By James Slater: Unbeaten light-welterweight contender Danny “Swift” Garcia has been added to the October 15th Bernard Hopkins-Chad Dawson bill at The Staples Centre (according to boxrec), and the man he could be facing is former World Boxing Organization (WBO) champ Kendall Holt. This is the word according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, who says the fight is not a done deal yet but is close to being made.
Holt, known as “Rated R,” would be a significant step up in opposition for 23-year-old Garcia, 21-0(14). The 30-year-old has a ton of experience, acquired during his 27-4(15) pro career. Coming off an impressive 3rd-round stoppage of Julio Diaz in May, Holt is back in the title hunt. A win over Garcia would prove useful indeed, seeing as how Holt would be derailing an ultra-promising possible star of the future.
Garcia is a talented boxer with respectable punching power, and the Philadelphian has already picked up one significant win over a former champion in Nate Campbell, who he widely out-pointed over ten-rounds back in April. Can Garcia now add Holt’s name to his resume? A risky fight for both men – if Holt lost he would perhaps have nowhere to go, while if Garcia lost he would have to go back to the drawing board – Holt-Garcia could also be a exciting affair for the fans who will be in attendance largely for the main event between B-Hop and “Bad” Chad.
Certainly, and at the very least, Holt-Garcia would be a most attractive supporting bout. At age 30, Holt is still young enough to rise to the top again, while Garcia will be taking his first acid test if this match-up goes ahead. Garcia has yet to have his chin really tested (although he did have to dig deep to come through against Britain’s Ashley Theopane back in February of last year; winning a close decision), and Holt’s fast hands might just do this. A fifty-fifty-looking fight, this one also has the look of a distance fight to me.
Again, the fight is not signed yet but is close. If it does happen, a good case could be made for either guy winning. I’d actually lean towards Holt’s greater experience seeing him through – just.
Holt has won his last two, returning to winning ways following his back-to-back losses to Tim Bradley and Kaizer Mabuza, while Garcia will be having his third fight of 2011 in October. This one has the look of a quality fight.