By Rick Reeno

Sebastian Contursi, advisor to WBA junior welterweight champion Marcos Maidana (31-2, 28KOs), revealed that his boxer is considering a possible move to 147-pounds, according to a recent interview with BoxingScene.com's Chris Robinson. Maidana is considering a tentative ring return in February 2012.

If Maidana moves forward with his plan to join the welterweight ranks, then Paulie Malignaggi (30-4, 6KOs) is ready and waiting. Like Maidana, Malignaggi held a major championship at 140-pounds. He moved up in weight three fights ago.

"I think it's a great fight. Everybody knows that I always want to fight the best and get myself into big fights. I like the challenge of fighting the best. It's a challenge to myself to take on a fighter like Maidana. I want to challenge him to a fight. I know his adviser said that he's looking at Mayweather and Berto right off that bat. If he doesn't get those fights, I think me and him is a solid fight. I'm on a three fight win streak. I'm a welterweight who moved up from junior welterweight like him. If he wants to fight in February, I'm available," Malignaggi told BoxingScene.com.

'And we can do it on the East Coast. A lot of Argentine fighters have been fighting on the East Coast, like Sergio Martinez and Omar Narvaez. And me, being originally from New York, I think the fight will do well there. It would generate a lot of interest. And I like my chances to win that fight."