DALLAS – Angel Garcia figures Errol Spence Jr. eventually will stand and trade with his son Saturday night. (photo by Ryan Hafey)
That mistake, according to Danny Garcia’s father and trainer, will lead to his son knocking out Spence. Angel Garcia went as far as to predict the round in which Danny Garcia will knock out a favored, undefeated welterweight champion who has shown his own iron chin throughout eight years as a pro.
“Danny’s gotta go out there and knock him out,” Angel Garcia told BoxingScene.com before their press conference Wednesday. “I think Danny’s gonna knock him out. I’m gonna say seventh round, Danny’s knocking him out with an overhand right. He’s dropping Spence – I’m gonna tell you right now. People are gonna be shocked. I’m not gonna be shocked. It’s nothing new to me.”
Spence and his trainer, Derrick James, didn’t pay much mind to the outspoken Angel Garcia’s prediction when it was relayed to them during the press conference by Premier Boxing Champions’ moderator, Ray Flores. James noted that Danny Garcia’s father is supposed to express that type of confidence in his son’s capabilities.
Nevertheless, neither Spence nor James believe Garcia (36-2, 21 KOs) can knock out the defending IBF and WBC 147-pound champion in their FOX Sports Pay-Per-View main event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“I don’t think nothing of it,” Spence said. “I mean, that’s his coach and his father. He expects that, but I definitely don’t, and I don’t see it happening. I think that’s just his dad’s way of pumping him up.”
Angel Garcia feels Spence and James are underestimating Danny Garcia, just like many previous opponents. The elder Garcia also promised that if Spence approaches his son the way Spence fought Shawn Porter, Spence not only will suffer his first defeat, he’ll get knocked out.
“If Spence opens up and he lets his hands go, and goes toe-to-toe with Danny, he’s done, he’s going out,” Angel Garcia said. “Danny can knock you out with both hands. People got this sh-t twisted. Danny don’t need a [left] hook. Danny got a hard right hand, too. [Spence is] going against a puncher. He never, ever fought, on his resume, somebody like Danny.”
Danny Garcia has beaten 10 former world champions during his run through the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions. Spence still is consistently listed as a 4-1 favorite versus Garcia entering the main event of a four-bout broadcast ($74.99; 9 p.m. EST; 6 p.m. PST).
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.