Amir Khan gives his take on Danny Garcia v Paul Malignaggi

Amir Khan

FORMER two-time light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan believes Paul Malignaggi could pull off an upset when he fights Danny Garcia this weekend.

Malignaggi, a former two-weight world champion, fights Garcia at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in what will be Dannyโ€™s first fight at welterweight.

Khan, who has fought both men, beating Malignaggi in 2010 and losing to Garcia two years later, feels the 34-year-old has the skills to hand Garcia his first professional loss despite having not fought since April 2014.

โ€œIt’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,โ€ he told Boxing News.

โ€œPurely 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.

โ€œHowever, 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.

โ€œPaulie 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.โ€

Khan also believes Garciaโ€™s move to 147lbs, a jump he recently made himself, will benefit the 27-year-old American.

โ€œI think it’s a natural progression for him,โ€ he stated.

โ€œHis last few fights have been tough and I think making light-welterweight has taken its toll.

โ€œHe’s naturally going to grow and find it harder to keep making 140lbs so I think the move will definitely be advantageous.

โ€œHe’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.

โ€œThe welterweight division is the best around at the moment and he’s another very good addition to it.โ€

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