Former WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi has admitted that he must defeat Zab Judah on Saturday night to remain on the world boxing scene.
Malignaggi and Judah meet in an all-American encounter in New York, and "the Magic Man" has revealed that he is expecting an explosive bout as both men attempt to prolong their careers with a victory.
The 33-year-old told Sky Sports News: "I expect the best Zab Judah, a Zab Judah who is going to be fighting for his boxing career. I feel the same way.
"If we saw each other in the gym, we would try to knock each other out. There's no love taps. With this much on the line, you can bet that we're both going to have it out on Saturday.
"You have to be stubborn to have longevity. One or two losses can quickly demote you to a second-level fighter, but you have to have the stubbornness to keep going."
Malignaggi has won 32 of his 37 professional fights, while Judah has 42 successes from 50 contests.
Darren Plant
