Garcia-Peterson: The Non-Title Bout It Deserves To Be

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Danny GarciaOn Saturday, Danny Garcia will take on Lamont Peterson in a fight that may be long overdue. When I first thought about this fight, this writer was excited because it was two of the best Jr. Welterweights in the world. I was also excited that the bout would be taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

My personal opinion of the venue is that it’s the best boxing venue in the east coast and maybe in the country. I was also excited the bout would be taking place on a big platform on NBC in prime time. Then it was announced that Andy Lee would be defending his WBO Middleweight title against Peter Quillin which is a fantastic co-main event. Things like this are needed in boxing.

Then the news went from great to ho-hum as the event took shape. First it was announced that neither title from both men would be on the line. Garcia holds The Ring Magazine, WBA, and WBC Jr. Welterweight titles. Lamont Peterson holds the IBF in the same weight. I mean wouldn’t it make sense to unify these belts? Not so.

Then it was announced that there would be a 143 lb. catch weight involved in the bout. It makes sense in a way for Danny Garcia because it is rumored that he is making the move to 147 lbs. But for Peterson, a move up is not in the cards as of yet.

Then I got to thinking, maybe this fight deserves to be a non-title bout. Garcia had a very disappointing 2014 after a highlight 2012 and 2013. In those two years, Garcia beat Erik Morales twice, beat Zab Judah, knocked out heavy favorite Amir Khan, and was an underdog against Lucas Matthysse and decisioned him decisively. Matthysse was dubbed “The Machine” and even called the next Manny Pacquiao by his promoter Richard Schaefer. Garcia was riding the high wave and was even on the short list of opponents for Floyd Mayweather Jr.

2014 came, and it was a different story. Garcia got a “coming home” fight in Puerto Rico where he was supposed to destroy tough luck Mauricio Herrera. A lot was made of the homecoming because of Garcia’s lack of knowing the language. What it seemed at the time was a gimmick to try and put a foot hole for Golden Boy Promotions in Puerto Rico. It didn’t work, and what made matters worse Herrera should have a won the decision in Puerto Rico. Garcia got a pseudo home cooking that displeased many people watching the fight.

In most eyes, Herrera should have the titles that Garcia holds. So in that case, Garcia shouldn’t be defending any titles this weekend. Let’s not get into the Rod Salka monstrosity that we saw August of 2014 because that may have been a low point in Garcia’s already good career.

Lamont Peterson’s 2012 included a failed drug against Amir Khan after beating him the year prior The decision was close in their first fight but Peterson’s testosterone levels were too high in the lead up to the next fight. Had Peterson informed the agency (VADA) that was handling the testing about his low testosterone levels, his failed drug test would have not been such.

Still he was stripped of the WBA belt that he won from Khan keeping his IBF. Fast forward to 2013, after stopping Kendall Holt, a fight was made between Peterson and Lucas Matthysse. With a catch weight stipulation being added, Peterson’s belt was not on the line. Matthysse destroyed Peterson, but Peterson got to keep his belt in defeat. Much like this fight, there is really no explanation why the belt was not on the line. So in a sense, Peterson shouldn’t be a champion either.

I may be picking at straws here, but neither guy should be holding any type of belt. So the fact that there is no belt on the line is appropriate. And after this fight maybe neither guy holds any belts anyway. Garcia will likely move up dropping his belts and should Peterson lose, the IBF will strip him off his belt. Maybe that’s the way Al Haymon wants it on his PBC Series, not alphabet belts allowed. Whether it’s a good or bad thing in the future remains to be seen especially since rumors are that Haymon wants to introduce his own belt into PBC Series. But for what it is, Saturday’s main event isn’t a fight for belts. Or even a fight to determine who the two best 140lbers. Instead, it’s a solid bout between two of the best 140lbers fighting in the 147lb division.