Golden Boy is, as expected, launching its exclusive promotional relationship with the sparkling, new Barclays Center in Brooklyn with some local flavor.
BK will be “in the house” on Oct. 20 for a card topped by a rematch between Mexican legend Erik “El Terrible” Morales (the future Hall Of Famer turns 36 on Sept. 1 and owns a 52-8, 36 KOs record) and Amir Khan’s mighty conqueror from Philadelphia, Danny “Swift” Garcia. Garcia already has beaten Morales once. View slideshow: Magic Man Paulie Malignaggi to taste home cooking, Barclays in Brooklyn Oct. 20 title bout
That’s old news to fight fans. It’s been reported elsewhere several days ago but it was news to me, returning from an “unplugged” weekend holiday in Amherst, Mass., that Bensonhurst neighborhood guy and WBA welterweight king Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi will fight in a co-featured bout, defending his won in the Ukraine belt against Mexico’s rugged Pablo Cesar Cano (age 22, record of 25-1-1).
Location: Barclays Center Brooklyn 40.682651519775 ; -73.97469329834
Some in the peanut gallery of internet critics were quick to mug GBP, asking why a Mexican legend versus a Philly fighter would headline the boxing debut at a BK arena. But the promoter always had Yo Paulie, who won his title with a ninth round TKO over Vyacheslav Senchenko in Donetsk, in mind. Surely other Big Apple boxers will be sprinkled into the mix also.
There’s another BK angle as Cano, who held the WBA interim title, opted to move up to 147 rather than face unbeaten, two time world champ and Kings County resident by way of the DR, Joan Guzman.
Malignaggi will certainly sell tickets on the home front as so many recall his gritty albeit losing efforts against the likes of Miguel Cotto, Khan and Ricky Hatton.
Cano is no stranger to Morales, either, getting stopped by the “Tijuana Tornado” four bouts ago.
It looks like a crowd-pleasing launch at Barclays for the Goldens.
