Paul Malignaggi likes Pacquiao vs Garcia
During a nationwide lockdown due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, boxing has seen fights cancelled at an alarming rate. Eventually, things will return to normal and when they do, what fight can get the fans immediately reinvested in the sport again?
Former two-divisional champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi (36-8, 7ko), spoke with Fighthype via video call and named a good fight in the welterweight division. Namely, WBA “Super” Welterweight Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39ko), and former two-divisional champion Danny “Swift” Garcia (36-2, 21ko).
“Make Pacquiao and Garcia cause Pacquiao can outwork him. Somehow, I don’t know you know, you forty-two years-old and you outwork the younger guy. So he might be able to outwork him, but Danny is a very good timing fighter.”
“Danny might be the best timing fighter in boxing. He judges you coming and Pacquiao does come in recklessly a lot, so I think it’s a nice style gel, a nice style mess. I’d like to see that fight so if you give me the fight to make at welterweight, I want to see Pacquiao and Danny Garcia.”
The Magic man makes a valid argument. The WBA champion took the boxing world back in time with an amazing performance win over former champion Keith “One-time” Thurman (29-1, 22ko).
Malignaggi is viewed by many as being one of the best boxing analysts in the sport and can break things down in real-time. Furthermore, he continued with even more analytical assessments of what makes this such a good fight, stylistically.
THE BREAKDOWN
“His (Danny) timing is so good and Pacquiao jumps in real recklessly. He didn’t learn anything from the Marques knockout, he still jumps in just the same way.”
“Pacquiao flies in and if Danny mistimes him, probably he’s on the other end of a big combination you know. But man, if Danny times him, Pacquiao is on his ass.”
“It’s one of those fights I think the level of success can be measured in both guys.”
The Showtime commentator even gave examples of guys that the former Philadelphia champion has caught with a timing punch: Hall of Fame fighter Erik “El Terrible” Morales, the last undisputed welterweight champion Zab “Super” Judah and of course former champion Amir “King” Khan, which to this day remains “Swifts” most highlighted moment.
There isn’t any absolute time frame for the return of unified champion Errol “The Truth” Spence Jr. Also, WBO champion Terence “Bud” Crawford hasn’t been able to land a meaningful fight in the division.
Moreover, the boxing community is still waiting to see these two face-off in a mega-fight that more likely won’t happen this year, but hopefully next year.
Most boxing pundits would agree with the Magic man, there is some flavor to making Pacquiao vs Garcia when it’s back to business as usual.
By: Garrisson Bland
