Paulie Malignaggi will no longer be part of the SHOWTIME broadcasting team following his comments on racism and other issues that created an uproar.
Malignaggi, 39, had been an analyst for Showtime since September 2012, but his outspokenness has caused several issues during his seven-plus years with the network. Some of them include:
“System racism is a myth.”
“Racism might not be made up after all. It might be that it comes from the opposite side you claim it does.”
Most recently, during an April 22 interview, Malignaggi claimed:
“It’s no longer the time of the African American in boxing, Malignaggi said in the video. “It’s (the Eastern Europeans) that has become the dominant species in boxing.”
According to BoxingScene.com, the decision to eliminate Malignaggi from Showtime’s broadcast team was made when Showtime wanted Malignaggi to apologize for what he said. Malignaggi did not think an actual apology was necessary.
Thus, the network has removed him from their broadcasting team.
Malignaggi, the Brooklyn native, a former junior welterweight and welterweight champion, remains an analyst for Sky Sports’ boxing coverage in the United Kingdom.
Showtime will return to the air Saturday night with its first boxing broadcast since March 13. Mauro Ranallo, Showtime’s blow-by-blow announcer, and longtime analyst Al Bernstein will work that telecast from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The main event will match Angelo Leo (19-0, 9 KOs), of Alburquerque, New Mexico, against Tramaine Williams (19-0, 6 KOs, 1 NC), of New Haven, Connecticut, in a 12-round, 122-pound fight for the vacant WBO junior featherweight title. Williams replaced Philadelphia’s Stephen Fulton (18-0, 8 KOs) as Leo’s opponent Wednesday night, when it was revealed Fulton tested positive for COVID-19.
