DANNY GARCIA MAY HAVE ONE MAJOR ROAD BLOCK STANDING IN HIS WAY OF A THURMAN GARCIA REMATCH

Photo courtesy of Sean Michael Ham / CROWN BOXING

By Crystal Frost / CROWN BOXING

February 17th 2018, stood a crowd full of fans on their feet shouting and cheering inside Mandalay Bay, as 2x world champion Danny Garcia made his way to the ring for his first battle since his split decision loss to Keith Thurman in a Welterweight unification match last March. It was a different Danny this time, he was refreshed and confident you could feel his energy all week leading up to this night. He was war ready. Battle-tested Brandon Rios was in the blue corner waiting for Garcia to enter. The fans were split 50/50, and Garcia entered the ring in true form, masked and hooded. 

As expected, Rios came forward with a demanding pace putting the pressure on Garcia. Garcia got caught early in the rounds with some heat from Rios against the ropes, but Garcia was able to rally Rios in his favor forcing Rios to fight defensively against Garcia in the center of the ring for majority of the fight. By the ninth round, Garcia like a surgeon, placed Rios right where he wanted, hitting Rios with precise punches and combinations, while keeping steady control. Garcia was ahead on the scorecards and patiently waited for the perfect opportunity to strike. It was a slight mistake by Rios that set Garcia up to deliver a huge counter right to the chin that sent Rios to the canvas flat on his back, advancing Garcia to the #2 WBC Welterweight mandatory spot.

It was a much needed victory for Garcia as he is now in a position to potentially face Keith Thurman for a second time, or the eager Shawn Porter, who crashed Garcia's victory party inside the ring Saturday night when he called out Garcia publicly. This isn't the first time Porter's called out Garcia, but it was the first time Porter made it known publicly that he wants Garcia. Meanwhile, the Philly native barked back and set Porter straight by responding that "he aint backin' down from nobody."

This matchup wasn't a fight boxing fans demanded, but it was the perfect fight to show the skill set Garcia still possesses and the passion he still has for the sport. Real fans who have been following Garcia and his "cherry picking" ways want to see Garcia face more notable opponents like Porter. While Garcia has faced some of the toughest opponents in the 147-division, at this point in his career he has to make a move that will gain fans confidence that he is the best in the division. The throne is currently occupied by champions Errol Spence and Keith Thurman, with Porter trailing right behind, and Garcia is running out of excuses if he wants to prove the fans anything.

So will Danny Garcia carry his promise out and show the fans that he is the best in his division, or will he continue to collect sizable checks and allow the top guys like Thurman, Porter, and Spence battle it out for the the belts.