If boxing's powers that be expect a calmer Paulie Malignaggi a week after his controversial loss against Juan Diaz, they had better think again.

Malignaggi is still fuming over the scoring of the Aug. 22 bout in Houston, where he lost by unanimous decision in Houston. Malignaggi made one of his first public appearances since the fight in Friday night's card at Seminole Hard Rock Live Arena.

``I have gotten a lot of support,'' Malignaggi said as he greeted fans and posed for pictures before the Tavoris Cloud-Clinton Woods light-heavyweight title fight. ``Usually, I am labeled as the bad guy. I'm the guy everybody likes to boo.

``I think the fans and media got behind me this time because what's fair is fair, and I should have been treated in a fair way last week.''

Despite being the busier fighter and landing more punches, Malignaggi failed to convince any of the three judges, who scored the bout for Diaz, 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113.

``Fighters work very hard,'' Malignaggi said. ``For that fight, I worked months. And a judge can just show up, fill out a scorecard and go home like nothing happened. His life is normal. Nothing changes in his life. You can't treat a fighter's life like that.

``Things like that have to be changed in boxing.''

Malignaggi, a former junior-welterweight world champion, anticipated wrongdoings before the bout. Although now fighting as a welterweight, Malignaggi agreed to face Diaz in his native Houston at a catch weight of 138 pounds and in a smaller ring better suited for Diaz's brawling style.

Moreover, Malignaggi strongly believes the judges were favoring Diaz. One judge, Gale Van Hoy, who scored the fight 118-110 for Diaz, is from Texas. The other judges, Raul Caiz and David Sutherland live in California and Oklahoma, respectively.

``Just imagine if they give me the advantages,'' said Malignaggi, a New York City native. ``They have the fight in Madison Square Garden. They give me a 20-foot ring, a judge from New York, a judge from New Jersey and an Italian judge from Connecticut and make the fight at 142 pounds. Do you think he would win a second of the fight?

``I don't think he would win a half [of] a second of the fight. You make a [judging] mistake like that, especially when it's on purpose, you go home and don't do this anymore. Being a judge is not that difficult if you watch boxing every week.''

Malignaggi knows the bout's disputed scorecards have intensified calls for a rematch. But a second bout hinges on an agreement by Diaz's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya-led Golden Boy Promotions.

``I'm not asking for any advantages, I'm just asking for a neutral fight,'' Malignaggi said. ``I'll take care of my business just like I did last week. I'll take care of it even better if we take care of it under neutral circumstances.

``Every promoter does their thing. It's their power, they take advantage of it. But don't masquerade that you are helping boxing. Maybe your boxers you help out. Not every boxer is signed to Golden Boy.

``I'm sick of it. I used to fight for a legacy. I don't fight for a legacy anymore. I've come to understand that my hard work doesn't necessarily make a legacy because I also have to be politically connected.''

ANOTHER BARTHELEMY

Disputes over the judging of a bout convinced Miami resident Rances Barthelemy to end his amateur career in May. Barthelemy turned professional and is now 2-0 with two first-round knockouts after stopping Vineash Rungea on Friday night at Hard Rock Live.

Barthelemy, a Cuba native and brother of 2004 Olympic gold medalist Yan Barthelemy, won the Florida Golden Gloves championship in March and a berth in the national tournament two months later. He won his first bout but was eliminated in the second.

``That result upset me because I felt I won the fight easily,'' he said. ``I was robbed and even thought of leaving boxing completely.

``But as a professional, I feel I can realize my dreams.''