You know, some people say the title belts are silly. But the TQBR “Worst Dressed Man In Boxing” Title is no joke, and it’s on the line this weekend, with Danny Garcia taking on former titleholder Paulie Malignaggi in Brooklyn. Apart from that exciting match-up [read: not that exciting] there’s plenty of other stuff on, including the debut of”Premier Boxing Champions” on Bounce TV and various Spanish offerings. Let’s get right to it.
- Danny Garcia vs Paulie Malignaggi, Saturday, ESPN, New York. In the first of two “Premier Boxing Champions” dates this weekend, junior welterweight champ Garcia (30-0, 17 KO) fights veteran Malignaggi (33-6, 7 KO) at the Barclays Center. It’s really nothing to write home about. Malignaggi isn’t as fast as he once was, and even at his best had no pop and always fell short at the highest level. While Garcia hasn’t lived up to his potential in recent fights with Mauricio Herrera and and Lamont Peterson, he should easily be big enough and strong enough to handle Malignaggi, even if the New Yorker frustrates him a little early. On the undercard, Brookly middleweight Daniel Jacobs (29-1, 26 KO) fights Sergio Mora (28-3-2, 9 KO) of Contender fame. Mora is a slick boxer who could frustrate Jacobs, but you’d think the younger man will have the natural gifts to win a potentially ugly fight.
- Juan Carlos Payano vs Rau’shee Warren, Sunday, Bounce TV, Winter Park Fla. “Premier Boxing Champions'” new prospect-focused series starts with a bang, as three-time US Olympian Warren (13-0, 4 KO) fights the Dominican Republic’s Payano (16-0, 8 KO) at bantamweight. It’s a big step up for Warren; Payano was absolutely relentless against defensive maestro Anselmo Moreno in his last outing, and the awkward southpaw seems unlikely to respect his American foe here. It should be a fast-paced affair, and I have absolutely no idea who’ll win.
- Ricardo Rodriguez vs Daniel Lozano, Friday, Telemundo, Tampla Fla. This junior bantamweight scrap is the sole Friday offering. If you’re dead keen, why not?
