Undefeated WBC welterweight champion Danny “Swift” Garcia (32-0, 18 KOs) will be fighting on September 24 on Showtime Championship Boxing against an opponent still to be determined, according to Ring TV. Garcia has been idle for the past six months, and there were some who were wondering if he’s just going to sit on his new WBC belt like a mother hen rather than defending it.
Garcia might be better off vacating the title, because he’s likely only going to be able to successfully defend it for a shot while. Garcia does not look like a solid champion that is capable of holding onto the WBC title for any length of time.
Garcia won’t be defending against the 37-year-old Manny Pacquiao though, because Garcia and his father/trainer Angel Garcia have reportedly turned down an offer of $3-4 million for the fight. Pacquiao will be fighting on November 5, likely against one of his promoter Bob Arum’s fighters in Jessie Garcia, Terence Crawford or Viktor Postol.
Garcia, 27, hasn’t fought since last January when he beat Robert Guerrero to pick up the vacant WBC 147lb title. Garcia didn’t have to fight a dangerous contender like Errol Spence Jr. or Shawn Porter for the vacant WBC belt, and he’s quite fortunate in that. Garcia is a good fighter, but he doesn’t appear to be in the same league as Porter or Spence or the other top welterweights like Keith Thurman and Kell Brook.
Andre Berto and Adrien Broner are two names that are strong candidates for Garcia’s next fight. Amir Khan is still rated at #1 by the World Boxing Council despite his recent knockout loss to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. However, Khan has a hand injury that will keep him out of the ring until 2017. Berto is ranked #2 by the WBC, and he’s managed by Al Haymon, who also advises Garcia. A match between Garcia and Berto would be very easy to put together, and a winnable fight for Garcia.
-AP