Danny García vs Paulie Malignaggi Fight Predictions, Stream, Schedule & Preview: Who Wins?
Danny García and Paulie Malignaggi will square off in a big fight on Saturday night.
This should be an interesting match, as García and Malignaggi have never faced off before. García is really trying to make a name for himself, but not everyone is fully convinced he can perform at the welterweight level.
We'll find out on Friday night.
Danny García (30-0)
He's not Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, but many believe García has a very bright future. With a career record of 30-0, García currently holds the WBA Super World Super Lightweight title and the WBC World Super Lightweight belt as well. The young fighter out of Philadelphia packs a power punch, with 17 knockouts to his name.
García defeated Lamont Peterson in his last fight by majority decision. This will be his first career fight in the welterweight division.
He stands 5-foot-8, the same as Malignaggi, but he is at a somewhat disadvantage when it comes to reach. Malignaggi has an inch and half advantage in reach, 70 inches to 68.5. Although Malignaggi is slightly bigger, García still has the speed and power to end this match before 12 rounds. Many boxing experts are predicting a García knockout.
This is a huge fight for García because he plans on staying in the welterweight division in the future. A decisive win here could lead to fights against Amir Khan, Keith Thurman or Kell Brook. García definitely has the offense, but his head protection has to improve slightly to ensure victory over Malignaggi.
Paulie Malignaggi (33-6)
The fight won't be easy, but Malignaggi will certainly give it his all. Malignaggi has lost two of his last three fights, to Adrien Boner and Shawn Porter. At the age of 34, Malignaggi has many fans thinking his career is coming to a close.
Malignaggi has never been known for his power, considering he only has seven career knockouts. He will have to use his size to corner García constantly. The odds of Malignaggi knocking out García are extremely slim, so he'll more than likely have to win on the scorecard.
Still, don't be surprised if the home crowd at the Barclays Center roots for Malignaggi, a Brooklyn native.
The "Magic Man" recently admitted he is the underdog, but acknowledged that his experience and awareness could make the difference. Malignaggi wants to prove to his doubters that he still has plenty left in the tank.
Schedule, Where to Watch
García and Malignaggi will fight each other on Saturday, Aug. 1 at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN. The fight will be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City. You can watch a live fight stream here.
Prediction
Malignaggi might win some of the earlier rounds as García will have to adjust to the new weight class. Once this enters the fourth round, García's speed and effective punching combinations will kick in and make the difference.
García wins by unanimous decision
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1