Paulie Malignaggi says persistent fan demand keeps the idea of a rematch with Adrien Broner on the table more than a decade after their first bout. Citing the rise of streaming-era veteran fights, the 45-year-old has not ruled out returning for a second contest.
The discussion is driven entirely by a new market for nostalgia matchups. Malignaggi confirmed he is constantly approached about it. “To answer your question, am I interested in the fight? It’s weird because in the streaming era that we’re in now, it’s suddenly become popular again,” he said. The volume of inquiries from the public has been significant. “This fight gets talked about a lot. You’re not the first person asking me about it. I don’t know if anybody’s asking Adrien about it, but from my end, I’m getting asked about it a lot. I get DM’d about it. I get comments on my Instagram about it.”
Their original fight in June 2013 was a major event where Broner captured the WBA welterweight title via a contentious split decision. The promotion was defined by intense and personal trash talk, creating a rivalry that still resonates with a segment of the boxing audience. Malignaggi believes this history gives a potential rematch genuine market value beyond a typical exhibition. He argues their shared history elevates the potential event. “With streaming, there’s a fan base that really tunes into these fights. Me and Broner wouldn’t just be streamers,” Malignaggi stated.
He emphasized their past accomplishments give them a credibility that many veteran fighters lack. “Broner isn’t just a streamer, but there’s actually a championship element to him, even if he’s past his prime, and even if I’m past my prime. You could revive a lot of that. Me and Broner were the best trash talkers of our generation, hands down. You’ve got to be witty to be a trash talker.”
While Malignaggi recently competed in bare-knuckle boxing, he indicated a return to traditional boxing against a familiar opponent is a different matter. The viability of a rematch now depends entirely on Broner’s interest and the involvement of a promoter willing to finance it. Broner has not publicly commented on the possibility. For now, the fight remains a fan-driven hypothetical.
