Sadam “World Kid” Ali plans to pulverize a lot of people in the coming years, but the one boxer he doesn’t want to touch gloves with is his longtime friend — and fellow Brooklyn native — World Boxing Association welterweight title holder Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi.
Unless, of course, the purse was big enough.
“Down the line if it makes business sense and it should happen, then OK. But that’s not something on my mind right now,” the former Olympic boxer said as he prepared for tomorrow’s bout against Franklin Gonzalez at the Aviator Sports and Events Center in Mill Basin, which is roughly eight miles from the Barclays Center — where Malignaggi will defend his title this fall. “Paulie’s a friend and I don’t see it like that.”
The 23-year-old welterweight boxer says he plans to follow Malignaggi to the Barclays Center one day, but admits that his career, both as a pugilist and a promoter, is just starting.
His World Kid Promotions will be hosing Saturday’s bout, where the fan-friendly boxer will be featured in the title card match.
Ali is heavily favored against Gonzalez, who has more than 10 years on the 23-year-old welterweight boxer and whose 15 wins, ten knockouts, and nine loses seems unimpressive against World Kid’s 14 wins, eight knockouts, and zero loses.
Still, the Canarsie native who became the first Arab American to represent the United States in the Olympics, couldn’t be happier about the upcoming fight — or more certain of his abilities.
“I’m an exciting fighter,” Ali said. “An exciting fighter is first of all a smart fighter that knows how to hit and not get hit. An exciting fighter has speed and power — someone who has heart and knows how to bite down and come at you. My goal is to have HBO, ESPN, and all the other TV stations want to see me on their channel.”
Sadam “World Kid” Ali vs. Franklin Gonzalez at Aviator Sports and Events Center [3159 Flatbush Ave. in Floyd Bennett Field in Mill Basin, (718) 758-7580; www.sadamaliboxing.com] on June 2 at 7 pm. Tickets range from $50 to $150.
