Paulie Malignaggi lashes out at Lou DiBella
Following his recent signing with Golden Boy Promotions, former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi has publicly lashed out against former promoter Lou DiBella.
In a recent press conference with Golden Boy, Malignaggi referred to his former contract with DiBella as a “slave contract.” His tone matched that of Bernard Hopkins, another former DiBella fighter, who similarly criticized the promoter for his business
practices.
Malignaggi said his new contract with Golden Boy has proven the inadequacy of the former, saying: “[The Golden Boy contract] makes me realize the slave contract I was in for nine years [under DiBella]. [Golden Boy] gave me pretty much everything I wanted.
I don't want to harp on the past. I had a nine, 10 year relationship with Lou. I have some fond memories, but it was always business."
Malignaggi bemoaned DiBella’s 25 per cent revenue split clause in their contract (Golden Boy takes 20 per cent under new terms), despite the fact that Dibella has said he didn’t start profiting from Malignaggi until after seven years of a partnership. Malignaggi
was also irritated at having to pay $75,000 to buy out his contract with DiBella.
"Lou never promoted me the right way […] He should be grateful to me for the money he made by leeching off me for all those years," essentially captures Malignaggi’s sentiment.
Noted boxing analyst Dan Rafael, though a friend of Malignaggi’s, said he was “appalled” by Malignaggi’s “skewed view of reality.” In his view DiBella has done a fine job in promoted the fighter and doesn’t deserve the criticism. Rafael argued: “DiBella
took a guy from day one of his pro career – who had zero punching power and a style that didn't make for scintillating television – and brought him not only to a world title, but to numerous premium cable appearances with purses that grossed at least a few
million dollars.”
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