By Albert Alvarez
Paulie Malignaggi vs. Adrien Broner is for the WBA welterweight championship, set for June 22nd at Barclays Center on Showtime.
AA- Alright, let’s start this off by talking about your next opponent, Adrien Broner. You have mentioned that he has looked good mostly due to the fighters that have been hand picked to face him. So is it safe to say that you view Broner as a product of careful matchmaking?
PM- Definitely! Broner is more so a product of connections. In life and in general, a lot of times, it comes down to who you know. And in boxing it’s no different and he is lucky to have Al Haymon in his corner. It’s careful matchmaking and a product of connections. And a lot of the boxing media believes this hype, they buy into it. It’s ridiculous.
AA- So with that being said, does it make you feel that Broner and his team picked you as being a safe bet, as someone that they feel that he can walk through, and in the process pick up another strap in a different weight class? If so, how do you feel about that?
PM- Yeah, you’re right, they think that I’m a careful pick. They figure that since I didn’t look so great in my first defense that they are catching someone that is slowing down. Now usually someone else gets the opportunity, but once again it seems to be ”Haymon’s World”, so that is really why Broner is even in position to have this shot.
AA- I feel that you have an extremely high boxing IQ, so you are going to force Broner to think and look for adjustments to make. Making super key adjustments is something that we have yet to see Broner do. So from that standpoint, I just don’t understand the logic in picking a fight in a new weight class against a real student of the sport. Do you see anything in Broner’s boxing style that you look at and say, ok, he does that very well?
And would I be correct in assuming that Steve Forbes’ slick slippery style and Karim Mayfield’s grind down and body you style are the reasons as to why they were selected to help give you that certain look that is needed?
PM- Yes, that’s exactly right. We wanted grinders for sure because if he thinks of attempting to walk through me because they say that I quote, unquote ”can’t punch,” so then let him try. Go ahead and lift them weights all you want. We are preparing for anything that he brings to the table, so that is also why we got slick slippery fighters in there as well and we are going to be bringing in a few more guys.
As far as my boxing IQ, you are right, it is very high. So as you mentioned, Broner has never had to really think in there, he hasn’t had to make adjustments. And what is he going to do once he finally finds an adjustment to make and then I make another adjustment to what he is doing? You see, he is going to have to really think in there.
AA- You two have had some pretty entertaining confrontations, he has called you a clown, has tried changing your name to Paulette, has even brought in one of your side chicks into the build up of your fight. I mean talk to me, out of all the things that he says and does, what annoys you the most? Or is he simply just adding fuel to the fire at this point?
PM- What annoys me is that he acts like he was born with money, this clown really believes that he earned that money that he flashes around. You either have it or you don’t. He also, along with the media, bought into this ”Haymon Hype.” Go ahead and believe that you earned that money, keep lying to yourself.
AA- Now I understand that you wanted VADA to do the testing for this fight, but in return you were told that USADA would be doing the testing instead. Now I could be totally wrong, so please correct me if I am. But wasn’t it USADA that busted Morales in his rematch against Danny Garcia, and he was still allowed to fight anyway? I mean, what’s the point of testing if you are going to still allow the fighter that got caught to still go on and fight?
I also heard that VADA is also a lot cheaper in cost than USADA. Who will cover the costs associated with it? VADA from what I have researched on also has more strict testing that’s involved, so it’s a no-brainer for me. In knowing all this, doesn’t it raise concern as to why they are so bent on wanting to only use USADA?
PM- Yes, it raises a lot of concern. But from the start until the end of the day, I did complain about it. But what can you do you know. I mean I signed the contract so we got to go with USADA. I just hope that they are a testing organization that takes this real serious. That’s all I can do at this point. But once again, it all goes back to who is calling the shots in all this. And you and I both already know.
AA- I just saw the Matthysse/Peterson fight. From my couch, Matthysse looks like he punches like a smaller version of Golovkin. But I feel that Garcia’s ability to punch with his opponent will make it interesting. But you are the pro and you just had a very up close and personal look at Matthysse, and you have also called a Danny Garcia fight. If a Garcia/Matthysse fight is to get made, how do you see it playing out?
PM- I think that pound for pound, Lucas Matthysse is that hardest puncher actually. Golovkin has freakish power as well, but Golovkin more so has to grind you down. It’s really an interesting fight, a solid fight. Both Lucas and Danny have good chins and Danny’s punching power must also be respected. I hope we get to see it happen. That fight has fireworks written all over it.
AA- You have had some beef in the past with Devon Alexander. You just called his fight against Purdy. How did Devon look to you? And I understand that we can not overlook Broner, but if both are on the table, would a fight against Alexander interest you in the future? Or if Khan makes a jump to 147, would you jump at the chance to avenge your loss and want to face Khan again instead?
PM- Alexander looked good. Purdy was durable, but looked to be out there just trying to survive. So it’s hard to stop someone that is in survival mode. I would love to get either of those guys but first thing is Broner. So after Broner, then we can sit down and discuss it a bit more.
AA- Alright bro, thanks so much for your time. Is there anything that you would like to say in closing?
PM- Thanks to all my fans out there for the support. Follow me on twitter @PaulMalignaggi.
