Golden Boy Moving East Of East L.A.-Way East

Former junior welterweight world champion Paul Malignaggi of Brooklyn recently signed to fight under the Golden Boy Promotions banner.

Malignaggi was in Los Angeles recently during the Sugar Shane Mosley vs. Sergio Mora fight card that ended in a draw. It was the Magic Man?s first visit to L.A. but he wasn?t able to take in the sights. After numerous meetings with Golden Boy the speedy Brooklyn fighter agreed to share his skills with Oscar De La Hoya?s outfit.

?I know I got some good fights in me,? said Malignaggi while in L.A., adding that he will be fighting at welterweight, not junior welters any longer. ?They made me an offer.?

It?s a very good move since Golden Boy recently signed an agreement to put on shows in the Brooklyn area. Now with a foursome of East Coast boxers like Malignaggi, Danny Garcia, Daniel Jacobs and undefeated Mike Perez.

Golden Boy recently announced that it?s matching Robert ?The Ghost? Guerrero against fellow Northern Californian Vicente Escobedo in a junior welterweight showdown on the same card as Zab Judah and Argentina?s talented Lucas Matthysse. Golden Boy hasn?t come out boldly to spell it out but it?s plausible to see that the winners of those two battles will meet later next year in Brooklyn or New Jersey.

Makes sense when you realize that the tri-state area has always had boxing smart fans and deserve a piece of the action. Nevada and California have dominated the boxing scene in the past 20 years with numerous mega fights, but now the East Coast is rising. This is just a start.

Other chatter

Kassim Ouma, a former world champion now living in Riverside, captured the vacant NABA middleweight national title by knocking out Joey Gilbert in the sixth round on Saturday. Ouma trains at Capital Punishment Boxing gym in Riverside.

Juan Carlos Velasquez (10-1) meets Arizona?s Noe Lopez (6-5) in a junior welterweight bout on Thursday Sept. 30, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. The Golden Boy Promotions card also is scheduled to feature Las Vegas prospect Jesse Vargas. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Patrick ?El Elegante? Lopez, who fights for Thompson Boxing Promotions, steps into the ring against Tim Coleman (17-1-1, 4 KOs) on Friday Oct. 1 at Chumash Casino in Santa Inez, California. Lopez (20-2) is a former Venezuelan Olympian and recently knocked out junior welterweight prospect Prenice Brewer.

WBC middleweight titleholder Sergio ?Maravilla? Martinez (45-2-2, 24 KOs) agreed to defend against former foe Paul ?Punisher? Williams (39-1, 27 KOs) who narrowly defeated the Argentine a year ago by decision. The title fight takes place on Nov. 20 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. ?No one wants to fight Paul Williams and no one wants to fight Maravilla Martinez so we will fight each other,? Martinez said.

Mexico?s Juan Manuel Marquez (51-5-1, 37 KOs) defends the WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine lightweight world championship against Australia?s Michael Katsidis (27-2, 22 KOs) on Nov. 27, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. ?Michael Katsidis is a very aggressive fighter and thats the style I like to fight against the most, said Marquez. Styles make fights and my style and his together will give fans a great show in November, but Im not about to give my titles away.?

WBA junior welterweight titleholder Amir Khan (23-1, 17 KOS) of Great Britain will fight Argentina?s Marcos Maidana (29-1, 27 KOs) on Dec. 11 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Tickets are now on sale for the world title fight.

A mixed martial arts card featuring Fontana?s Bobby ?King? Green (14-3) and San Bernardino?s Tim ?Dirty Bird? Means (9-3-1) takes place on Thursday Oct. 7, at San Manuel Casino in Highland. King of the Cage is promoting the MMA event. For more information (800) 359-2464.