Boxing News Boxing News
Tonight sees the christening of a new venue in Brooklyn, New York with the light welter rematch between WBC/WBA champ Danny Garcia and Eric Morales headlining the bill at the Barclays Center.
At this time, it’s still unknown if Garcia vs. Morales 2 will take place as Morales has reportedly tested positive for a banned substance, which could torpedo this much awaited rematch unless follow-up tests indicate anything different.
Both fighters made weight yesterday, which Morales was unable to do for their previous pairing, won on scores of 118-109, 117-110 and 116-112 by Garcia, who added Morales’ WBC crown to his own WBA bauble this past March.
That clash was much closer than the scores indicate, but the now 36 year old Morales was waning in the second half of the bout, as 24 year old Garcia, 24-0 (15), simply had more in the tank.
And that is what Morales, 52-8 (36), if really facing in this rematch: the fight against Father Time, an opponent with a nearly undefeated record.
Also, Morales is now fighting at least two weight classes above his former prime, when he terrorized the divisions between super bantam and super feather, winning six world titles between 1997-2004.
As proven by Amir Khan before he unwisely decided to slug it out, Garcia can clearly be outboxed but that isn’t the style of Morales, who also would unlikely be able to stick and move for 12 rounds against a much bigger, stronger and younger opponent.
If the bout comes off, Garcia will likely win another points verdict or perhaps stop the old Mexican legend but the huge fighting heart of Morales can never truly be counted out.
Also on the bill, WBA welter champ Paulie Malignaggi, 31-4 (7), meets Mexico’s Pablo Cesar Cano, 25-1-1 (19), although the WBA belt isn’t on the line as Cano failed to make weight.
Former two-time IBF light welter titlist Malignaggi is coming off a surprising upset of Vyacheslav Senchenko to win the WBA crown, in which few gave the New Yorker a prayer of being able to do so in Senchenko’s home country of Ukraine back in April.
Cano’s inability to make weight is a bit baffling as the 23 year old was operating as a lightweight in February and won the Interim WBA light welter strap in July.
Malignaggi should come away with a points victory as long as he can keep moving for 12 rounds and not try to slug it out with Cano.
Additionally, Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam, 27-0 (17), puts his WBO middleweight title on the line against hot prospect Peter Quillin, 27-0 (20).
Cameroon born French resident N’Jikam was upgraded from Interim titlist after beating Max Bursak in May and will be in his first bout on American soil against the very talented Quillin, coming off a victory over the faded former light middle world champ Winky Wright in June.
Neither N’Jikam or Quillin have faced top of the line competition, so this one is a toss up.
Lastly, IBF welter champ Randall Bailey, 43-7 (37), looks to continue his resurgence when he defends against Devon Alexander, 23-1 (13).
Both Bailey and Alexander were light welter titlists but that is where the similarities end. Bailey, who can really punch, will look to end this one early as the 38 year old is unlikely to win a points decision over his 25 year old southpaw opponent.
