At 34 years of age, this could be Malignaggi?s last fight on a big stage if he fails to defeat?or at least look good against?the 28-year-old Garcia?
Tonight at 9 PM EST on ESPN, live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Brooklyn native and former two-division world titlist Paulie ?Magic Man? Malignaggi, (33-6, 7 KOs) takes on undefeated Philly native and current WBA Super World and WBC World 140-pound world champion Danny ?Swift? Garcia, (30-0 17 KOs) in a 12-round welterweight non-title main event bout. The co-main event on the PBC card features fellow Brooklyn native and current WBA ?Regular? titlist Danny ?Miracle Man? Jacobs, 28 (29-1 26 KOs) taking on the 34-year-old wily veteran and former 154-pound WBC titlist Sergio ?The Latin Snake? Mora, (28-3 9 KOs) in a 12-round affair for the aforementioned WBA ?regular”160-pound title.
At 34 years of age, this could be Malignaggi?s last fight on a big stage if he fails to defeat?or at least look good against?the 28-year-old Garcia.
With that said let?s go to the Tale of the Tape and statistics for tonight?s fight between Danny Garcia and Paulie Malignaggi.
TALE OF THE TAPE
DANNY GARCIA Record: 30-0 (17 KOs) Age: 27 Height: 5?8? Reach: 68 inches Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Record in last five fights: 5-0 (1 KOs) Notable Opposition: Lamont Peterson ? 12-round majority decision victory Mauricio Herrera ? 12-round majority decision victory Lucas Matthysse ? 12-round unanimous decision victory Zab Judah ? 12-round unanimous decision victory Erik Morales ? 4th round KO win; 12-round unanimous decision victory Amir Khan ? 4th round TKO victory Kendall Holt ? 12-round split decision victory Nate Campbell ? 10-round unanimous victory Record in World Title bouts ? 6-0 (2 KOs)
PAULIE MALIGNAGGI Record: 33-6 (7 KOs) Age: 34 Height: 5?8? Reach: 70 inches Hometown: Brooklyn, New York Record in last five fights: 3-2 (1 KO) Notable Opposition: Shawn Porter ? 4th round TKO loss Zab Judah ? 12-round unanimous decision victory Adrien Broner ? 12-round split decision loss Vyacheslav Senchenko ? 9th round TKO victory Amir Khan ? 11th round TKO loss Juan Diaz ? 12-round unanimous decision loss; 12-round unanimous decision win Ricky Hatton ? 11th round TKO loss Record in World Title bouts: 5-5 (1 KO)
ODDS: Garcia -1200 & Malignagi +700
Though Garcia comes into tonight?s bout against Malignaggi as the heavy favorite on paper, I wouldn?t count out Malignaggi in light of Garcia?s lackluster performances since defeating Matthysse in 2013. Also, styles make fights, and Malignaggi?s style is similar to that of former Garcia foe Mauricio Herrera, (who many felt deserved the victory against Garcia) in that Malignaggi has a long, educated jab and moves well around the ring.
I wouldn?t rule out the Malignaggi upset tonight at all. For those who like to wager on the fights, Malignaggi definitely has the potential to yield a nice little return tonight.
OFFICIAL PREDICTION: Garcia via 12-round Unanimous Decision
