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Here's a new Interview with PAULIE MALIGNAGGI!
GL: What's the latest and greatest with Paulie Malignagi, and when can we expect to see you back in the ring? "Nothing much, I'm looking for someone to get back in the ring with. I thought we had something going, but things fell through, for one reason or another. I'm keeping my eyes open for something nice that I want jump into."
GL: The last time we spoke, you weren't really sure if you had the desire to continue boxing. Obviously you've found the desire to continue, yes?
Paulie Malignaggi: Yes. I don't really have the desire, as far as love of the game, it's more about the paycheck I can make. I can't make it doing anything else, the amount of money. Obviously, anybody can go to work and make money, but the paycheck I make boxing, I'm not going to make anywhere else. It really came down to a financial decision, and I had to think deep and soul search. From a financial standpoint, the country in is a recession, people everywhere are losing their jobs, and on unemployment. I'm not going to join that party, I can make money boxing. It was really more of a financial decision, than a decision based on desire.
GL: Does that mean you're boxing for the wrong reasons, and you might not live up to your potential because of that?
PM: No. If you want to eat in boxing, you have to win. People have supported Paulie Malignaggi, and I have a lot of love for them. If you've supported Paulie Malignaggi, and you care about Paulie Malignaggi, you'll understand what goes on, and where he's coming from, when he's speaking this way. I'm not going to get into the business side of this game, because the story never ends. I want a fair shake, I want to make the amount of money I deserve to make. If I can't get it, I won't fight, if I can get it, I will fight. Like I said before, it comes down to a financial decision, if I get those kind of paychecks, I'm in.
GL: Who are some of the guys that interest you at 140?
PM: Any big names interest me at 140. Money talks, bull**** walks. Whatever guys they come with, if they're bringing money to the table, I'll fight them. No matter who it is, I'll fight them.
GL: Zab Judah recently called me and singled you out as one of the guys he wants to get it on with the most. Does Zab Judah fit the bill as one of the guys you're looking to fight?
PM: Yeah, of course. Definitely, it would be an all Brooklyn fight. A lot of people in barber shops all over Brooklyn talk about Paulie Malinagi vs. Zab Judah. It's been a topic of conversation for years already. I'm sure a lot of people would be interested.
GL: How does a fight between you and Zab play out?
PM: It's an interesting fight. We both do a lot of similar things, with speed and boxing ability, but I think I've got some tricks up my sleeve for Zab. Zab will probably tell you he's got some tricks up his sleeve for me. If anybody is looking at fighting Paulie Malignagi, he's has to bring cake. I'm turning over a new leaf. I'm not going to make excuses, I'm just going to move ahead, and do me. What you saw in my last fight isn't Paulie Malignaggi, and I'm not even going to get into that. I'm not going to be a crybaby about anything, I'm just going to move ahead. I'm going to make my money, and yes, Zab is one of the people that fit the bill. I'm ready to throw down with whoever wants to throw down. I don't care about particular names, it's about making the business happen. I don't care about hyping fights, the only thing I care about is if you bring money to the table I'll fight you. If you don't bring money to the table, you can kiss my ass. That's how I'm looking at it.
GL: What's the soonest you can be back in action?
PM: I've been in the gym, not consistantly, but I've been there. Just working out, and trying to keep my weight down. I'm trying to stay in decent shape, so if they give me a fight I'll be ready in a couple of months.
GL: Closing thoughts.
PM: I want to thank all of my fans, obviously all of my fans are dissapointed. I want to come back and win something, and that way I can show my appreciation for them. They showed me support when I was down, and I appreciate that. This is a job for me, so if I want to make money, I've got to be good at it. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate my fans for showing me love, it means a lot to me. It would be nice if I could come back and win something once more, more for them than for myself. As for me, all I'm caring about is the money, but for my fans I would like to win something big, to really please them.
GL: What's the latest and greatest with Paulie Malignagi, and when can we expect to see you back in the ring? "Nothing much, I'm looking for someone to get back in the ring with. I thought we had something going, but things fell through, for one reason or another. I'm keeping my eyes open for something nice that I want jump into."
GL: The last time we spoke, you weren't really sure if you had the desire to continue boxing. Obviously you've found the desire to continue, yes?
Paulie Malignaggi: Yes. I don't really have the desire, as far as love of the game, it's more about the paycheck I can make. I can't make it doing anything else, the amount of money. Obviously, anybody can go to work and make money, but the paycheck I make boxing, I'm not going to make anywhere else. It really came down to a financial decision, and I had to think deep and soul search. From a financial standpoint, the country in is a recession, people everywhere are losing their jobs, and on unemployment. I'm not going to join that party, I can make money boxing. It was really more of a financial decision, than a decision based on desire.
GL: Does that mean you're boxing for the wrong reasons, and you might not live up to your potential because of that?
PM: No. If you want to eat in boxing, you have to win. People have supported Paulie Malignaggi, and I have a lot of love for them. If you've supported Paulie Malignaggi, and you care about Paulie Malignaggi, you'll understand what goes on, and where he's coming from, when he's speaking this way. I'm not going to get into the business side of this game, because the story never ends. I want a fair shake, I want to make the amount of money I deserve to make. If I can't get it, I won't fight, if I can get it, I will fight. Like I said before, it comes down to a financial decision, if I get those kind of paychecks, I'm in.
GL: Who are some of the guys that interest you at 140?
PM: Any big names interest me at 140. Money talks, bull**** walks. Whatever guys they come with, if they're bringing money to the table, I'll fight them. No matter who it is, I'll fight them.
GL: Zab Judah recently called me and singled you out as one of the guys he wants to get it on with the most. Does Zab Judah fit the bill as one of the guys you're looking to fight?
PM: Yeah, of course. Definitely, it would be an all Brooklyn fight. A lot of people in barber shops all over Brooklyn talk about Paulie Malinagi vs. Zab Judah. It's been a topic of conversation for years already. I'm sure a lot of people would be interested.
GL: How does a fight between you and Zab play out?
PM: It's an interesting fight. We both do a lot of similar things, with speed and boxing ability, but I think I've got some tricks up my sleeve for Zab. Zab will probably tell you he's got some tricks up his sleeve for me. If anybody is looking at fighting Paulie Malignagi, he's has to bring cake. I'm turning over a new leaf. I'm not going to make excuses, I'm just going to move ahead, and do me. What you saw in my last fight isn't Paulie Malignaggi, and I'm not even going to get into that. I'm not going to be a crybaby about anything, I'm just going to move ahead. I'm going to make my money, and yes, Zab is one of the people that fit the bill. I'm ready to throw down with whoever wants to throw down. I don't care about particular names, it's about making the business happen. I don't care about hyping fights, the only thing I care about is if you bring money to the table I'll fight you. If you don't bring money to the table, you can kiss my ass. That's how I'm looking at it.
GL: What's the soonest you can be back in action?
PM: I've been in the gym, not consistantly, but I've been there. Just working out, and trying to keep my weight down. I'm trying to stay in decent shape, so if they give me a fight I'll be ready in a couple of months.
GL: Closing thoughts.
PM: I want to thank all of my fans, obviously all of my fans are dissapointed. I want to come back and win something, and that way I can show my appreciation for them. They showed me support when I was down, and I appreciate that. This is a job for me, so if I want to make money, I've got to be good at it. That doesn't mean I don't appreciate my fans for showing me love, it means a lot to me. It would be nice if I could come back and win something once more, more for them than for myself. As for me, all I'm caring about is the money, but for my fans I would like to win something big, to really please them.
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