Three Reasons Why The Magic Man Could Beat Danny Garcia Next Weekend
Editorial By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
After a year of inactivity, most experts have written off Paulie Malignaggi’s ring appearance in the 12 round welterweight main event at Barclays Center next weekend on August 1, 2015, as his grand finale swan song. This reporter thinks different, and believes Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi has a good chance of defeating Danny Garcia if he plays his cards right.
There are three valid reasons Malignaggi can win his welterweight crossroads bout.
At 31 years of age, Malignaggi, now 33-6 with seven knockouts, Brooklyn, New York, still has considerable youth and ring experience on his side. He has the capacity to defeat Danny Garcia, now 30-0, 17 knockouts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a junior welterweight champion moving up in weight class.
The first reason Malignaggi could win this bout is the element of surprise. Nobody in boxing, including all of the experts, and Garcia himself, seems to be giving Malignaggi much of a chance. This factor could serve Malignaggi to keen advantage if he trains better for this bout than Garcia. Malignaggi was already in training for Danny O’Connor when a minor injury caused cancellation of that bout and ironically opened the door to the opportunity bout with Garcia. The thought is Garcia might be expecting an easy walkover bout, and it might emerge as something of a different type of bout. Garcia might wind up in the sort of trouble Alfredo Angulo was in when he was not prepared for James Kirkland.
Malignaggi is not regarded as a power hitter. However, there is a monumental difference between boxing weight classes. Malignaggi will certainly walk into the ring closer to 154 junior middleweight after the weight in. Garcia is unlikely to be able to go up so high in weight. That’s an advantage, and Garcia might lack power at the higher weight, giving Malignaggi a better chance to seize the momentum of the bout and land heavier punches, which would not be expected by the Garcia corner.
Malignaggi is also a fine technical boxer. He was good enough to beat 26-1-1 Pablo Cesar Cnao, 32-0 VyacheslavSenchenko, 28-1-1 Orlando Lora, 32-2-1 Jose Miguel Cotto, 35-2 Juan Diaz, and former world welterweight champion Zab Judah. He has fought Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Shawn Porter, Amir Khan, Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter. Malignaggi did not win those bouts against the best of the world class fighters, but he did very well. It must be understood Malignaggi is not a gatekeeper of the 147 pound division. Malignaggi is a hot and cold fighter. If the ‘hot’ version of the technical boxing Malignaggi shows up, Garcia could be in considerable trouble if he cannot get to Malignaggi in the early rounds.
Much of the prediction here is centered on which version of Malignaggi shows up. If the magical version shows up, Garcia could well be outboxed in a long drawn out 12 round war with Paulie outworking Garcia in a prolonged battle.
Finally, Malignaggi has better ring instincts than Garcia. He is able to sum up his opponents at 147 pounds rapidly and modify his game plan as fits the situation. If Garcia cannot take out Malignaggi at any point, Malignaggi’s confidence level will rise with his work rate. Garcia would be forced to fight Malignaggi if Malignaggi gets inside and tries to do damage. Garcia might not be able to keep Malignaggi from getting inside and waging aggressive war. Marcos Rene Maidana defeated Adrien Broner with power and technical skill and doing everything right, and also took Floyd Mayweather Jr., on a trip to hell in their first bout. A rough road might be in store for Danny Garcia, if he is not ready for a rough tumble for 12 rounds, given this war will be fought in Malignaggi’s home territory.
Malignaggi may have to take chances with Garcia to win the rounds-and the fight-on the scorecards. Garcia will want to take Malignaggi out with power shots. If Malignaggi’s defense can neutralize Garcia’s offense, the bout could get nasty and turn out to be the ESPN main event fight of the year in 2015. The bout will be broadcast on USA ESPN2, web ESPN3, and Hungary DigiSport.
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