Two-division world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia will step into the ring for the ultimate time at Barclays Middle this Saturday, October 18, almost 13 years to the day after he headlined the primary ever important occasion on the venue, as he takes on Danny Gonzalez headlining a jam-packed Swift Promotions card. Tickets for the dwell occasion can be found NOW via Ticketmaster.com.
With battle evening almost right here, Garcia mirrored on how he felt earlier than moving into the ring for that first important occasion in 2012, as he defended his championship towards Mexican legend Erik Morales.
“After they first known as to say I used to be gonna be important occasion at Barclays, I used to be excited,” stated Garcia, who has far and away essentially the most appearances within the ring at Barclays amongst all fighters within the venue’s historical past. “It was one thing new, so I didn’t know what to anticipate. When it was bought out, that was it, it was historical past. I used to be slightly nervous strolling to the ring, however I felt good. I felt sturdy and I felt like nothing may cease me.”
All through a profession that’s seen him amass a 7-2 report at Barclays Middle, Garcia singled out three particular fights that stand out above the remaining.
“My favourite battle at Barclays Middle was in all probability Erik Morales, as a result of I knocked him out,” stated Garcia. “Additionally the Zab Judah battle. That was a hell of a rivalry. The Keith Thurman battle too as a result of it was unification and an enormous battle.”
Garcia’s battle towards Thurman was not solely an especially uncommon championship unification conflict between undefeated welterweight champions, but it surely was a field workplace smash because it set a report on the time for the very best grossing non-Nets sporting occasion and most attended boxing match in Barclays Middle historical past.
His rivalry with Judah was additionally led to not solely certainly one of Barclay’s greatest boxing nights, however one of the crucial remembered promotions in latest boxing historical past (relive the rivalry HERE through All The Smoke Combat). As a result of excessive animosity that led as much as battle evening, Danny’s father and coach, the at all times outspoken Angel Garcia, believes that was his greatest efficiency in Brooklyn.
“The Zab Judah efficiency was your greatest efficiency due to every little thing that occurred main as much as the battle,” stated Angel. “We went backwards and forwards on the press convention, I informed him to ‘take off that Janet Jackson’ hat. It kicked every little thing off, they tried to pop up on us on the Modell’s. They wished to kick my ass. In every single place we went, they popped up. Danny took care of it within the ring although.”
Along with these three fights, Garcia’s Barclays Middle historical past contains three consecutive fights that passed off on the enviornment between 2014 and 2015, all three victories for Garcia. After blasting out Rod Salka in August 2014, he bested Lamont Peterson in an April 2015 battle of champions, earlier than taking down one other Brooklyn native, as he stopped Paulie Malignaggi within the ninth-round in August 2015.
His subsequent two contests at Barclays Middle noticed Danny drop a pair of slim choices, in fights that had been true toss ups, first to Thurman in March 2017, adopted by a Shawn Porter bout in September 2018. Garcia acquired again to his profitable methods within the county of Kings nevertheless, dispatching of Ivan Redkach in January 2020 earlier than his most up-to-date Brooklyn triumph, a July 2022 victory over Jose Benavidez Jr.
Now, as he seems to be to shut his tenth and ultimate Barclays Middle battle in model, Garcia has promised the followers which have supported him for years one final memorable evening.
“My favourite factor in regards to the followers is the ambiance and the love,” stated Garcia. “I respect all of the years that the followers have supported me. Come out on Saturday evening one final time, I’m gonna provide you with a hell of a present.”
