By Mark Vester
In a recent interview with BoxingScene.com's Jose Aguirre, IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (24-1, 5KOs) discussed the rumors of fighting Oscar De La Hoya on May 3 and a possible clash with the biggest moneymaker at 140-pounds, Ricky Hatton.
Malignaggi has been mentioned alongside Steve Forbes and Dmitriy Salita, as the three names in the running to fight De La Hoya in a tune-up bout on May 3. Most insiders expect Forbes to land the fight, and so does Malignaggi. De La Hoya is using the fight as a tune-up for a September rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
"It's been something that's been talked about. Oscar don't want to fight me. He's probably going to fight Stevie Forbes. There is really no reason for him to fight. Why would he want to go and get beat like that? Why would he want me to ruin the Mayweather fight for him," Malignaggi said.
"He's going to fight Stevie Forbes, not that Stevie ain't a good fighter. He's a good fighter. Stevie deserves the payday because he's worked hard thoughout his whole career. I'll be glad for Stevie if he gets it, but I don't think Oscar wants to fight me."
Malignaggi says the weight wouldn't matter, he would beat De La Hoya at welterweight of junior welterweight. He won't blame De La Hoya for not selecting him.
"When I'm at my best, I'm one of the most dangerous fighters in the world. We can fight Oscar at 147 or 140. Obviously he can't make 140, so we would have no choice but to fight him at 147. No doubt about it, I got what it takes to beat Oscar De La Hoya. He aint going to fight me. He don't want none of Paulie Malignaggi. I don't blame him. If I was him, I wouldn't want to waste a $20 million dollar payday down the tubes by fighting Paulie Malignaggi and losing."
Hatton, a probable fight for 2008, is something Malignaggi wants in order to settle the issue on who is the best at 140-pounds. There are talks for a doubleheader on May 24 in Manchester, with Hatton returning in the main event and Malignaggi defending in the co-feature against Lovemore Ndou in a rematch.
"I'm hearing the same thing. We'll probably get that fight sometime in 2008 (Hatton) and we'll leave no doubt about it. Once we do it in the ring there will be no doubt about it (on who is the best). Believe me I'll show everybody what it takes and I'll pick up right where Floyd left off," Malignaggi said.
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