Danny Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) knocked out Rod Salka (19-4, 3 KOs) in the second round of a scheduled ten-round Welterweight fight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The non-title bout was the main event of a triple-header presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Showtime Sports.
Garcia, the WBC, WBA, and RING magazine champion, made easy work of an overmatched opponent who had previously campaigned in the Lightweight division.
The 26-year-old year old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native wasted no time in the first round and unleashed an assault of counter left hooks and overhand rights on the much smaller Salka.
Salka, 31, did his best to move around the ring to avoid Garcia’s offense, but was dropped in the second round by an overhand right that was set up with a jab to the body.
The Bunola, Pennsylvania native got to his feet before the eight-count, but only to be dropped again by an assault of left hooks, right hands to the body, and even more overhand rights.
Salka, however, did not waive a white flag at any moment as he traded punches in the center of the ring before being knocked out by a vicious left hook to the chin.
In his post-fight interview with Showtime’s Jim Gray, Garcia downplayed his clear advantage in size and skill.
“I came here and I did what I was supposed to do. It doesn’t always happen in boxing. I trained hard. I didn’t listen to the people saying it was going to be an easy fight because if I would have taken it lightly, he would have come here and probably upsetted me,” said Garcia.
It is highly unlikely that Salka would have beaten Garcia as he wasn’t even a top-ten contender in the Lightweight division, where he normally fights.
Garcia’s confidence was undeterred by any criticism as he stated, “It has nothing to do with my opponent because when Danny Garcia is at his beat, he can beat anybody and I already proved that.”
Indeed, his wins over Lucas Matthysse, Amir Khan, and Zab Judah did prove to boxing fans that he was the best 140-pounder in the world.
Many fans, however, were upset that he chose an unranked opponent and Garcia is aware of that.
A possible unification fight with Lamont Peterson may be in Garcia’s future and he welcomes the challenge.
“You know, I’m all about fighting the best fighters. I leave that up to Al Haymon, but if he wants it, he can get it too.”
