Adrien Broner is one of the best knockout artists in boxing, but that is not a concern for Paulie Malignaggi. At least, that’s what the Brooklyn native is saying leading up to their welterweight fight on Saturday.
Broner and Malignaggi will meet at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday with Malignaggi’s WBA welterweight champion belt on the line. Broner is 26-0 with 22 knockouts. Malignaggi is 32-4 with only seven knockouts. Malignaggi has won five fights in a row after losing three in a span of five fights, including defeats to Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, and Amir Khan. Just a glance at the numbers suggest that Paulie would struggle against a guy with so much knockout power, but he says that is not a concern.
“We’ll show him just how we live and show him just how weak he is. His power is overrated,” Malignaggi told reporters on Tuesday.
Paulie then said Broner’s impressive record was a reflection of poor competition.
“I could have knocked out 20 garbage men or laundromat workers too, but I chose to fight real opponents in my career.”
Broner has only gone the distance once in the last three years, and that came in a unanimous decision victory over Daniel Ponce de Leon two years ago. Malignaggi indicates he plans to continue a pattern he has established throughout his career and take Broner the distance.
“He’s never been through what the deal is…deep water. He’s never been 12 rounds,” said Malignaggi. “He’s been 10 rounds once, and he struggled. He better try real hard to get me out of there early and he better succeed, because he’s going to end up in deep water. I’m ready for that kind of fight.”
Broner is stepping up in weight for the fight, and he is not underestimating his opponent. While speaking with the media, Broner praised Malignaggi.
“Paulie is Paulie. You know, I’m gonna be honest with you, if you’re not on you’re A-game against Paulie, he can slip away from you. He’s a guy with some tricks up his sleeve, but we’re not here for a circus day. We’re here to fight,” Broner told the media.
Broner sounds like he will be prepared for the type of fight Malignaggi wants. And at 23, he knows the 32-year-old Malignaggi will have some veteran moves planned.
Despite what Malignaggi says, I like Broner going into this fight. He’s better, more talented, and he has the proven knockout power. Even with the step up in weight, I expect to see Broner win, probably by a knockout.
