Brian Kenny talks Brooklyn boxing

As the Barclays Center preps for its boxing debut tomorrow night, we caught up with Long Island native Brian Kenny, who is part of Showtime's broadcast team. Kenny, from Island Trees, called fights at ESPN for more than decade. He now works at the MLB Network.

Neutral Corner: How exciting is it to be part of this event?

Brian Kenny: It's all part of the revitalization of Brooklyn. To be part of the history and the heritage of Brooklyn boxing is exciting. Over the last few weeks, I've been looking up a lot of Brooklyn's history. Looking at guys like Mark Breland, Riddick Bowe and Junior Jones. Also, not only did Floyd Patterson grow up in Brooklyn, he fought in Brooklyn quite a few times on his march to the heavyweight title.

NC: The last title fight in Brooklyn took place in 1931, it seems like quite a long time between title fights in Brooklyn?

BK: I thought the same thing. I figured New York City was a hotbed of boxing for decades. When you think about boxing in the 40s, 50s and 60s, you would have thought a big fight would have landed in Brooklyn. I was definitely surprised. But it just seemed that the guys fighting in Brooklyn graduated to the larger arenas in the other boroughs.

NC: What is your feeling on the main event, the rematch between Erik Morales and Danny Garcia?

BK: I think Garcia is getting better and better. Morales has already lasted longer than I thought. The boxing media has called for his retirement and some people feel he should have retired several different times. But that doesn't mean he's still not capable of fighting at the highest level. I don't think he can change what happened in the ring the first time these two fought. But he believes he can and that's the reason he's Erik Morales.

NC: And, of course, we have Brooklyn's own Paulie Malignaggi defending his title. This event seems made for him.

BK: I think Paulie is an exciting fighter and an engaging personality. He sees himself as a fighter who is representing Brooklyn and he wants to be entertaining as well. This card is his chance to shine. There is no better place than in your hometown to be in the spotlight. Paulie really wants to capitalize on that.