Paulie Malignaggi is on the verge of achieving a rare feat in combat sports, aiming to become a world champion in both traditional boxing and bare-knuckle boxing, a distinction currently held by BKFC standout Austin Trout. This ambitious pursuit has garnered significant attention across the fighting community, including from reigning BKB titleholders.
One such titleholder is Javon Wright, who is set to defend his BKB Police Gazette welterweight championship against his rival Dan Gittens. Wright’s bout with Gittens will serve as the co-main event at BKB 54: Mayhem in Manchester on May 16th, preceding Malignaggi’s own bid for a two-sport championship.
Malignaggi will face the current BKB Bare Knuckle champion, Rolando Dy. When asked about the upcoming Malignaggi vs. Dy fight, Wright expressed his anticipation, stating that he expects a highly entertaining contest. “It’s definitely gonna be a good fight between both of them,” Wright commented. “Because I know Rolando and that’s my guy, but I know Paulie is a good fighter, too. So, it’s definitely gonna be fireworks in that fight. So, I’m actually looking forward to that fight after my fight, for sure.”
Javon Wright Acknowledges Malignaggi’s Accomplishments and Looks Forward to BKB 54 Bout
When questioned about his habit of watching fights after his own bouts, Wright confirmed his interest, particularly in the Malignaggi-Dy matchup. “Oh, yeah. Of course. I’m definitely sticking around to watch that fight after my fight,” he said.
Reflecting on Austin Trout’s success in multiple combat disciplines and Malignaggi’s current endeavor, Wright offered his perspective. “Right. So, I mean, I can’t take nothing from it, man. Like you said, he was a champ in boxing, and then he got a chance to be a champ here in BKB,” Wright stated. “So, hey, I mean, we all going to find out Saturday if he up next or if Ronaldo [is] gonna retain his title.”