Paulie Malignaggi takes on Amir Khan this Saturday at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden as a big underdog.
The always colorful New Yorker has been vocal about his destain for Khan since before the fight was announced, and resents the fact that some see him as a stepping stone rather than a serious challenge for the fast rising Golden Boy prospect.
Perhaps prospect is the wrong word for a fighter who already has a world title, but since his loss to Breidis Prescott a little over two years ago, Khan has continued to be brought along slowly.
In his last outing he took on the criminally overmatched Dimitri Salita, and proceeded to finish him in the first round.
After this his next mandatory challenger was Marcos Maidana, but arrangements were made and fights changed so that Maidaia could be sidestepped for the time being. This isn’t a slight on Khan and his team either necessarily, Maidana is a dangerous puncher without much of a name in the United States. Taking him on would be risky and do little for Khan’s recognition in the States.
In Malignaggi many fans see another safe option being taken by Khan and his team. Although Malignaggi will test Khan with his slick skills and speed, he doesn’t have much of a punch, and has only stopped 5 opponents in 30 fights.
