by David P. Greisman

The last time Paulie Malignaggi fought in front of his hometown crowd in Brooklyn hadn’t gone as well. A year ago, he’d lost a technical knockout to Danny Garcia and subsequently began to think about whether to consider his career.

He did, picking up two victories before returning to Barclays Center this past Saturday in a bout against fellow Brooklyn welterweight Gabriel Bracero. Malignaggi boxed his way to a unanimous decision.

“I knew Bracero was a counterpuncher like myself?.? I was just trying to be the sharper counterpuncher,” Malignaggi said afterward, according to quotes provided to the media by the show’s publicists. “We both tried to set traps, and I just wanted to make him earn any points? that ?he got. At the same time, I felt like I had to earn my points. I dictated the fight with pot shots and stepping over. I didn't want to get desperate. I wanted to force him to get desperate from being behind on the scorecards. I think I did a good job of that.

“As the fight went on?,? I just used my movement and feints to stay in control,” he said. “I noticed that every time he picked up his foot, he would have trouble setting his defense back up. I started taking half steps back and once he would come at me I would shoot a jab. It wasn't super damaging, but it dictated my distance and frustrated him. The plan was to keep it simple. If he didn’t adjust to any traps, then I was going to keep using them. I kept it as simple as I could against a guy who, if you complicate things, he will catch you. He's a counterpuncher who can make you pay.”

Malignaggi then quickly got ready for his role as a broadcast analyst for Showtime’s main broadcast. But after the night is over, he plans to step away from work — and ponder whether he’s going to step away from boxing. He’s been mulling over his career for some time, after all, and said before the Bracero fight that he had always wanted to end his career in Brooklyn.

“I'm going to head to Italy on Tuesday, take a vacation and then think about my future,” he said.

Pick up a copy of David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” at or internationally at . Send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com