By Jason Kim: Former IBF light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi (28-4, 6 KO’s) has probably seen the last days of him being a serious threat to anyone at light welterweight and it’s difficult to imagine that he’ll be anymore than just a name now that he’s moved up to welterweight where his lack of power will likely be an even bigger cross to bear.

However, his new promoters at Golden Boy Promotion are likely going to be putting him in exclusively with opponents that Malignaggi has a good chance to beat, like the Michael Lozada that Malignaggi stopped in the 6th round last weekend on the undercard of the Bernard Hopkins vs. Jean Pascal bout at the Pepsi Colosseum, in Quebec, Canada.

With the good match making by GBP for Malignaggi against the little known Lozada, Malignaggi was able to score his first knockout in over six years. It’s a rarity when Malignaggi knocks anyone out, believe me. And it’s not that he’s become a bigger puncher, because he looked as just as light hitting as usual last Saturday night.

It’s that his opponent was weak enough for him to look good. There’s talk of Malignaggi next being matched against Matthew Hatton, and then if successful in that fight, a bout against International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight champion Jan Zaveck.

I think it won’t be easy getting the Hatton bout, but that’s a winnable fight for Malignaggi because Hatton is pretty basic and hits about as hard as Malignaggi. If you put Malignaggi in against a weak puncher, he can beat them most of the time. But the problem is all the champions can punch a little and have good skills. I can’t see Malignaggi getting past Zaveck, and even if he does, Malignaggi will be considered a paper champion and will last only as long as his opposition is weak.