Malignaggi open to fighting Judah on December 7th

By Boxing News - 08/28/2013 - Comments

judah43By Allan Fox: Paulie Malignaggi (32-5, 7 KO’s) says he’s open to facing former two division world champion Zab Judah (42-8, 29 KO’s) on December 7th on the Amir Khan vs. Devon Alexander fight card at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Malignaggi says he wants to fight the 35-year-old Judah, but it has to be worth his while to take the fight. In other words, Malignaggi would to see the green before he’ll say yes to that fight.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer was the one that floated the idea of putting together Judah-Malignaggi fight as the co-feature for the Khan vs. Alexander fight, and it didn’t take Malignaggi long to say he wants to do it.

Malignaggi said to RingTV “Yeah, that [Malignaggi-Judah] can happen, but only if the situation is right, you know? Am I interested in the Zab Judah fight? Of course I’m interested in the Zab Judah fight…on a business level, of course, man, me against Zab Judah in Brooklyn, who wouldn’t be interested in that fight?”

This fight could be more interesting than the main even between Khan and Alexander, because that fight could turn out to be a technical battle. Judah would be looking to slug with Malignaggi knowing that Adrien Broner, Amir Khan and Ricky Hatton were able to beat him by unloading on him with big shots.

Malignaggi gave Broner a lot of problems in losing by a 12 round split decision last June, but the fight might have been a one-sided affair had Broner thrown more punches. Malignaggi was there to be dominated, but Broner didn’t let his hands go with enough punches.

Judah has the power to beat Malignaggi, but he’s also a pot shot fighter like Broner with a lot work rate. If Judah can up the pace of the fight he could end up taking Malignaggi out the way that Khan and Hatton did. Malignaggi had problems with Khan’s hand speed, and Judah is almost as fast.



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