By Edward Chaykovsky

Former three division world champion Shane Mosley (46-8-1, 39KOs) says the opportunity to challenge Paulie Malignaggi (32-4, 7KOs) for the WBA welterweight title was too good of an opportunity to pass up. The match is scheduled for April 27th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Mosley, 41, retired last year after suffering his third defeat in four fights. He lost a twelve round decision to WBC 154-pound champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in May, but that defeat also gave him the confidence to move forward at 147.

"I think if I'm able to hang in there with someone like Canelo, who is real big and strong and fast and young - I think that I can handle some of the 147-pounders out there," Mosley said.

When Mosley retired, he didn't expect to return. But the fire slowly crept back and the chance to face Malignaggi was too tempting.

"At the time I thought that I was just going to relax, and promote, and train my son and train some of the kids. As I trained some of the kids and went from gym to gym training different kids, a lot of people in the gym would tell me 'you still got it.' And then I started feeling the fire. I would see some of the guys fight and I started feeling the fire in my gut," Mosley said.

"And here I am. I get the opportunity with someone like Paulie Malignaggi who says he is willing to fight and is willing to put up his title - that's a great offer, that's an offer I can't refuse."