Malignaggi to fight on as a welterweight in Italy

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, former 140 lb world champion, Paulie Malignaggi will continue his career as he will move up in weight to welterweight and campaign in his original native country of Italy.

Malignaggi who on May 15th dropped an eleventh round knockout to Amir Khan briefly considered retirement after that bout.

“Now that I need a fight for my comeback, why not do it in Italy? I know a lot of people want to see me fight in Italy,” Malignaggi said. “This would be a chance for people there to see me live. Maybe I can get the Italian welterweight title, make it interesting.

“Financially, I don’t have to fight again. I’ve done well for myself. I don’t have to fight, but you wonder what will you do with yourself? I’m a fighter. That’s what I do. I am a fighter to the core. It’s something you miss if you stay away from it, so while I still have the option, let’s see what I can do. It might be fun to go the European route.”

“He’s not ready to hang ’em up and he’s never fought in Italy and he always wanted to fight there,” Malignaggi’s promoter Lou DiBella said. “There is interest in him fighting in his hometown, Siracusa. He said, ‘I don’t want to end on that note.’ He would like to go out better than he did in the Khan fight. Paulie wouldn’t mind spending a little bit of time fighting over in Italy, going for the Italian title, maybe the European title.”