No Belt? No Problem! Rod Salka Motivated To Beat The “Best” 140 Lb. Fighter in The World

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untitledThe grunts and groans were widespread in the world of boxing when the Danny Garcia-Rod Salka Brooklyn card was made official. They continued throughout fight week and have gotten louder and louder. While the onus of the blame can be put on the executives of Showtime and Golden Boy who green lighted this fight, for Rod Salka, this is the opportunity of a lifetime, to fight for the 140 lb. world championship. Or so he thought.

The alphabet commissions that were sanctioning the bout (WBA and WBC) did not approve the unranked Salka to fight for their title. So because of the stipulation, the bout is no longer a 12 rounder, no longer a Jr. Welterweight bout (catch weight of 12 lbs.), and worst of all for Salka, if he defeats Garcia, he leaves Brooklyn with no title.

For Rod Salka who has campaigned mostly at the lightweight limit has the mindset of not belt, no problem.

“I’m fighting the best 140lber in the world on Saturday,” explained Salka. It would be nice to be fighting for the title but the fact that it’s not for the title doesn’t make me less motivated. I’m still the main event on Showtime in Brooklyn.”

Garcia is a Philly fighter but home away from home is in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. However, Golden Boy attempted to bring Garcia “back home” to Puerto Rico as a way to build on his Puerto Rican roots and make him an attraction on the island. To most, it didn’t go well and many felt his opponent, Mauricio Herrera beat him that night

Salka is similar to Herrera’s style whereas he likes to move, stick the jab, and isn’t a power puncher. For the reason, it was a little puzzling to know that he didn’t study the Herrera fight more.

“I watched it live (Garcia-Herrera) when it happen and that was it. I try and focus on myself and things I can do in the ring and not what other guys do, but no I really didn’t study it that much,” claimed Salka.

Even if Garcia’s last performance may have been sub-par, Salka expects the best 140 lb. fighter in the ring come Saturday, even with the catch weight.

“He does everything well, the way you’re supposed to do it,” Salka said of Garcia. “He’s got decent speed, good footwork, and solid power. He’s the best guy in the world at 140 lbs. but that doesn’t mean there isn’t things we don’t see in the ring that we won’t take advantage of come fight night.”

Should he win, more than likely the bigger fights will come at the heavier weights, but should he lose the option of going back down in weight is there, as a possible fight between him and Omar Figueroa was mentioned before. But his focus is to win.

“If I win this fight I doubt that (going back to lightweight). If you would have asked me after my last fight I’d be fighting Danny Garcia, I’d be saying probably not. You never know in boxing what’s going to happen.