American welterweight Paulie Malignaggi has insisted that there will be "no excuses" if he fails to inflict the first defeat of Danny Garcia's career on Saturday night.
Malignaggi is making his first appearance since being emphatically stopped by Shawn Porter in April 2014, but the two-weight world champion has revealed that he is relishing the chance to face his unbeaten opponent in New York.
The 34-year-old told World Boxing News: "It's been an emotional camp. I find myself thrust back into the limelight of a major fight when it was least expected. The question marks and doubts come up in my mind and that's made it emotional. I work hard every day. I've quietly had one of my best training camps.
"There are no excuses here. Saturday night is the best of Paulie Malignaggi. I look forward to testing myself against the best Danny Garcia. I've always loved and relished the big names and the big opportunities."
Malignaggi has won 33 of his 39 professional bouts, while Garcia, the WBA super light-welterweight champion, has put together a run of 30 successive victories.
Darren Plant
