By Edward Chaykovsky
British star Amir Khan is giving former two division world champion Paulie Malignaggi a good chance to upset the odds by defeating Danny Garcia this coming Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN will televise the fight.
Khan has been in the ring with both fighters. He made his American debut against Malignaggi in 2010, stopping the Brooklyn native at The Theater in New York's Madison Square Garden. Khan was stopped by Garcia in four rounds in 2012.
Khan sees Malignaggi as a better boxer than Mauricio Herrera and Lamont Peterson - boxers who made Garcia struggle to win close and some felt controversial decisions. Malignaggi has also been at welterweight for several years, while Garcia takes his first step in the new weight division.
“It’s been a while since Paulie last fought so there may be some ring rust but I believe he has a good chance of winning the fight over the 12 round distance,” he told Boxing News. “Purely as a boxer I think Malignaggi is better but there are other factors and things Garcia has that can counter Paulie’s boxing skills, such as his high pressure and power.
“However, I think many are counting Paulie out of this fight but with the fact he has been at 147lbs a while and is a very talented boxer with good movement he has the tools to beat Garcia’s style.
“Paulie is a better boxer than both Lamont Peterson and Mauricio Herrera – two guys who Garcia struggled with, but beat, so if he sticks to boxing him he has a really good chance of winning the fight. It’s a really intriguing matchup.”