Malignaggi says Lazcano scared to come East

Press Release:  Juan Lazcano, who calls himself "The Hispanic Causing Panic" may have some trepidation of his own about fighting in The Big Apple, at least against Brooklyn's junior welterweight contender Paulie Malignaggi. According to Malignaggi, Lazcano (37-3-1) turned down a February fight against him on HBO because he refuses to fight Paulie in New York City. Lazcano, a Texas native who now lives in Sacramento, California, fought in the East, back in 2000, and did alright for himself, winning a split-decision against Jesse James Leija at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. "Lazcano's past his prime," Malignaggi said. "Who is he to dictate where a fight should be? Boxing is a business and you need to sell tickets. If anybody cared about him we'd be fighting on the West Coast. The fight's in New York City because I sell tickets there. This isn't a club fight. it's on HBO. He's just making excuses because he knows that he's in over his head against me. He should feel fortunate to be offered a fight against me on HBO. Look, he's just copping out." Malignaggi, 21-1, has been working with a new head trainer, Buddy McGirt. Malignaggi continued, "they booed [Lazcano] in his last fight at home because they knew he really lost (a 10-round split decision win against Manuel Garnica on Oct. 21). He should be thrilled to come back to the East Coast. The only time he fought there he beat Leija (another split decision win) in a robbery job. Lazcano should stop crying and take the fight."