If there’s one fighter, who is either loved or hated, where there is no in between, it may be Philadelphia’s Danny Garcia. Garcia has had a roller coaster career, seeing the highs and sometimes lows of the sport. After beating Erik Morales for his first world title, Garcia went in against Amir Khan in a fight where he was a heavy underdog in 2012 against the Bolton fighter.
Garcia stopped Khan in four rounds and was dubbed as the “possible next American star,” by HBO’s Jim Lampley. Garcia then found a home in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center as he defeated Erik Morales in 2012 and Zab Judah in 2013 as the headliner of the arena. He was then an underdog against fan favorite Lucas Matthysse as the co-main event for Floyd Mayweather-Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas. He defeated Matthysse and was on course for a possible Mayweather fight, a fight many felt he deserved.
2014 began the lows. In what was dubbed a homecoming fight in Puerto Rico, many felt Garcia lost to Mauricio Herrera. Then, there was the Rod Salka debacle above 140 lbs. in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, where Garcia destroyed an undersized opponent.
Garcia seemed to be struggling to make weight and in his next fight with Lamont Peterson at the Barclays Center, the two fought at 143 lbs., even though the fight could have been a unification. Many felt Garcia lost that fight as well this past April. Now, he takes on Paulie Malignaggi in that same venue at a newer weight, 147 lbs.
“I feel good I feel strong. I don’t have to lose that extra weight,” Garcia told Tha Boxing Voice.
Garcia says he can now eat regularly and train properly. Therefore, he expects a coming out performance in his new weight class.
“I don’t remember the last time I ate before the weigh-in. it might have been three days the last time I ate a real meal before the weigh-in. I had 24 hours to rehydrate but after starving myself my stomach was so small, I couldn’t even rehydrate properly. My body was so drained. Now at 147, I can train my body properly, and how to eat during camp before weigh-ins, I could eat food so my body could be immune to it. I was so immune to like starving myself that when I could eat, I couldn’t eat because I was draining myself so much.”
Garcia wanted to make the move last year but says he says he’s here now.
“I feel like I could have been 147 a whole year ago, but I waited too long, but I’m here now.”
