NEW YORK – Paulie Malignaggi and Artem Lobov aren’t even scheduled to fight each other, but they’ve already got promotional material in the can.
The two nearly brawled at a gym during a Bare Knuckle FC media event Tuesday at Mendez Boxing in New York.
“You’re a (expletive)!” Malignaggi ranted after BKFC officials, most notably Anthony Johnson, separated them. “Next time it’s a harder slap! That was a (expletive) slap for a (expletive)!
“Don’t get in my face and make threats here! I got in your face to promote! Don’t get in my face and make threats here, because I’ll (expletive) you up here!”
Malignaggi signed with BKFC last month for a June debut against a to-be determined opponent. But right from the start, the boxing promotion teased a fight with Lobov, who earlier signed following his release from the UFC.
Lobov currently is scheduled to face UFC veteran Jason Knight on April 20 in Biloxi, Miss., but the promotion apparently thought they would get a head start on hyping his next match with Malignaggi.
Malignaggi has long pined for a fight with longtime Lobov teammate Conor McGregor, who enlisted him as a sparring partner for the Floyd Mayweather boxing match, only to feud publicly when unflattering footage of their workouts surfaced on social media.
Lobov has said his fight with Knight will serve as a preview for a beatdown of Malignaggi.
