Khan: Malignaggi has the tools to beat Garcia

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Amir Khan - Paulie MalignaggiThis Saturday’s boxing action is headlined by PBC on ESPN, the second installment in the series. It will feature a fight between Danny Garcia and Paulie Malignaggi. Garcia is making his initial jump to the full welterweight division limit while Malignaggi is making a return from over a year of inactivity. Amir Khan has shared the ring with both men and gave his take on the fight.

“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,” Khan told Boxing News Monthly.

“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 147 lbs. a while and is a very talented boxer with good movement, he has the tools to beat Garcia’s style.”

Khan is off the thought that Malignaggi will give Garcia fits because of his 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.”

Khan feels Garcia needed to move up in weight and his slow move to 147 will benefit Garcia.

“I think it’s a natural progression for him,” he stated. His last few fights have been tough, and I think making light-welterweight has taken its toll. He’s naturally going to grow and find it harder to keep making 140 lbs. so I think the move will definitely be advantageous. He’s going to have more power and feel stronger but at the same time he’s going in with bigger fighters himself which will be a test.“