Homecoming or Failed Attempt? Garcia-Herrera Preview

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On Saturday night, Golden Boy Promotions will be live from Puerto Rico as a pair of exciting fights will be telecasted on Showtime. The WBA Super Light Welterweight and the WBC Light Welterweight Champion, the undefeated, Danny “Swift” Garcia will be defending his belts against “El Maestro” Mauricio Herrera. Also on that card will be a WBC Heavyweight eliminator as 2 fighters both trying to make it to the next level will be stepping into the ring. In that one, the knockout artist, and undefeated, “The Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder will be facing his friend of all people in Malik Scott.

The 25 year old Philly born Puerto Rican Danny Garcia will be entering the ring with an undefeated record of 27-0 with 16 KOs. He is coming off his biggest win of his career, a unanimous decision win against Lucas Matthysse on the Floyd Mayweather – Canelo Alvarez undercard in September. That win made him the consensus #1 light welterweight in the world. Now he will fight in Puerto Rico try to attract a bigger fan base that has somewhat not fully embraced him throughout his career thus far. If he can even get half the popularity that his father, Angel Garcia, seems to be gaining, he’ll easily accomplish that.

Mauricio Herrera is a solid boxer that has spent most of his career in either the welterweight or light welterweight divisions. He will be walking into the ring with a record of 20-3 with 7 KOs. His 3 losses were not to average fighters eithers, as 2 of them were to unanimous decisions to 2 undefeated fighters, at the time in Karim Mayfield and Mike Alvarado. While the other was loss was a split decision loss to a 29-2 Mike Anchondo. Herrera has long arms and for him to have much of a chance in this one, he must use his reach advantage, and keep Garcia outside of left hook range, with his jab. If he lets Garcia get inside, it could be over earlier than expected.

Even though the people from the Garcia camp are putting out this is not an easy fight, that’s the exact reason why I feel this will be an easy fight. First, Garcia is going to plan a fight he has a serious chance to lose in his 1st fight in Puerto Rico when he’s trying to gain fans. Second, he isn’t taking the fight lightly, so he isn’t looking past Herrera. Third, Herrera hasn’t shown much power in the past that could immediately switch the momentum. Because of these 3 reasons, I feel Garcia will win an easy unanimous decision, if not finish Herrera late.

In the other fight, we are in for a treat. Deontay Wilder is 30-0 with all 30 wins by way of KO. He hasn’t faced the type of competition that you might like to see for a 28 year old thus far, nevertheless, 30 KOs in 30 opponents is impressive no matter what. Also anyone that saw the KO against Audley Harrison, in which it was the 1st punch he connected on through the whole fight that ended it, they had to be impressed. Whether you believe in him or not as the next big American heavyweight fighter, there is no denying his size and power.

Malik Scott will be coming in with a record of 36-1-1 with 13 KOs. He wins his fights with more of skill than power. His 1 loss came in a controversial call by the referee. He took a knee after he was hit to the back of the ear by Derek Chisora. He didn’t appear to be badly hurt, even smiling, but didn’t really try to get up until the count was around 8. When he got up at 9, the ref waved it off and stopped the fight. Wilder has already come out on ThaBoxingVoice Show and said to him, he is still undefeated. Either way you look at it, Scott should be Wilder’s toughest or 2nd toughest fight to date, depending on how you view a 41 year old Harrison.

Wilder doesn’t mind traveling, he says he likes to travel and being in the Olympics helped him with that. He has gone to UK, US, Mexico, and now Puerto Rico. Two things that travel well are speed and power, and he definitely has the power.  Scott is a tough opponent, but I see him facing the same fate that the 30 opponents before faced after squaring off against Wilder. It would probably be best if Scott can at least make Wilder work, as he has never seen a 5th round yet. The 2 things that must be tested on Wilder are his chin and his stamina. I don’t think he’ll do either, so I have Wilder by 2nd round stoppage.

I look at this event as a showcase for Garcia and test for Wilder to see if he’s ready for a world championship title bout. I feel both will step up and pas their tests and continue on to bigger things later this year, as well as next year. Garcia could be looking at a possibly Floyd Mayweather fight in the next year, while Wilder has been mentioning all the top heavyweights like Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko. These 2 are the possible future of the sport and we can be all witnesses to their coming out parties, enjoy the fights.