“You still make a lot of money. Make sure I do the right thing with you, man,” Malignaggi told Broner in the old clip. “This [__] ends one day, man,” said Paulie to About Boxing.
Looking back now, Malignaggi said the conversation came from realizing how quickly boxing forgets its stars once their careers slow down.
“The point that I was starting to realize that nobody cares when it’s over,” said Malignaggi.
Malignaggi explained that he first understood that reality years earlier while talking to former world champion Junior Jones at a club show in New York. Fans were asking Malignaggi for photos while completely ignoring Jones, despite Jones having fought and won on major stages during his career.
“I remember thinking making a mental note to myself and saying, ‘I’ve got to remember that because one day this is going to happen to me,’” said Malignaggi.
By the time he had those talks with Broner, Malignaggi said he was already feeling himself fade from being the center of attention in boxing circles. That was why he tried to warn Broner about balancing fame, money, and public perception before it was too late.
Malignaggi said Broner had already reached the point where he no longer needed to play the villain all the time because fans already knew who he was.
“You are at the center point. You are the hottest thing right now in boxing,” said Malignaggi. “You no longer have to be unlikable.”
Instead, Malignaggi believed Broner should have started preparing for life after boxing while softening the image that had made him famous in the first place.
“If you continue to make enemies, everybody’s gonna constantly root for your demise,” Malignaggi said. “And when it’s over, you’re gonna be left with nothing.”
Malignaggi admitted the sport feeds an athlete’s ego because being recognized and treated like the center of attention becomes part of the motivation that drives fighters through their careers. But he said boxing eventually moves on to the next attraction, whether a fighter is ready for that reality or not.
