Reigning WBC welterweight champ and two-weight king Danny Garcia has not had anything that could be called a stellar year here in 2016. The unbeaten 28-year-old has boxed just once, winning a competitive 12-round decision over Robert Guerrero in January, and is set to face Samuel Vargas in an anticipated mismatch next month. Compared to previous years, when “Swift” took on and defeated quality fighters such as Amir Khan, Zab Judah and Lucas Matthysse, this year has been one big disappointment.
But next year, if things go the way Garcia is saying they will, the welterweight champ’s fans will have plenty to get excited about. Next up after the “tune-up” with Vargas, will be (hopefully) a huge welterweight unification clash with WBA champ Keith Thurman. That one, pencilled in for the early part of next year, could be a great fight. But Garcia, although he says he is not looking past Vargas or Thurman, says he wants to fight, and is convinced he would defeat, Saul Canelo Alvarez.
Speaking with the media during his recent Philadelphia press conference to hype the November 12 fight with Vargas, as filmed by Fight Hub, Garcia said he would like to fight Canelo in a fight he is certain he would win.
“I think that’s a possible fight. That’s the next fight. I’ll fight Canelo. Why not?” Garcia said. “He’s a big boy, but I think that’s a good fight. That’s a big money fight. I’m a way better fighter [than Liam Smith]. I think I’d beat him [Canelo[. I’ve never been beat. I would beat him. Every fighter’s got flaws. I would go in there and find a way to win.”
Garcia also acknowledged how he first has to deal with the Vargas fight and then the far more serious and tough Thurman fight, but he is eyeing the monster payday a Canelo fight would bring him. If Garcia can take Thurman’s “O” and his WBA belt, he will no doubt make many people forget about his pedestrian 2016; if he can move up to 154 and beat Canelo, Garcia will become one big player in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Garcia will have two reasonably disappointing fights under his belt by the end of the year. Next year, Garcia, 32-0(18) could be playing his part in two mega-fights.