Paulie Malignaggi: record, next fight and profile →
Logic says that things are going to be a little awkward, at least for a while, for blossoming superstar Nonito Donaire. A few weeks back the Fil-Am fighter made headlines when it was announced that he had opted out of his promotional union with Top Rank by signing an exclusive deal with Golden Boy Promotions, a move that some backed and others couldn't quite fathom.
Recently I had a very deep conversation with Paulie Malignaggi about his career, specifically his return to Las Vegas on the April 9th HBO pay per view show at the MGM Grand. The great thing about Malignaggi, besides being a colorful personality, is that he is a pure fan of the sport of boxing and can talk endlessly about his fellow brethren and other key aspects of the game.
LOS ANGELES - Former Junior Welterweight World Champion Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi will step back onto the big stage against Puerto Rico's Jose Miguel Cotto in a 10-round welterweight fight on Saturday, April 9, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on the "Action Heroes" HBO Pay-Per-View event.
Former junior welterweight champion Paulie "Magic Man" Malignaggi (28-4) is looking forward to his April 9th clash with Jose Miguel Cotto (32-2-1). The fight takes place on the televised undercard to the Erik Morales-Marcos Maidana main event. Maliginaggi is attempting to make a run at a world title in the welterweight division. This will be the Italian American's second fight at 147 pounds. His first was a knockout victory over Michael Lozada this past December.
The last time we saw Paulie Malignaggi inside of a Las Vegas ring it was one of the more humbling nights of his professional career. Facing off with England's Ricky Hatton in a junior welterweight unification bout in November of 2008, the Brooklyn fighter was overwhelmed and out of sync, surrendering an 11th round TKO that had him in disarray.
BoxingScene.com has been advised that an agreement was reached in principle for a welterweight contest between former 140-pound champion Paul Malignaggi (28-4, 6KOs), and Jose Miguel Cotto (32-2, 24KOs), the older brother of WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto. The contracts have yet to be signed. The fight would take place on the Marcos Maidana-Erik Morales pay-per-view on April 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Former 140-pound champion Paulie Malignaggi (28-4, 6KOs) reached out to BoxingScene.com to send a message to the current IBF welterweight champion, Jan Zaveck (31-1, 18KOs) of Slovenia. Zaveck returned to the ring last Friday and retained his title with five round domination of Paul Delgado, who Malignaggi beat twice eight years ago.
Former junior welterweight champion Paul Malignaggi has struck a few verbal shots in the direction of another ex-140-pound champion, Devon Alexander. Malignaggi calls it a measure of revenge for some of the past comments that were made by Alexander. While Malignaggi never discussed the exact comments made by Alexander, he is probably angry over some of Alexander's comments regarding Amir Khan's selection of Malignaggi as last May's opponent for his American debut.