By Mark Vester

Junior welterweight Paulie Malignaggi, who last year lost a twelve round decision to Miguel Cotto in New York's Madison Square Garden, gave his thoughts on Cotto's recent destruction of Zab Judah in a bout that also took place at Madison Square Garden.

When speaking to boxing writer Tim Smith, Malignaggi admitted that while he warned fellow Brooklynite Judah, he was actually rooting for Cotto to win because it makes him look better that he was able to go the distance with the current WBA welterweight champ. 

"Cotto increases the pressure so great that you don't know when it's going to stop," Malignaggi said. "He breaks you down mentally. And with the crowd cheering for him you feel like the loneliest person in the world. You feel all along and you keep thinking, 'This guy is never going to get off me.'

"I told Zab, "Physically you can beat this guy, but mentally you're going to have to want it. I'm not sure he knew what I was saying then, but I think he does now. I never went down, I never took a knee. I think that says something about me, because this guy is a special fighter and people will see that in the future."

Malignaggi says that Cotto will use any means necessary to force his opponent into fight. He says the pressure of Cotto is tough enough, and fighting him in the Garden makes it even tougher.

"It really is a feeling you have to fight. I fought it off, but it looks like he got to Zab. Cotto forces you to fight when you don't want to fight," Malignaggi said. "He'll head-butt you, rough you up, do whatever he has to do to get you off your game. To fight him at the Garden is tough. The crowd is on his side. You feel like everybody there hates you. And then he puts that pressure on you and it is tough."

On June 16, Malignaggi takes on IBF 140-pound champion Lovemore Ndou at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in an HBO televised bout. Eventually he wants a rematch with Cotto.

"Cotto is as strong as he is flawed," Malignaggi said. "You can win rounds off him, score points. I can beat him. I may come out with more broken bones in my face, but I can come out with more rounds. I feel like I'm waiting in line for a ride at the amusement park. I'm willing to stand in line and wait. I've got time on my side. I just hope I"m tall enough to ride when my time comes."

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