By Dan Ambrose: Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (30-4, 6 KO’s) hasn’t had a significant fight in over a year and a half since he was easily handled by WBA light welterweight champion Amir Khan in an 11th round TKO loss in May 2010.

After moving up to the welterweight division and beating three straight 2nd tier opponents, the 31-year-old Malignaggi is now ranked at #3 by the World Boxing Association and he’s looking to get a title shot against WBA welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko (32-0, 21 KO’s) for early 2012.

Things haven’t been going well for Malignaggi in trying to negotiate the fight with the Ukrainian champion but he’s still hoping to get the fight made otherwise Malignaggi will have had nothing to show for the wasted months he’s put into trying to make this fight. He hasn’t fought since last October when he beat Orlando Lora by a 10 round unanimous decision and he needs to get a fight soon.

The Senchenko would be an idea fight and payday for Malignaggi, who right about now probably needs a good payday. #4 ranked WBA contender Thomas Dulorme (13-0, 10 KO’s) is very interested in facing Malignaggi next. However, Malingaggi wants no part of the hard hitting Puerto Rican unless its’ after Malignaggi has already captured the WBA title from champion Senchenko.
Senchenko wants the Malignaggi fight to take place in his home country of Ukraine, but Malignaggi reportedly wants no part of facing Senchenko over there and is holding out to try and get the fight to take place in the U.S. If Malignaggi can’t get something negotiated, he sees himself getting his way if it goes to purse bid. However, whether the fight takes place in the U.S or Ukraine, it’s really difficult to see Malignaggi winning this fight. He’s too much of a feather-fisted fighter and Senchenko, although not a big puncher by any means, he clearly has better power than Malignaggi. Senchenko, 5’10”, also has a much better jab and is taller than the 5’8 ½” Malignaggi.

If Malignaggi can’t win this fight it’s hard to see what he can do in boxing other than serve as a gatekeeper. He has no business fighting at welterweight and really needs to lose some weight and drop down not one but two divisions to try and fight at lightweight. Malignaggi’s lack of power will keep him from doing anything if he moves back down to 140, so he needs to skip that division and try and make something happen at 135.

With Juan Manuel Marquez about to vacate his WBA and WBO lightweight titles, Malignaggi could be in the right place at the right time if he moves down. Also, his lack of power might not be quite as pronounced at that weight compared to at 140 and 147.