The ”Premier Boxing Champions” series returns to ESPN2 and the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York this Saturday night with a double header. The feature bout is in the welterweight division as undefeated Danny Garcia (30-0) faces Paulie Malignaggi (33-6) over twelve rounds. The sport books see Garcia as a big (-1300) favorite over Malignaggi, the home-town Brooklyn fighter who is returning at (+850). There is no over/under set for either of the feature fights. The “PBC” series has been consistently bringing shows to American television for the last several months, having made their debut back in March of this year. Garcia is a charismatic 27 year old fighter of Puerto Rican descent, who is trained by his boisterous father and he is a former WBC and WBA Light Welterweight world champion. It is clear that Al Haymon and his “PBC” want to promote Garcia as one of the feature fighters in the stable, and this is his second appearance on the “PBC” series. He fought Lamont Peterson on April 11th in a fight that aired on NBC. Garcia won a majority decision in what is generally considered a flat performance. Garcia gave up the Light Welterweight belts to move up to the welterweight division, and the Peterson fight was at a catch-weight at 142 lbs. Malignaggi is a safe choice for a first opponent at the 147 lb limit, as the former world champion still has a good name and a solid following, but Malignaggi has never been a knock out artist, and trying to face down a fighter like Garcia in his prime using technique is a lot to ask of Malignaggi, who has been in some wars and is 7 years older. Malignaggi is also coming off a layoff of more than a year, as he was last seen losing to Shawn Porter via fourth round stoppage in April of last year. The co-main event is for the WBA Middleweight World Championship as Daniel Jacobs defends his belt against battle-tested veteran Sergio Mora. Jacobs is coming in a solid favorite to retain his belt, paying (-1200), with Mora returning (+775). Jacobs is making the second title defense of the belt he won last August when he stopped Jarrod Fletcher in the fifth round at the Barclay’s Center. Jacobs defended the belt in April, stopping Caleb Truax in the twelth round of a fight at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago that aired on Spike TV as part of the “PBC” series. Mora’s last loss came to Brian Vera back in August of 2012. Aand he has won five fights in a row since to build up to this spot world title shot. Mora has been around a long time, as he first came to attention as the winner of the 2005 reality TV series “The Contender”. Now 34, Mora is six years older than Jacobs. The live event features ten fights in all, with most of the undercard featuring some of the New York City area’s top undefeated prospects. Brooklyn Heavyweight Adam Kownacki (10-0) faces veteran Maurenzo Smith in an eight rounder. Also on the card from the neighborhood is undefeated female Featherweight Heather Harvey (13-0) as she faces Renata Domsodi (12-6) in a re-match. The Light Heavyweight division will feature a duel of undefeated prospects as Travis Peterkin of Brooklyn (15-0) faces Lenin Castillo of the Dominican Republic (12-0). Look for the undercard to air on the internet at the ESPN3.com website.
