Beef in Brooklyn? " Zab kept on saying he wasn't Paulie Malignaggi and he proved it!"

GL: What's good Paulie? How was training camp for this fight and what can we expect to see from you on Saturday night? "Camp's been great. I've done all of the preparation necessary to win this fight and I'm just ready both mentally and physically to win this fight man against Lovemore N'dou on Saturday night. I'm looking forward to getting it on with him and taking his world title away from him."

GL: I think this is an interesting clash of styles. You're known as a boxer and he's known for his aggression.

Paul Malignaggi: "I look at it the same way and I don't think Lovemore N'dou can fight me any other way. He can only be aggressive. He's not going to come out and try to box with me. I mean he can try, but I'm expecting him to do what he does best and that's take the fight to me."

GL: Your promoter Lou DiBella describes N'dou as Cotto lite. How will your experience with Cotto help you deal with N'dou's pressure?

PM: "He's got some similiar traits to Cotto. Obviously Cotto is a little bit better because he beat him. He's a bit wilder than Cotto and he doesn't hit hard like Miguel Cotto, he's just a very physical fighter like Miguel Cotto. There's similiarites and differences but either way the experience is going to help me. Anything that doesn't break you only makes you better and I believe that fight made me better and I'm definitely going to take that experience with me come Saturday night."

GL: What did you think about the Cotto-Judah fight?

PM: "Throughout the whole promotion Zab kept saying he's no Paul Malignaggi. I wish Zab all the best. When he first signed the fight I told him if he wants it he can win the fight because physically he's better than Cotto. I think he knew what I meant when I said that because you have to want it against Miguel Cotto because he's going to make you doubt yourself in there. I think Zab Judah understands what I meant now. He kept on saying he wasn't Paulie Malignaggi throughout the promotion and he proved he wasn't."

GL: Harsh words for the fellow Brooklynite.

PM: "Like I said, I wished him all the best at first but he kept harping on Paul Malignaggi, Paul Malignaggi. Cotto fought 29 other guys and he beat two guys after he fought me yet Zab kept saying he wasn't me. I don't know what his reasons for saying that were but if you're going to take an action there's a reaction. Now he put a peformance he put on and there's a reaction."

GL: What does becoming IBF junior welterweight champion mean to you?

PM: It means everything. You work your whole life to become a world champion and most fighters never get to that point. I'm blessed that I have this second opportunity. The experience from my first shot will carry me on this week, as well as the preparation I've done with my trainer Buddy McGirt and Orlando my co-trainer."

GL: Who are some of the guys you've been sparring with?

PM: "David Estrada, Edner Cherry my last opponent and a few other guys whose names people might not recognize that also gave me a world of good work."

GL: How have your hands been doing and are they still a concern?

PM: "The hands have been fine. Throughout my career I've had certain problems with them, but they've gotten a little better as time has gone on."

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

PM: "I want to thank everyone for their support. Just tune in to watch Lovemore N'dou get beaten worse than he ever has."