Danny 'Swift' Garcia knocks out Malignaggi in welterweight debut

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - It has been said that there is a lot of infighting in politics. It also has been said that there is a lot of politicking in boxing.

If those familiar axioms are at least somewhat true, then Danny "Swift" Garcia's ninth-round technical knockout of faded, two-division former world champion Paulie Malignaggi Saturday night in the Barclays Center at least somewhat resembled what figures to take place during the 10-candidate debate involving 10 Republican presidential hopefuls Thursday night in Cleveland.

Even before the 27-year-old Garcia (31-0, 18 KOs), the former WBC/WBA super lightweight champion, said hello to a new division (welterweight) by making the 34-year-old Malignaggi (33-7, 7 KOs), who likely will retire, say goodbye, some of the wannabes hoping to succeed 38-year-old Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the universally recognized king of the 147-pounders were pleading their cases to the media. While the undercard was being contested before a thinned-out press section in constant search of juicy quotes, WBA "regular" welterweight champ Keith Thurman (26-0, 22 KOs) and former IBF welterweight titlist Shawn Porter (26-1-1, 16 KOs) were telling reporters they were whom the international community of fisticuffs needs to assume the mantle of leadership whenever Mayweather steps aside or finally faces someone he can't defeat in the ring.

Porter made no bones about the fact he was on hand for the "Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN" show to check out Garcia, whom he envisions as the guy he will face next. It is a reasonable supposition, given that both fighters are part of PBC power broker Al Haymon's deep stable, and both basically do whatever Haymon instructs them to do, career-wise.

"I scout everybody," Porter confirmed. "Yes, I'm here tonight to scout the winner of Danny Garcia and Paulie Malignaggi. Obviously, I feel that Danny, being the younger, more vibrant fighter, is going to win. I hope he does."

The outcome probably should have been a foregone conclusion, given Garcia's multiple physical advantages and the fact he was a 6-1 favorite with Nevada oddsmakers who correctly figured Malignaggi was too used-up and lacking in power to pose much of a problem to the younger, stronger Philadelphian. And while Malignaggi had a majority of the 7,237 fans in attendance on their homeboy's side, entering the ninth round of the scheduled 12-rounder it was evident that his only chance of pulling the upset was to knock out Garcia. And that would have been the pugilistic equivalent of slap-hitting former Phillie Ben Revere winning next season's Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game.

A lumped-up Malignaggi was well behind on points (79-73 on two cards, 78-74 on the other) when Garcia unfurled the ultimately decisive blow, a right hand to the ear that Paulie figured had busted his eardrum. He offered no resistance to referee Arthur Mercante Jr. when Mercante jumped in and waved off the gradually increasing beatdown 2 minutes, 22 seconds into the round.

"I wasn't going to give in, but little by little he broke me down," Malignaggi said of Garcia, whom he cited as "a great fighter" and "one of the better punchers" he had faced during his 14-year professional career.

"I went from being a championship fighter at one time to just being a pesky guy it's hard to look good against," he continued. "At first I was mad about the stoppage, but in hindsight it was fine. I'm not the 25-year-old kid who fought [Miguel] Cotto [and went the distance against the future Hall of Famer] anymore."

For his part, Garcia - who had claimed his two-year semi-slump owed in large part to difficulty paring down to the super lightweight (140 pounds) limit - said he felt fresher and stronger than he had in some time, and that he was "ready for whomever," a sweeping statement given the depth of quality in the welterweight division.

"There's a lot of great matchups in that division," Garcia acknowledged. "It's about letting it all unfold. If Al Haymon wants Danny Garcia-Shawn Porter, we can do it."

As is the case with every other welter who likes cashing checks with a long string of zeros on them, Mayweather is the most sought-after opponent for Garcia because he offers the guaranteed best payday and best opportunity to instantly snatch a slice of superstardom. But whether or not Porter or Thurman is next up on Garcia's dance card, the expectant father-to-be (his girlfriend is due to deliver the couple's first child, a daughter, on or about Aug. 11) would be a nice fit against elite fighters. Namely, IBF welter champ Kell Brook (35-0, 24 KOs), former victim Amir Khan (31-3, 19 KOs), Timothy Bradley Jr. (32-1-1, 12 KOs), Adrien Broner (30-2, 22 KOs), Sadam Ali (22-0, 13 KOs), Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs), Marcos Maidana (35-5, 31 KOs), Robert Guerrero (33-3-1, 18 KOs), Ruslan Provodnikov (24-4, 17 KOs), Brandon Rios (33-2-1, 24 KOs) or fellow Philly guy "The New" Ray Robinson (20-2, 9 KOs). All ofthem are aged 26 to 32.

In the co-featured bout, former WBA "regular" middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs (30-1, 27 KOs), after trading knockdowns with former WBC super welterweight titlist Sergio Mora (28-4-2, 9 KOs), registed a second-round TKO when Mora was floored a second time, fractured his right ankle and advised referee Gary Rosato he was unable to continue.

As part of the nine-bout card, North Philly junior lightweight Thomas Velasquez made his pro debut with a fourth-round stoppage of Gabriel Braxton (2-11, 1 KO), of Red Oak, Ga.