Paulie Malignaggi Returns to NY for Columbus Day Parade

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 10.10.2008

"The Magic Man" to be honored this weekend.

Paulie "The Magic Man" Malignaggi (25-1, 5 KOs) briefly returns home this weekend from his Las Vegas training camp, where he is preparing for his November 22nd showdown against Ricky Hatton to determine the world's No. 1 junior welterweight boxer, to be honored in Monday's annual Columbus Day Parade on 5th Avenue in New York City.

Past Italian or Italian-American sports celebrities honored in past NYC Columbus Day parades include racecar driver Mario Andretti, boxing champion Nino Benvenuti, and baseball managers/players Joe Torre and Bobby Valentine.

"I am very, very proud of my Italian heritage," Malignaggi said. "I am honored to be a special guest in this great parade that I've watched for so many years."

Malignaggi was born in Brooklyn but his Italian immigrant parents moved back to Italy when Paulie was only a few months old. Six years later, the family decided to move back to the United States, but Paulie's retired professional soccer playing father, Nello, still lives in Sicily.