On Saturday night at the Staple’s Center in Los Angeles, Danny Garcia (32-0, 18 KO) squared off against two-time World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (33-4-1, 18 KO) for the WBC welterweight title.
At first, this appeared to be just another “cherry picked” fight by Garcia. Garcia handpicked Paulie Malignaggi (35-7, 7 KO) in his last fight, which was Garcia’s first fight in the welterweight division. Garcia ended up winning by TKO in the ninth. In Garcia’s second fight at 147 lbs, it looked like he was at it again, cherry picking another opponent.
Guerrero’s last two fights have been pretty merciless. He won, in controversial fashion, against journeyman Aaron Martinez and lost by unanimous decision in a brutal fight against the WBA title holder Keith Thurman. Knowing that Garcia did not look his best prior to the Malignaggi fight, I anticipated a pretty decent fight. I was right.
Guerrero came out like a bat out of hell pressuring Garcia. Guerrero had his moments, going to the body and placing the right hook here and there.
But Garcia was disciplined. He did not get into the war Guerrero wanted to get him into. The Philadelphia native, used the “Philly” style against Guerrero. He counterpunched Guerrero magnificently with counter rights and looping left hooks, catching him flush on the side of the head. Garcia also had very subtle but effective body punches once Guerrero tried to bully him against the ropes and in the corner. Garcia’s ring IQ was OUTSTANDING, using angles and circling left to right, confusing and frustrating Guerrero.
Garcia truly showed he is a complete fighter. He could dance and he could put the pressure on you. He reminded me of someone possibly conducting surveillance on Garcia. That someone was seated ringside. That someone is the “retired” Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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