Paulie Malignaggi expects a focused Ryan Garcia to make short work of Conor Benn when they meet on September 12, insisting Garcia operates at a higher level as a boxer.
Garcia has attracted attention outside the ring throughout his career, but Malignaggi maintains that legitimate talent lies beneath the distractions. Garcia’s extensive amateur background gives him a boxing foundation that separates him from fighters who came into the sport through streaming.
“I think Ryan is a world class fighter who’s just distracted. He’s a YouTuber, so he’s very distracted streamer, but he’s a fighter. He’s a world-class fighter,” Malignaggi said to iFL TV.
“He’s had a lot of amateur experience, and he’s got the pedigree and the foundation behind his boxing. He’s not just a streamer that just boxes.”
Malignaggi expects Ryan to take the fight seriously and believes getting older may bring greater maturity to his preparation. Ryan’s ability has never been Malignaggi’s concern. Applying himself consistently has been the question.
The former two-division champion is far less impressed by Benn.
“Conor Benn is not a world class fighter. He doesn’t belong in the ring [with] world class fighters,” Malignaggi said. “I don’t know, man. I put him in [with] Ryan Garcia, I can’t see him lasting many rounds.”
Malignaggi believes Ryan becomes especially dangerous when his preparation and concentration are where they need to be.
“A focused Ryan becomes a very dangerous Ryan Garcia because we’ve seen what he can do when he’s very good.”
His prediction was decisive.
“I think he knocks out Conor Benn.”