Danny Garcia: Not Worried About Critics Who Won't Say it to My Face

By Keith Idec

NEW YORK – Danny Garcia is one of boxing’s biggest targets on social media sites and Internet message boards.

Despite that he is 33-0, including 19 knockouts, and has won world titles in two weight classes, there never seems to be a shortage of skeptics eager to criticize the Philadelphia fighter, who’ll face Keith Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs) on March 4 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center (CBS).

Whether it’s his debatable majority decision victories over Mauricio Herrera and Lamont Peterson, his knockout of overmatched Rod Salka or declining to take the fights fans want at the times they want to see those bouts, Garcia could spend more time defending himself from critics outside the ring than moving out of the way of punches inside the ring.

Garcia prefers, though, to appreciate the people that respect his accomplishments. The unbeaten WBC world welterweight champion doesn’t dwell on his critics, especially when they take shots at him mostly anonymously on Twitter, Instagram and other Internet platforms.

“At the end of the day, when I’m in the streets and everywhere I go, people love me,” said Garcia, who has beaten 10 former world champions during his nine-year pro career. “It’s just the world we’re living in now, where people have got the heart to say something behind a phone and not to your face. That’s not how I was raised. As you can see, my dad [Angel Garcia], he’ll say it to your face. And if I felt some type of way, then I’ll say it to your face, too.”

The 28-year-old Garcia tries to take even the most disrespectful criticisms in stride because people typically don’t say negative things to him in person. 

“Everybody reacts to things different,” Garcia said. “You know what I mean? Some people show emotion different ways. And I guess them people feel stronger behind that than telling me to my face. I mean, who would tell me to my face?”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.