Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
New Yorker still chasing October world title shot
Former world title challenger at 140lbs, Dmitriy Salita
remains hopeful of landing a shot at Paulie Malignaggi’s WBA welterweight title
after stopping Roberto Valenzuela within four rounds in Mobile, Alabama last night.
The 30 year-old, who now has four straight victories since
losing to Amir Khan in 2009, was thought to be in frame for a huge all-Brooklyn
showdown with Malignaggi at the Barclays Center in New York until negotiations
began with Pablo Cesar Cano.
Cano, 22, who holds the interim WBA belt at
light-welterweight, has now been put forward to face Joan Guzman for the full
version after Marcos Maidana vacated and may prefer a bout with the Dominican
to remain at 140lbs.
That would put an eager Salita back in the frame to face the
‘Magic Man’ and the Brooklynite is sure that the fight would generate the
interest necessary to get the TV networks on board and approve the contest.
“From what I know the Cano-Paulie fight is not 100 per cent
official and my fight will create a lot more buzz and interest, especially in
NYC,” Salita told World Boxing News.
“I don't think that from a fan perspective the fight makes
sense in New York. My fight with Paulie will result in major ticket sales and
will really get boxing and non-boxing fans interested in this battle.
“There are so many interesting points to this fight. Most
importantly, I want to show the world that I am ready for the world title.
"It felt great to be back! I had a really good camp at Kronk
gym in Detroit and I had very competitive sparring - so I did not feel much
ring rust and I was sharp from the beginning.
“I wanted to get this win to build up hype for a fight with
Paulie. The Battle of Brooklyn on October 20th is the perfect fight at
the right time.”