By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Photos: Sumio Yamada
WBA middleweight world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara (31-3-3, 19KO’s) of Miami by way of Guantanamo, Cuba retained his title as he stopped two-division world champion Philadelphia’s Danny “Swift” García (37-4, 21 KO’s) in the ninth round in the Canelo-Berlanga co-feature on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Feeling each other out in the opening round, Garcia countered and waited for openings as the southpaw Lara stuck the right jab. Working patiently in the second and third round Lara and Garcia continued to figure each other out as they began drawing whisltes from the crowd. It was still a strategic fight on the part of Lara and Garcia in the fourth but Garcia began pressing late in the round as Lara shot the straight left
There seemed to be a lack of offense heading to the fifth as Garcia and Lara boxed a chess match. Halfways into the fight in the sixth, Garcia stalked as Lara kept his distance. Not much action halfway through as Garcia and Lara continued to box in the seventh. Not really much offense as the fight headed to the eighth Lara and Garcia attempted to disect one another as they continued to box conservatively.
However in the ninth, Lara connected on Garcia with a straight left and scoring a knockdown at the end of the round. Garcia walked backed to his corner as his father and trainer Angel Garcia told the referee his son had seen enough as referee Thomas Taylor stopped the fight at the end of the round.
García hang up the gloves please
Agree. Garcia looke lika 36. Lara did not look like 41.
Excellent statement. The end of the Garcia era was just that as we saw it. Lara’s jab was excellent in this fight. Garcia’s defense was so stagnant, Lara was having target practice in some rounds.
Was this rigged (from garcia side)?
What do you guys think?
Some fighters turn stale in one fight. Garcia’s era came to an end and yes, his ability to fight effectively turned stale. I have always said for years, Garcia’s left counter hook and tough chin made up for his flat-footed style of fighting. If you noticed in the Lara fight, he had nothing to use in defense and his flat-footed style got him peppered with great shots which sealed his fate.
I doubt it. For one thing I doubt there’s enough value in Lara at this point for any party to invest enough money in paying Garcia off to put Lara over the top. In Lara were not dealing with a rising newcomer being “built” to become a major revenue vehicle, nor is Garcia a marginal old fighter who hasn’t been paid well enough to care about the dignity of his last fights. However it is Lara who is the more motivated older fighter and perhaps with some regrets for not really “bringing it” at times. He was always a level above Garcia in talent and athletic ability, it was just a question of whether he would fight with the urgency to make it count.
Two fights in four years reflect the inactivity that PBC prescribes to his boxers, as well as why some left to find better opportunities with other promoters.It is a shame that Canelo refuses to accept that Golden Boy made him what he is now and dares to mention that PBC could have been a better alternative for him, while no boxer under PBC has ever reached nor even a small percentage of his success, even being more talented than him like Erroll Spence.
PBC made both Garcias and all the fighters that left Top Rank and De la Cross to go to PBC wealthy, DannyGarcia has openly said he was worth millions. Racist haters like you can keep spreading Lies, but you “border worms “can’t stop the PBC train. Bud spent all of his life with Top Rank, and don’t have the money like Davis and co. All those fighters left Top Rank and Golden girl for a reason. Golden girl is like a Mexican Cartel. Now even Marquez is coming out and saying they robbed him.
Now, who is the racist, roots? I bet this is DMV under an assumed name. Pbc has maybe made them rich, but gave the fan crappy mismatched fights for many years too. Only an idiot would take the word of a retired fighter that after some ten or fifteen years suddenly alleges he was robbed. Similar to a woman alleging a very popular man raped her in a dressing room some 35 years ago. Ever heard the word credibility? It goes out the window when you bring up nonsense like this unless you have definitive proof not just your word. Use your brain, please.
predictable. but even easier than I thought
It appears as though Danny private signaled [ his father ] to stop the fight. As Danny walks over to sit on his stool [ Dad ] immediately [ wipes his neck ] to signal “enough.” Why Danny didn’t protest? It appears it may have been a pre-planned private communication (signal). Not a good look at all.
I thought the same thing. Danny can take a great punch, never been knocked out. Lara can’t brake an egg shell with his punches, only 3 knockouts in his more than 30 fights. And he knocks out Danny with a jab. GTFOH! This shit was rigged!
Research before a comment. Lara is a boxer-puncher with a more than decent punching power
Don’t forget he went up in weight you eat enough jabs they will seem like power shots
wash your mouth out with a bar of soap you moron!
Boxing dads trying to juice a little extra money out of their offspring, what do they care, they’ll be gone when their son is walking around punchy and slurred.
When I saw Garcia catch a knock down, I knew it was time for him to retire.
Thanks for the boxing performances, Danny Garcia.
Very economical fight, the punch that dropped Garcia at the end of the 9th round appeared to graze him. I feel Garcia didn’t want to be there and his father didn’t allow him to continue.
Lara still with good command of the distance didn’t impress me
This was completely out of character for Garcia. Gotta wonder was there a injury? His mental health? I know inactivity played a role too.
I was looking forward to this fight and I liked the chess game that was played out in front of me.
It was a fight between their jabs. Garcia had a lot of trouble getting past Lara’s right hand with his jab. Garcia’s jab was more or less totally neutralized by Lara. Garcia’s answers were combinations that he had some but not great success with.
Lara read Garcia and responded with precision and timing in an impressive manner with his jab.
I thought Lara looked sharp. He was in mental control all night I think. Garcia was disarmed little by little boxing wise and not least mentally.
Hats off! Congratulations Lara for a well executed fight!
I don’t understand! Danny Garcia can take a great punch, never been knocked out. Then Lara can’t brake an egg shell with his punches. Only 3 knockouts in 30 something fights and then he knocks out Danny with a jab? There’s something fishy here.
Yeah this post is fishy Lara can punch if he chooses to
This was awful.
And how did Garcia qualify for a title shot at 160? Did Garcia ever even fight as a middleweight before?
Garcia should retire have mental problem and father healht.He was one the best but think happend in life he need continue foward with his family.