Danny Garcia: A Closer Look at Fights to Push Him to PPV Status
By Jeffrey “Italian Medallion” Cellini
Danny “Swift” Garcia, 32-0, 18 KO’s is the current WBC welterweight champion, having previously held the WBA (Super), WBC, The Ring magazine and lineal light welterweight titles. According to Ring TV, Garcia has been rumored to be in the beginning stages of negotiating a fight with former three-time world champion Andre Berto, 31-4, 24 KO’s. Also, earlier this past week, Terence Crawford, current unified WBC, WBO, Ring magazine and lineal light welterweight champion, exchanged some bitter words on Twitter with the welterweight champion and talked about a possible clash between the two in the future. One thing is certain, Danny Garcia is thought of by a number of top contenders and other reigning champions as a soft and vulnerable champion. Garcia claims that he has ended other fighter’s careers; however, this seems to be an exaggeration by the champion.
Danny Garcia may be the most under-rated world champion in boxing today. He has a hard time cracking anyone’s top twenty pound-for-pound list. What probably hurts Garcia’s image the most is that he won two vacant world titles against old and faded former world champions in Erik Morales (WBC light welterweight) and Robert Guerrero (WBC welterweight). However, “Swift” has some nice victories on his resume with big wins over Amir Khan (KO4), Zab Judah (UD12) and Lucas Matthysse (UD12) in defense of his light welterweight crown.
Danny “Swift” Garcia does not get a lot of respect because of a number of factors. Despite being an undefeated two-division champion, some observers still feel that Garcia has avoided top level competition. The WBC champion has never been known for being a big puncher, but is seen as a slightly better than average counter-puncher with adequate power. Garcia’s critics claim that the champion lacks in some categories such as defense, foot and hand movement, and speed. However, “Swift” has demonstrated the heart and chin of a warrior throughout his career, and has been willing to step up and face the best at the welterweight division.
The WBC welterweight champion has a lot of opponents lining up to challenge him for his title. Who should be at the top of Garcia’s target list? Can Garcia actually get the respect that he deserves from the boxing community that seems to elude him? Here are the five top targets that Danny “Swift” Garcia should aim for if he wants to get the recognition for being one of the best fighters in the world.
5) Errol “Truth”Spence JR., 20-0, 17 KO’s is one of the top contenders in the welterweight division. Young and dangerous, Spence, JR. has world class skills and power that will be a major threat to any of the world title holders within this weight class. He totally demolished Chris Algieri, 21-3, 8 KO’s, recently, and is currently scheduled to face Leonard Bundu, 33-1-2, 12 KO’s in an IBF title eliminator match.
4) Timothy Bradley JR., 33-2-1, 13 KO’s is a five-time world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBC light welterweight title (twice), the WBO light welterweight title, and the WBO welterweight title( twice). “Desert Storm” is coming off a loss to Manny Pacquiao (L12) back in April, but is still considered to be one of the best fighters in the world. Ring magazine currently ranks Bradley higher than Garcia in their rankings for the welterweight division.
3) Shawn “Showtime” Porter, 26-2-1, 16 KO’s is the former IBF welterweight champion. However, Porter is one of the five best fighters within the division, still displaying the skills of a top contender in recent fights Vs Keith Thurman (L12) and Adrien Broner (W12). Porter is capable of beating Garcia, and possibly would be the early slight favorite going into the fight.
2) Terence “Bud” Crawford, 29-0, 20 KO’s is the current unified WBC, WBO, Ring magazine and lineal light welterweight champion, having previously held the WBO, Ring and lineal lightweight titles. Crawford is currently ranked number five on Ring’s top ten pound-for-pound list. Coming off a huge victory over Viktor Postol to unify the belts at junior welterweight, “Bud” is one of the hottest commodities right now in the boxing industry. Crawford has made claims that Garcia has run from him for years. Now is the time for the two to settle their differences in the ring.
1) Keith Thurman, 27-0, 22 KO’s is the current WBA welterweight champion and is considered the second best welterweight fighter in the world. Kell Brook, IBF welterweight champion,36-0, 25 KO’s is scheduled to face Gennady Golovkin next month for the unified middleweight championship. The welterweight division has a history of epic unification battles, so why not match the two world champions, Garcia and Thurman, against each other. Both want the biggest fight available, and right now, this is the best matchup within the division.
Is Danny “Swift” Garcia the most under-rated champion in the world, or has he avoided the toughest fights out there? Only time will tell. However, one or two fights against any of these five possible challengers would answer a lot of questions.
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