dubin said.