Senchenko hung up his gloves despite winning a third fight in a row last month in Kiev following impressive career that saw the veteran enjoy a long reign as WBA welterweight champion and lose just two of 39 bouts over 13 years.
The 38 year-old lost his WBA belt to Malignaggi on home soil back in April of 2012, suffering the first defeat of his career, and Eliseev says Senchenko would end his self-imposed exile in order to avenge his ninth round stoppage at the hands of the Italian-American.
“For now, Vyacheslav Senchenko is retired, but he is willing to come back to the ring for a rematch with Paul Malignaggi,” Eliseev confirmed to World Boxing News.
Kell Brook remains the only other fighter to overcome Senchenko as the Briton avenged compatriot Ricky Hatton’s crushing reverse at the hands of the Ukrainian when the ‘Hitman’ came out of out retirement in November 2012.
‘The Special One’ took just four rounds to halt Senchenko in Sheffield – a defeat that ultimately played a part in the Kremenchug fighter’s decision to wind down his career.
Malignaggi, 34, suffered disappointment himself for the third time in four bouts earlier this month when Danny Garcia took him out in nine rounds and immediately hinted that he would then call time on his own career.
‘The Magic Man’ is known to be keen to win the European championship due to close ties to his Italian roots and at one point this year was lined up to face countryman Gianluca Branco for the coveted blue strap.
Should anything come about regarding a Senchenko v Malignaggi return, the EBU may well on board with making the fight an eliminator – with the winner then facing the eventual champion following Branco’s next mandatory clash with Leonard Bundu.
