By Luis Sandoval
It appears a fight with Adrien "The Problem" Broner (26-0, 22KOs) and Paulie Malignaggi (32-4, 7KOs) will indeed be taking place in June at the welterweight limit as Broner himself broke the news earlier tonight.
Broner, the WBC champion at 135-pounds, was on hand at the Argenis Mendez-Juan Carlos Salgado fight card in Costa Mesa and was brought into the ring for the live crowd. When he took the mic he informed everyone in attendance that he would be making a move up to welterweight for his next fight and Malignaggi would be his opponent.
BoxingScene.com spoke to Broner afterwards and he confirmed that his next bout would be at a different weight class.
"Yeah I'm going to go get me another belt in another weight class. Anybody can get it man. I'm comfortable in whatever weight class my opponent is comfortable at," Broner would tell BoxingScene.
Broner's move up in weight would mean he would be skipping one of boxing's deepest divisions as junior welterweight houses some great fighters and several financially lucrative opponents. I asked Adrien if his move to 147 would be permanent.
"Hey man you never know, I'm flexible. Go around the corner and come back. It dont matter," said Broner with a smile.
While a venue has not been confirmed it is speculated the fight will head to New York at the Barclay Center on June 22nd, although sources told BoxingScene they may still keep the fight out west. HBO will televise the fight.
