Former junior welterweight titleholder Paul Malignaggi signed with Golden Boy Promotions, the Los Angeles-based company announced on Tuesday.

Malignaggi, a Brooklyn native who plans move up to the welterweight division, will also serve as one of Golden Boy's “ambassadors” to New York, assisting in the promotion of events in his hometown in conjunction with company's recently announced deal with The Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“We are very excited to add Paulie to our roster of fighters,” said Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar de la Hoya. “We have worked with him on numerous fights and his flashy style is exciting to watch both in and out of the ring. We have big plans in store for him and are thrilled that he is in our corner.”

Malignaggi (27-4, 5 knockouts) is 3-3 in his last six bouts, but his losses were to then-junior welterweight champ Ricky Hatton via 11th-round TKO in November of 2008, a controversial unanimous decision to Juan Diaz last August, and a one-sided 11th-round stoppage to current beltholder Amir Khan in his most recent fight this past May.

Malignaggi, whose only other loss was decision to a prime Miguel Cotto in 2006, reportedly considered retirement following the loss to Khan but sounds re-energized now that he's fighting under the Golden Boy banner.

“This is the best career move I've made and I'm thankful to Golden Boy Promotions for giving me this opportunity,” said Malignaggi, who owns victories over former titleholders Diaz (whom he soundly defeated in their rematch) and Lovemore Ndou (twice).
“I know they can give me the biggest and best fights out there and that's what I want at this point in my career.”