Thurman: Malignaggi Won't Fight a True Welterweight

By Bill "Two Scoops" Emes

Top welterweight Keith "One Time' Thurman (20-0, 18KOs) told BoxingScene.com that he was not surprised with the recent news that WBA champion Paulie Malignaggi had agreed to face Adrien Broner on June 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Broner, the WBC's champion at 135-pounds, would move up by two divisions to face Malignaggi. In the opinion of Thurman, the welterweight champions out there are not looking to fight true welterweight contenders and would rather fight smaller guys moving up.

"He better agree to fight him or else he has to fight me. Paulie Malignaggi, and the other welterweight champions right now, they do not want to fight a true welterweight like myself. They're all trying to fight smaller guys, lighter guys, and really they should all be at 140-pounds where they orginally started at and leave my belts alone," Thurman said.