BROOKLYN – In preparation for his upcoming junior welterweight title fight, former IBF champion Paulie Malignaggi opened his training with a public workout at the Evolution Boxing gym in Brooklyn. Sharp and focused, Malignaggi was surprisingly powerful during a fast-paced workout that lasted nearly 90 minutes. The workout was par for the course for Malignaggi 10 days away from his big fight with Amir Khan.

“We’ve put in a lot of hard work, dedicated hard work, being real mature about it, getting the great sparring, watching video of Khan, trying to pick up some little things about him,” a relaxed Malignaggi said after the session.

Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KO), fresh off a unanimous decision victory over Juan Diaz (actually, he beat Diaz in two consecutive fights, but the judging was off, in my opinion) looks to serve as the rude host to Khan (22-1, 16 KO) in his first bout in the states May 15 at Madison Square Garden.

“I definitely think there will be a hometown advantage, I’m a native New Yorker,” Malignaggi said.

It’s more than the home court advantage Malignaggi counts on, having fought a gauntlet of world class fighters (Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz etc.) Malignaggi questions the buzz surrounding Khan.

“His lack of world class opposition is a big thing,” Malignaggi said “only because he believes