By Radio Rahim
Former WBA/WBC junior welterweight Danny "Swift" Garcia (31-0, 18KOs) is in the final weeks of training camps for the second fight of his welterweight campaign, on January 23rd against ex-multi division world champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero (33-3-1, 18KOs).
Garcia officially made the jump to welterweight last year, when he vacated his title and challenged former world champion Paulie Malignaggi. The fight was stopped in the ninth round when the referee felt that Malignaggi had taken too much punishment.
Prior to his jump to 147, and even following the move, Garcia was getting verbally assaulted by rising junior welterweight prospect Amir Imam (18-1, 15KOs).
Imam, who was ranked as the top contender under the WBC, was inching his way to a shot at a mandatory shot at Garcia's old title. The vacant belt was won by Viktor Postol, who was given permission to make a voluntary defense and then had to face Imam.
The young up and comer booked a "stay-busy" fight against Adrian Granados on November 28th, but things did not go as planned. After getting off to a fast start, Imam faded down the stretch and was knocked out in the eight round.
Garcia says Imam should have stopped worrying about business that had nothing to do with him and instead placed his focus elsewhere.
"That's the kid who called me a cherry picker. It's not as easy as it looks. You could say I've never fought nobody, but you're supposed to be somebody and you lose - I'm like 'you shouldn't be worried about me, you should be worried about yourself.' Because realistically in boxing he's the prospect and he's supposed to win that fight. He's supposed to fight for a world title. So don't worry about Danny Garcia, worry about yourself. I'm not at 140 no more anyway, I'm at 147," Garcia said.
