Amir Khan and Kell Brook are better welterweights than Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, says Paulie Malignaggi

Mayweather v Pacquiao: are bigger names but not better welterweights, says Malignaggi.

Paulie Malignaggi believes Kell Brook and Amir Khan are two of the best three welterweights in the world - with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao only "the biggest names".

The former light-welterweight champion and welterweight challenger insists the British rivals will meet but feels the two and Keith Thurman are too good to fight each other yet.

Malignaggi feels the three are at the top of the welterweight rankings and includes Money and Manny, who will meet in Las Vegas on May 2, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

"Mayweather and Pacquiao are the biggest name but I think here we are in 2015, Kell Brook, Keith Thurman and Amir Khan are the best three welterweights in the world." Paulie Malignaggi

"Here's the thing: I think Brook, Khan and Thurman are the best welterweights in the world right now," Malignaggi told behindthegloves.com

"Mayweather and Pacquiao are the biggest names but I think here we are in 2015, Kell Brook, Keith Thurman and Amir Khan are the best three welterweights in the world and because they are the best three welterweights in the world, you're not going to see them against each other right away.

"It's just not going to happen, there are just too many good welterweights who they can fight.

"But the first one we'll probably see is Brook v Khan and I think that'll take a year or so."

Malignaggi also likened to the Brook-Khan rivalry to that of Ricky Hatton and Junior Witter, that saw the latter continually call out the eventual two-weight world champion at the start of the millennium.

#Toe2Toe: Spencer Fearon and Ed Draper answer your tweets. #Toe2Toe: Spencer Fearon and Ed Draper answer your tweets.

For more from Malignaggi, Brook, Khan and many more, download the Toe 2 Toe podcast at www.skysports.com/podcasts/toe-2-toe or for more from Michelle Joy Phelps, go to behindthegloves.com.