Malignaggi on Mayweather- ‘a gimmicky situation’

Former two-division champion and Showtime Boxing analyst Paulie Malignaggi is never one to not “give his two cents” on things around the world of boxing. And, he was recently asked his thoughts on the news about Floyd Mayweather coming back into the squared circle.

Fighthype caught up with Malignaggi during the Charlo-Hogan fight card at Barclays Center in Brooklyn December 7th, and needless to say, he doesn’t think Mayweather is going after the elites in boxing with this latest comeback.

“You have to keep in mind they’re in their 40s, and Mayweather himself has been retired, so I don’t see Mayweather looking to come back against top opposition in boxing,” Malignaggi said to Fighthype. “I think it’s more of a selling, marketing commitment. From the rumors that I hear talking to Dana White, I would not be shocked if he’s going to fight boxing matches against superstar MMA and UFC fighters.

You can catch the full Malignaggi interview below. He’s always a fun listen and provides an open-air take.

“To where it’s a risk, but it’s a calculated risk, and you know, he’s the favorite, and it’s fights where he’s gonna expose himself to a completely new fan base. A very big fan base and a fan base that’s about as stupid as you can guess. Dumb as f—— doorknobs.”

While the last sentence sounds like a man who is still a little upset about the loss in his MMA debut back in June to Artem Lobov in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, Malignaggi speaking on the Mayweather comeback sees it as good marketing.

“If you put yourself in that position, you know Floyd is kind of a marketing genius,” Malignaggi said.

Mayweather late last month made news by reporting that he was coming out of retirement and connecting with UFC President Dana White for a mega fight in 2020. Malignaggi explained why he feels the undefeated Mayweather is not coming after the best in boxing with this comeback.

“Once you been retired like Mayweather, whose also older than Manny mind you, I don’t think you come back in and fight the Terence Crawford’s of the world and guys like that,” Malignaggi stated. “I think even the fighters in that position if they understand the (boxing) politics probably know he’s not looking at them or angling towards them.”

“I mean, he’s angling towards money and exposure, and it’s almost a gimmicky situation.”

Mayweather hasn’t had a professional fight since taking on Connor McGregor back in 2017 and with this latest unretirement, I’d be had pressed to think it would be anything more than what Paulie has laid out.