Malignaggi Critiques Garcia's Fanbase

During a ProBox TV "Deep Waters" episode, expert and former champion Paulie Malignaggi expressed his concerns over the mismatch in discipline and preparation between WBC junior welterweight champion Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs). Malignaggi highlighted the issue of rewarding Garcia despite perceived disciplinary lapses, attributing his success to a fanbase that may not necessarily align with traditional boxing enthusiasts.

"By giving Ryan Garcia such a fight, you're rewarding idiocy instead of holding him accountable for his actions. He's popular and generates revenue, but that's partly because he has a fanbase of, let's say, less discerning followers who might not even watch the fight since they're not actual boxing fans," Malignaggi stated.

Questioning Garcia's elite status within the division, Malignaggi pointed out, "What from his last fight makes him the cream of the junior welterweight crop? When did we see Ryan Garcia and think, 'Wow, this guy is a world beater?' Sure, he had a decent win over Luke Campbell, but overall, he's not that impressive."

Malignaggi criticized the push for Garcia to headline major fights as a tactic to boost pay-per-view sales rather than a testament to his boxing prowess.

The Haney vs. Garcia showdown is scheduled for April 20th in New York, USA, amidst mixed opinions on Garcia's readiness for such a high-profile bout.