By Mark Vester
Former junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi does not agree with people who say WBA champion Amir Khan is taking less of a risk by targeting a fight with him instead of making his mandatory defense against Marcos Maidana. Malignaggi, during an appearance on the Leave it in the Ring Radio Show, said Maidana is a dangerous puncher but he doesn't know how to fight. Malignaggi thinks Maidana is an easier fight and picked Khan to beat him.
"People say Khan is ducking Maidana by fighting me. When you really look at it from a perspective, I'm a former world champion and Maidana has never won the title. Yeah he's a dangerous puncher but he can't fight worth sh*t. What does it boil down to? Yeah some people may think he's taking less of a chance fighting me but in the end I believe Amir Khan beats Marcos Maidana. Marcos Maidana can punch but that's all he can do. He can't fight. A fighter like Khan could probably outbox Maidana," Malignaggi said.
Talks continue for Malignaggi to fight Khan on May 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Malignaggi thinks Khan and Golden Boy Promotions made a big mistake by going after him instead of Maidana.
"I pose a different kind of problem. Maybe they think it's better to go after me for now because I'm not the kind of puncher Maidana is but I bring a different set of problems to the table. I guess it depends on pick your poison. I think they made the wrong choice because I think Khan would have beat Maidana but he won't beat me," Malignaggi said.
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