Speaking literally, what’s next for Danny Garcia is an ice pack and a whole lot of aspirin.
For the second time in a year, Garcia was outworked by his opponent and ended a fight looking the more battered man, only to have his hand raised in a majority-decision victory.
The long awaited matchup between Garcia and Lamont Peterson was the main event on the Saturday, April 11 Premier Boxing Champions card, live on NBC.
During his post-fight interview, when Garcia was asked if he would be interested in a rematch with Peterson, Garcia responded by saying he was interested, but at the full 147 pound weight limit.
This all but confirms Garcia’s desire to vacate his titles and move up to Welterweight for his next fight.
Waiting for the current lineal Super Lightweight champion is a jam-packed division, which includes some of the most talented fighters in the sport of boxing today.
Such names like Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley Jr., Keith Thurman and Amir Khan crowd the top of the rankings.
Boxing followers are now wondering if the Garcia we saw against Peterson will be able to hang with the bigger names of the 147 pound division.
Read on to learn of some of the possible options for Danny Garcia moving forward.
A Rematch with Lamont Peterson at Welterweight
Photo by Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions
For the better part of the fight, Danny Garcia vs. Lamont Peterson resembled more of a sparring session than an actual professional boxing match.
Peterson chose to run a track meet throughout the first six rounds, while Garcia didn’t seem interested enough to put forth the effort it was going to take to cut off the ring and establish his power advantage.
Peterson took over in the mid-to-late rounds though, becoming the more flashier fighter, and landing the harder and more effective punches, leaving Garcia’s face looking frustrated and swollen.
The rest is bad history, Garcia got the victory (even though you could hear him in the ring tell Peterson, “I lost.”), and boxing fans were once again forced to swallow another Danny Garcia gift decision.
Even though the fight wasn’t very entertaining, boxing fans don’t like loose ends, and a rematch is certainly justified.
Both men have discussed moving up to Welterweight, and a match with a familiar opponent would be a perfect way for each to adjust to the feel of a new weight division.
A disappointed Peterson also expressed his desire for a rematch in his post-fight interview, but per usual said the final decision will be left in the hands of the matchmakers, the pre-programmed “Haymonized” answer.
It will be interesting to see the fans overall reaction if a rematch is made, and if a jump up in weight will prove beneficial for the now 30-0 Danny Garcia.
Take an Easier Fight at Welterweight
Photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
After a fighter is done getting his ass kicked, emotions kick in and it’s easier to stand in the ring and call for a rematch in order to attempt to justify your decision victory.
Danny Garcia might want to cool his jets. Lamont Peterson showcased some serious style problems for Garcia throughout the fight, out boxing him and proving to be the more experience in-fighter.
In a rematch, Peterson might feel confident enough to bring the fight to Garcia early, which could cause the champion some problems.
If Garcia is serious about looking for a jump to Welterweight in his next fight, it might be a better idea to just take this decision, put it in his back pocket, and move on to an opponent who is easier to handle, and could make the jump up in weight feel a bit more comfortable.
There are plenty of “stepping stone” fighters in the division, some of which we’ve seen advisor Al Haymon use in the past.
A fighter like Luis Collazo is a good example, the experienced, yet beatable journeyman was used to help Amir Khan make his jump to Welterweight back in May 2014.
Maybe it’s not a coincidence that Collazo fought on the undercard of Garcia vs. Peterson, maybe he’s already being considered as a possible future opponent for Garcia.
Winner by majority decision, @DannySwift#PBConNBCpic.twitter.com/7SAgIIgSkM
— Barclays Center (@barclayscenter) April 12, 2015
It also makes sense on the business end, since Collazo is from Brooklyn and Garcia is building a fan base around the Barclays Center. It’s certainly a sellable fight, and a quality undercard fight to a bigger matchup.
Some other potential easier matchups would be Victor Ortiz and Josesito Lopez.
Fight a Top Name in the Welterweight Division
Marcos Maidana is planning his return to the ring by the late summer or early fall, and it’s obvious he smelled blood in the water after Garcia’s unimpressive performance.
I don’t care who won tonite but nobody will save @DannySwift Garcia if we fight. Let’s do it.
— Marcos René Maidana (@ChinoMaidana) April 12, 2015
“Chino” is just one of the many tough fights that Danny Garcia could take if he thinks he’s ready to fight the best in the Welterweight division.
Now let’s be honest, opponents like Floyd Mayweather and Keith Thurman are far too risky for Garcia’s first fight at 147 pounds.
But the next level of top ranked talent could provide a platter of pickings for Garcia, such as Devon Alexander, who’s coming off a loss to Amir Khan and doesn’t bring a power threat into the ring.
Also, Robert Guerrero, who even though he is a good fighter, could be good matchup stylistically for Garcia, who would have a clear speed advantage against “The Ghost.”
We also saw Italy’s Leonard Bundu give Keith Thurman a tough fight back in December 2014, an awkward veteran like Bundu could give Garcia the type of competitive rounds he needs to get adjusted to the Welterweight division.
The limited and hittable Andre Berto will be looking for an opponent for his next fight. Berto got his legs back under him with a sixth-round KO victory over Josesito Lopez back on March 13, 2015.
The point is that the Welterweight division is stacked, and if Danny Garcia is serious about making the move up, he’ll have a wide array of options to choose from.
Who would you like to see Danny Garcia fight next? Please feel free to discuss in our comments section provided below.
Header Photo by Showtime Sports
