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Ricky Burns vs. Paulie Malignaggi possible for 2017

Malignaggi has not competed at super lightweight since 2010.

Ladies, gentlemen, and other, I present to you the first nominee for the inaugural Flaming Dumpster in a Septic Tank Award for Championship Idiocy.

Speaking at the WBC’s annual convention, "The Magic Man" informed reporters that he may face WBA super lightweight champion Ricky Burns in the spring of 2017.

"This fight against Burns can be done between March-April 2017. It's a very good possibility to win a title and make history. However, making the weight 140 pounds will be a very difficult task."

My body says yes but it will not be easy. At this stage of my career, the weight is a very important factor and we must plan it with great care. What if three weeks before the fight with Burns I can not reach the weight? ..I have to sit down with my work team, to analyze all this and make the best decision."

Malignaggi believes that he's been given enough time to perform an excellent training camp, but added: "We must make a decision in early 2017. If the money is correct and the physical conditions can be reached, we will be announcing that fight very soon."

Malignaggi also retweeted a claim that the fight is "set."

Burns manager Alex Morrison recently confirmed that the "Rickster" will defend his belt in Glasgow this upcoming March against either Malignaggi or newly-minted IBF champion Julius Indongo, depending on which one "guarantees him the bigger purse."

Burns vs. Indongo is a decent fight; "Blue Machine" is still relatively unproven outside of his monster knockout of Eduard Troyanovsky and Burns is durable enough to drag twelve rounds out of him.

Burns vs. Malignaggi is a bad joke. Burns (41-5-1, 14 KO) being a titleholder is already a farce, as he won the vacant belt against longtime can-crusher Michele Di Rocco and arguably should have lost it against Kiryl Relikh in October. Malignaggi (36-7, 7 KO) hasn’t fought at 140 since getting smashed to bits by Amir Khan in 2010 and his best win in the last four years was a 2012 split decision over Pablo Cesar Cano that I scored for the Mexican.

The idea that these two could fight for a title in an organization that’s claimed to be purging extraneous belts is nothing short of pathetic, especially considering that the WBA has legit titleholders in other divisions.

Would anyone tune in anyway?

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