Retired two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi has called for an unbeaten world champion to draw the curtain on their professional career.
Malignaggi, who was known as the ‘Magic Man’, had an impressive professional boxing career of his own, winning world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight before his tenure came to an end in 2017.
The Brooklyn-native shared the ring with a number of generational greats along the way, including the likes of Miguel Cotto, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Ricky Hatton to name just a few.
Since he announced his retirement from the sport back in 2017 after he was beaten by Sam Eggington, Malignaggi has worked as a commentator and analyst for a number of platforms, and has now offered his thoughts on a reigning title-holder.
Speaking on Froch On Fighting, Malignaggi was asked if he believes Ukrainian superstar Oleksandr Usyk should announce his retirement from the sport following his latest victory over Daniel Dubois.
“Who am I to tell another grown man what to do but I’ll tell you what, I think he’s done so great, so well, there’s nothing more he can accomplish where they’ll make him greater in the history of boxing right?
“Whoever wants to say he’s better than Ali is going to say right now, whoever won’t say he’s better than Ali, nothing Usyk can do will make a person like that say he’s better than Ali so at this point you’ve pretty much reached your ceiling as far as where people are going to rate you. Again I’m nobody to tell a grown man to retire but I personally as a fan would prefer he retires.”
Usyk became the first fighter in boxing history to win the undisputed heavyweight championship on two separate occasions during the four-belt era back in July when he stopped Dubois in the fifth round of their rematch at Wembley Stadium.
The 38-year-old from Ukraine previously held the undisputed cruiserweight championship, making him one of the few great champions in boxing history to capture an undisputed crown in more than one weight class.
