By Keith Idec
In the midst of an argument during their press conference Monday, Danny Garcia gave a blunt, succinct assessment of why he’ll beat Shawn Porter on September 8 at Barclays Center.
“I’m stronger than him,” Garcia said Monday while seated on a stage at a Manhattan hotel. “I’ve got bigger punching power than him. I’m faster than him. I’m a better all-around fighter than him.”
Porter completely disagrees. He has always watched Garcia and thought the former welterweight and junior welterweight champion couldn’t do to him what has made Garcia successful against other opponents.
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That’s what prompted Porter to enter the ring following Garcia’s ninth-round stoppage of Brandon Rios on February 17 and demand that Garcia fight him next.
“I think for a long time,” Porter explained, “just watching him do what he does and, you know, time after time, saying, ‘You can’t do that to me. This is what I would do to you.’ And I think it just became the kind of stir-up to the point where I really wanted to fight Danny Garcia here. And at his last fight, I saw an opportunity to really get in front of everyone and, you know, make that be known worldwide. And hopefully, I think that’s why we’re here right now.”
Philadelphia’s Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs) and Porter (28-2-1, 17 KOs), of Akron, Ohio, will fight for the vacant WBC welterweight title Keith Thurman gave up late in April because he suffered a hand injury that further delayed his return from elbow surgery. Garcia and Porter both have lost to Thurman (28-0, 22 KOs, 1 NC), who hasn’t fought since beating Garcia by split decision in their 12-round welterweight title unification fight in March 2017 at Barclays Center.
The 30-year-old Porter will end a 10-month layoff by the time he and Garcia get in the ring September 8 for a fight Showtime will televise from Brooklyn. The former IBF welterweight champ hasn’t fought since defeating Adrian Granados (18-6-2, 12 KOs, 1 NC) by unanimous decision in their 12-rounder November 4 at Barclays Center.
The 30-year-old Garcia was so confident Monday, he challenged Porter to bet their purses on the outcome of their 12-round fight.
“Put your purse on the line,” Garcia told Porter, who wasn’t interested in Garcia’s proposal. “I’ll bet you my purse versus your purse you won’t beat me.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
