PHILADELPHIA, PA – Danny Garcia laughs at the idea of getting chubby with this move up to 160 pounds. In fact, the two-division former title roster, now 36, is far from fat. It’s probably the most chiseled he’s been in his long, distinguished professional career. He knows the meter is running down on what is a hall of fame career. Right now, he has the cherry on top: WBA middleweight titleholder Erislandy Lara (30-3-3, 18 KOs) this Saturday night on the Canelo Alvarez-Edgar Berlanga undercard from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Lara, The Ring’s no. 4-rated middleweight, agreed to take on Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) at a 157-pound catchweight, which could be harder for Lara to come down on than it will be for Garcia.
“Call me a steak and potatoes guy,” Garcia said with a laugh after a recent workout. “I feel great. I need to gain some weight to get to 157. I am able to maintain my weight. There was a time when it got tough at 140 (where he reigned as Ring/WBA/WBA junior welterweight world champion), and at the end there at 147 (where he reigned as WBC welterweight title) to get the weight. It took a lot out of me. It’s the best I’ve felt in a while. I know when I fought at 154 (in a 12-round majority decision over Jose Benavidez Jr.), I felt amazing. I felt it was my natural weight.
“I get bigger, more muscular when I work out. I can now maintain the weight on the move up. I saved bigger guys, I feel snappy, and I feel my feet are good. I move well. I feel much stronger mentally and physically. I can walk around at 163 and can throw all my focus into building a game plan. I don’t exercise to lose weight like I used to.”
“Swift” said he respects the Cuban expatriate, Lara. The southpaw, once considered a cutie who was reluctant to get involved, has changed his whole demeanor. He’s stopped his last three opponents, and he’s been exciting doing it. Although he is 41, he has shown no signs of slowing down.
Garcia said he studied Lara. He knows what he is for. To prepare, his sparring partners were around 170.175 pounds.
“I think it has a chance to be the fight of the year,” Garcia said. “I’m ready for anything. If he wants to stay there and bang, we can knock it out. If I have to chase him around, then I have to chase him around. Or maybe, he’ll have to chase me around (laughs), but I doubt it. I feel strong here (at 157). I carried my power with me. He may make the mistake of thinking that he is the stronger guy. If he thinks that, he will be very surprised at how strong I am. Just like everyone else. He can try whatever he wants.”
Garcia now owns a promotional company and several businesses in the Philadelphia area. He knows he is nearing the end and he wants to go out on his own terms.
At its peak, Garcia’s career featured wins over Hall of Famer Erik Morales (twice), his memorable, star-turning knockout over Amir Khan, and wins over Lucas Matthysse, Zab Judah and Nate Campbell. Although he is 4-2 since 2018, with losses to Shawn Porter and Errol Spence Jr.
“The only thing I’m thinking about at this point in my career is my legacy,” Garcia said. “I have a lot going on, with my promotional company, my businesses. I have real estate. I don’t think I have anything else to prove. I want to start giving back to other fighters. Beating Lara would definitely be the icing on the cake.”
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has worked for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JSantoliquito (twitter.com)
