Domination of Paul Malignaggi enhances Danny Garcia's prospects of a marquee fight

Danny Garcia stepped up to welterweight in an impressive fashion in completing a ninth-round stoppage of Paulie Malignaggi.

Garcia, who had previously excelled at junior welterweight, pummelled the New York native at the Barclays Center at Brooklyn, winning all but one round.

Garcia now waits for the marquee fight that his ability and 31-0 record deserves. Floyd Mayweather may be out of sight, due to the pound-for-pound king’s impending retirement, but WBA champion Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter are next on the horizon for the fighter represented by Al Haymon.

“I feel strong, I feel good. I used my jab,” said Garcia, 27. “I still have things to work on, but I’m proud of myself –147 is where it’s at. I felt a lot stronger. In the ninth round, I felt like it was round one. I need to work on shortening up punches and sticking with the game plan.

“Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter are great fighters in this division, and they’re both represented by Al Haymon, so if they want, we can make it happen. I want whoever Al Haymon wants. It’s been that way my whole career, and it’s not going to change now. I will take anyone at 147.”

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Garcia landed 121 of 485 punches (25 per cent) while Malignaggi managed just 77 of 335 (23 per cent) and had only a decent second round to show for his efforts.

Philadelphia native Garcia cut the New Yorker’s eye in the third round and from there on it was damage limitation for Malignaggi who took some huge punches in the fifth and sixth round leaving the conclusion a question of when rather than if. Malignaggi lumbered into the ninth but was soon caught with a flurry of blows on the ropes and referee Arthur Mercante waved it off.

It was a considerable mismatch and for 34-year-old Malignaggi, who has lost three of his last four fights and appeared to be crying at the end, retirement beckons.

“I’m probably not fighting again,” he said. “You hate to make an emotional decision. My career started in Brooklyn 14 years ago. If it ends in Brooklyn, then at least I ended it at home, where I’m from, and in front of the greatest fans in the world.

“I’ve got a really good job commentating and watching great fighters fight ringside. I hope to sit around ringside for a long time.”

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