Paulie Malignaggi didn’t hold back in his criticism of Ryan Garcia this week, taking shots at the 26-year-old’s recent performance and raising suspicions about his sudden surge in power. In an interview with Probox TV, Malignaggi questioned Garcia’s strength, hinting that his notable KO power might be linked to performance-enhancing drugs.
Garcia, who tested positive for Ostarine following his majority decision win over Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) in April, has faced scrutiny, especially given his emphatic performance against Haney. The fight saw Haney drop in rounds 7, 10, and 11 from Garcia’s powerful left hooks, despite Haney being the favorite going in. Malignaggi commented on Garcia’s increase in power, referencing the 2019 knockout over Romero Duno that he felt was an unexpected “power surge” in Garcia’s career.
Some fans believe Malignaggi’s comments come from a place of bias, given Haney’s finesse fighting style, which aligns closely with Malignaggi’s own approach in the ring. Watching Garcia dismantle Haney may have been a tough pill for Malignaggi to swallow, but the former champ maintains his stance, expressing doubts about Garcia’s knockout ability when he’s “not doping.”
While the odds of a Garcia-Haney rematch remain uncertain due to Haney’s ongoing lawsuit, Malignaggi has hinted he might reconsider his stance if Garcia tests negative for PEDs before and after a potential second showdown. However, with talks of Haney possibly facing Jack Catterall, there’s no guarantee we’ll see the rematch we are hoping for.
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