VERO BEACH, Florida (November 15, 2006) – Boxers dream of fighting in the New York City but Juan “Hispanic Causing Panic” Lazcano apparently doesn’t want to take a bite of the Big Apple, at least against Brooklyn’s world light welterweight contender Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi. According to Malignaggi (21-1, 5 KOs), Lazcano (37-3-1, 27 KOs) turned down a February fight against him on HBO because he refuses to fight Paulie in New York City.. Lazcano, a Texas native who now lives in Sacramento (CA), has fought only once in the East, back in 2000 when he won a 10-round split decision against Jesse James Leija at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.
“Lascano’s past his prime,” Malignaggi said. “Who is he to dictate where a fight should be? Boxing is a business and you need to sell tickets. If anybody cared about him we’d be fighting on the West Coast. The fight’s in New York City because I sell tickets there. This isn’t a club fight; it’s on HBO. He’s just making excuses because he knows that he’s in over his head against me. He should feel fortunate to be offered a fight against me on HBO. Look, he’s just copping out.”
Malignaggi’s promoter, Lou DiBella, and manager, Sal LoNano, have been working to put together Paulie’s next fight. LoNano brought Malignaggi down to Vero Beach for a few weeks to work with Paulie’s new head trainer, Buddy McGirt.
“Lazcano’s making a lot of demands for a guy who can’t sell a ticket in his own hometown,” Malignaggi continued. “They booed him in his last fight at home because they knew he really lost (10-round split decision win against Manuel Garnica on Oct. 21). He should be thrilled to come back to the East Coast. The only time he fought there he beat Leija (10-round split decision) in a robbery job. Lazcano should stop crying and take the fight.”