Malignaggi Expects Cano To Have a Warrior's Mentality

By Ryan Burton

WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi said that the feeling of fighting at home finally sunk in when he touched down in New York last week. On October 20th he will face Pablo Cano in the inaugural fight card at the new Barclay Center in his hometown of Brooklyn. The fight will be part of a Showtime quadruple header.

"It sunk in when I got off the plane (last) Saturday. After a long training camp it was nice to get off the plane and know the fight is back home," Malignaggi told us on a recent edition of BoxingScene's official audio show The Boxing Lab.  

Malignaggi admitted that he wants to put on a show for his hometown fans. He said that he always wants to perform at a high level but he is even more motivated for this fight.

"It is always extra motivation fighting at home. You want to give everybody a spectacular performance.  You always to do that but especially at home.  Even though I don't live there anymore that is where I am from," stated Malignaggi.

The fighter of Sicilian descent is known for his speed and movement as he only has 7 knockouts amongst his 31 victories.  Few people gave Malignaggi much of a chance against the then undefeated Vyacheslav Senchenko when he traveled to the Ukraine this past April to face the then undefeated fighter. Malignaggi thinks that Cano will approach this fight similarly to how he approached the Senchenko clash.

"I'm thinking that he has the same mentality that I had for my last fight when I went to the Ukraine and didn't give a sh*t about anything but winning the fight. I am not overlooking him. I wasn't handed the title and I don't plan on giving it back," Malignaggi concluded.

You can listen to the interview in its entirety by clicking here: http://tobtr.com/s/3740637

Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com Follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter and tune in to The Boxing Lab, BoxingScene's official audio on Tuesdays. The show is hosted by Ernie Gabion, Luis Sandoval and Ryan Burton