Danny Garcia’s road to respect has not been an easy one!

Danny Garcia’s road to respect has not been an easy one!

Danny “Swift” Garcia, age 25, born in Philadelphia, PA, current WBC/WBA (Super) and Ring Magazine light welterweight Champion: Fights 27, Wins 27, KO’s 16, Losses 0.

If you didn’t know who Danny Garcia was before Sept 14^th, I’m sure you do by now!

Where has Danny come from? For the good part of his professional career, Garcia was considered an underrated fighter with lack of exposure and to many, slipped through the media radar and yet propelled himself in to world boxing recognition.

Danny’s journey has been well schooled by his father, the always entertaining and often controversial, Angel Garcia. As a former boxer himself he’s been Danny’s primary coach and has had Danny boxing as soon as legal local law allowed him, the age of 10 years at Philadelphia’s Harrogate Boxing Club.

Danny was raised in the city within the second largest Puerto Rican Community in the U.S. Garcia quickly identified early in his career his desire to become the next great Puerto Rican fighter drawing inspiration from his very own favorite fighter and Boxing Hall Of Famer, the 3x World Champion, Puerto Rican Carlos Ortiz.

Danny Garcia’s professional debut came in November 2007 and in only his 2nd pro fight in December 2007 fought on the undercard of the massive event, Mayweather vs. Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, not realizing that in 5 years time he’d be the co-main event fighting on another Mayweather undercard. Since then Garcia has climbed the rankings defeating some familiar foes along the way, in 2010 a split decision win against the now Mayweather Promotions fighter, Ashley Theophane, in 2011 beat Nate Campbell and in the same year won the NABO Jr. Welterweight belt on the Hopkins vs. Dawson undercard in Los Angeles on HBO PPV via split decision over Kendal Holt.

Continuing his good form Danny quietly made people sit up and take notice that this young kid from Philly could be the real deal. In spite of his fashionable defeats, Danny still couldn’t fit the bill as a serious contender until picking up the Light Welterweight WBC belt via Unanimous decision over the legendary Eric Morales. He was now in contention and all the lights were now on him.

Although an up and coming fighter in his division and in the boxing community, Media and fans were still not convinced so Danny then went on to then unify the WBC/WBA (super) and Ring Magazine titles in 2012 by demolishing the UK boxing star and favorite, Amir Khan, with a 4th round KO. Those who weren’t aware of Danny’s left hook were now more familiar than ever.

A rematch with Morales in 2012 quickly followed with Garcia, again making it an early evening with another 4th round KO win. A Zab Judah Unanimous decision win then followed in 2013 and then to his most recent Unanimous Decision victory over number 2 in the Jr. Welterweight division, Lucas Matthysse, on the record breaking THE ONE undercard. Believe it or not, even after all that Garcia had accomplished prior to fighting Matthysse, he was still considered the underdog, even though he was the one undefeated. For whatever reason, Garcia has had a hard road with gaining respect from the boxing world but after his win against the tough Matthysse, everyone, including myself, was convinced that Danny Garcia was not only one of the best but he has a granite chin. He was capable of taking hits from the hard hitting, Lucas Matthysse, without being knocked down. Matthysse had a 94% KO average and many expected a KO by Lucas but this was far from what would happen.

It’s a fair assessment now that at only 25 years old, Danny Garcia’s desire has led him to be one of the Puerto Rican boxing greats to which he was hoping when he and his father set out on their journey. Just ask his father and I’m sure he will continue to say, “I told you so.” Danny Garcia now sits at the top of the Jr. Welterweight rankings now regarded as the true Champion in a division littered with talent. So what is next for the Champ? Many expect to see him back in the ring in 2014 against the undefeated, P4P great Floyd Mayweather Jr., but then again there are also talks that Garcia will rematch Lucas Matthysse.

What we do know for certain in Danny Garcia has earned his respect and will only be an in-demand fighter come 2014.

-Allan Mcgoldrick / @shottsabc

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