Danny Garcia didn’t inspire many people with his performance last weekend, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a commodity when he moves up to welterweight. During the aftermath of his fight with Lamont Peterson at the Barclays Center last Saturday, Garcia mentioned that he could remain at junior welterweight for longer than most initially expected.
The consensus leading up to Garcia-Peterson was that the junior welterweight kingpin would officially move up in his next fight, and that was evident by the catch weight for a fight between two 140lb titlist. However, Danny would benefit from staying at junior welter a little longer, at least from a financial standpoint, and if he can make the weight then he should stick around for the remainder of the year.
I understand that the welterweight division contains bigger money fights than the current junior welterweight landscape. It’s a point that becomes moot if Garcia plans on easing his way up to 147lbs, which is what he should do. By comparison, Danny would make more money fighting top 140-pounders than he would taking on softer touches at welterweight as he becomes acclimated with the weight.
However, boxing fans are a demanding bunch, and there are plenty of fans that believe he should fight a monster in his first welterweight fight. Perhaps that notion is based on the frustrations that fans have felt from Garcia’s last few performances.
Regardless, Garcia would best be served by making a gradual weight gain or at the very least fighting smaller fighters at the welterweight limit. He will eventually fight the division’s best, but he’d be at a disadvantage fighting guys that have been welterweights for several years.
Paulie Malignaggi feels the same way, and he told Thaboxingvoice.com that the idea of Garcia stepping up right away to fight someone like Keith Thurman is absurd.
“I doubt he goes right up and fights a Keith Thurman anyway. I think when you move up in weight you’re going to test the waters anyway. I don’t think he’s going to jump right into a ‘Keith Thurman’ fight,” Malignaggi told Thaboxingvoice.com.
Garcia has done a lot of damage to his reputation over the course of a year, but he can redefine himself at welterweight. Garcia should be afforded the same luxuries any star in the sport would receive because despite what Garcia has done lately he has done plenty over the years to warrant a little break upon moving up.
