By Ryan Maquiñana

Former IBF welterweight champ Jan Zaveck has called out newly crowned WBA 147-pound beltholder Paulie Malignaggi.

"Paulie, respect for the fight!  Do you have enough courage to take me for your next opponent?" Zaveck asked via Twitter.

Last Sunday in Ukraine, Malignaggi (31-4, 7 KOs) outclassed incumbent Vyacheslav Senchenko, stopping him in the ninth round for his second world title in two weight classes.  Since moving up to welterweight, the Brooklyn-based stylist has gone 4-0 and enjoyed a career renaissance.

One fighter looking for some semblance of a rebirth is Zaveck (32-2, 18 KOs).  The 36-year-old Slovenian gave a game effort in his American TV debut last year against Andre Berto where he was stopped on cuts in the fifth frame.

Zaveck has since defeated Bethel Ushona by unanimous decision two months ago, but would undoubtedly relish the opportunity to get back in the welterweight picture by landing a fight with Malignaggi.

Zaveck informed BoxingScene.com that he would have no problem returning to America for the opportunity to challenge "The Magic Man."

Ryan Maquiñana writes a weekly column for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (CSNBayArea.com). He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Panel. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com , check out his blog at norcalboxing.net or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.