Paulie Malignaggi was hurting, no doubt about it. In what might have been the final fight in the two-division champion’s career Saturday night, he certainly had the look of defeat all over him.
Paulie Malignaggi wears the damage inflicted by Danny Garcia during their fight at Barclays Center on Saturday night. (Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions)
Sitting on a black leather couch in his dressing room at Barclays Center in his native Brooklyn, New York, the 34-year-old fighter had purplish bruises surrounding both eyes after losing to Danny Garcia via ninth-round technical knockout.
His right eye was cut on its lid, while underneath it was a longer, more cavernous gash that was still bleeding. And his left elbow was so sore that he could barely extend his arm.
“I’m disappointed. I prepared well and trained hard,” Malignaggi said. “I would have probably fought the fight altogether differently than in the past because I had better legs, but I’m friggin’ 34 years old. I’m just not that young and can’t move that way anymore.”
With three losses in his past four fights, Paulie Malignaggi (33-7, 7 KOs) strongly hinted that he was retiring after an exceptional 14-year professional career.
Malignaggi, who has already established himself as one of boxing’s top TV analysts, maintained his sense of humor even after losing. Informed of his mandatory 45-day medical suspension by the New York State Athletic Commission, he joked, “I shouldn’t fight for the next 45 years."
"I've got an excellent job commentating and watching great fighters, and I plan to do that for a long time. My career started in Brooklyn 14 years ago. I don’t have any qualms about the guy that I lost to,” Malignaggi said. “Plus, the fans received me as a champion and a Brooklyn fighter tonight.
“If this was my last fight, then at least I ended it at home, where I'm from. If this is my swan song, it was in front of my home crowd and fans who appreciated me."
For a complete recap of Garcia vs Malignaggi, visit our fight page.
