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WBA welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi has revealed that he will return to the ring at New York's newly built Barclays Center on October 20 but it'll be very much a case of ticking over until a fight with a mystery name can be made.

The brash Brooklyn boxer will face Mexico's Pablo Cano in a non-title fight before making the first defence of his title against a secret opponent.

"There is a long-term plan," Malignaggi told ESPN,

"My fans should stay patient, there is a very big fight coming, but it's hush hush for now." 

Despite having a mega fight on the horizon, the 31-year-old stressed that he is not looking beyond the threat posed by Cano, who has an impressive 25 - 1 - 1 (19 KOs) record.

"Cano I have to take seriously," he said. "He's a very good body puncher, he'll try to take my legs away. I will take him seriously."

The October 20 bill looks likely to be topped with a rematch between WBA and IBF light-welterweight king Danny Garcia and Erik Morales.

26/07/2012 22:02:00