There clearly are meaningful fights against potential opponents also represented by Al Haymon that would be easier to make for Danny Garcia.
The former WBC welterweight champion still would welcome a shot at Terence Crawford’s WBO 147-pound crown. One of Bob Arum’s employees made a $4 million offer to Garcia’s father/trainer, Angel Garcia, before they eventually settled on Amir Khan as Crawford’s foe for an April 20 fight at Madison Square Garden.
Danny Garcia contends that there never was an official offer made to challenge Crawford. If Arum were to talk about that fight with Haymon, however, Garcia would seriously consider it.
Garcia (35-2, 21 KOs) discussed the possibility of a Crawford fight with BoxingScene.com before a press conference Wednesday in Brooklyn to officially announce his “Showtime Championship Boxing” main event versus Ivan Redkach on January 25 at Barclays Center.
“I’ll fight anybody,” Garcia said. “Check my resume. I fought everybody. I fought the best at junior welterweight. I fought the best at welterweight. You know, I’ll fight Crawford. I’ll fight anybody. As long as the paperwork’s right, as long as everything’s right – everything has to make sense – let’s get it on. I feel like I have the perfect style to beat anybody at welterweight.”
Crawford confirmed after defeating mandatory challenger Egidjius Kavaliauskas by ninth-round technical knockout Saturday night that he’ll talk to Shawn Porter about the possibility of opposing Porter next. Arum told BoxingScene.com last week that he’s more interested in a Crawford-Porter bout than a Crawford-Garcia fight, but that he also would match Crawford against Garcia.
Las Vegas’ Porter (30-3-1, 17 KOs) out-pointed Garcia to win the then-vacant WBC welterweight title in September 2018 at Barclays Center.
Nevertheless, Philadelphia’s Garcia believes Crawford needs him more than he needs Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs), a three-division champion from Omaha, Nebraska, who wants to face any of the top welterweights Haymon represents.
Garcia is in position, though, to fight Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao later this year if he defeats Ukraine’s Redkach (23-4-1, 18 KOs, 1 NC), who’s a huge underdog. The 31-year-old Garcia likely would make more money for boxing Pacquiao than for challenging Crawford.
“It would definitely be the biggest fight [Crawford has] ever been in,” Garcia said. “He’s never been in the ring with somebody like me, so it’ll be a bigger fight for him than it’ll be a big fight for me. That’s how I feel.”
Garcia doesn’t think the 32-year-old Crawford would hesitate to accept their fight if it’s offered to him.
“I’m pretty sure he’s hungry to fight a big name,” Garcia said, “so I’m pretty sure he will.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
