Danny Garcia (34-1, 20 KOs) is still angered over last year's defeat at the hands of Keith Thurman.
They collided in March 2017, with Thurman winning a split decision to unify the WBC, WBA welterweight titles at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The scores were 115-113 for Garcia, 115-113 for Thurman and 116-112 for Thurman.
Garcia feels strongly that he did more than enough to win that fight.
“I thought that [first score of 115-113 for me] sounded about right,” Garcia said to the Philadelphia Daily News.
“And the other one said 115-113 for [Thurman]. Then the last judge who gave it 116-112 to him actually gave him the last two rounds, and I was like, ‘How the hell did he see him winning those last two rounds?’ That’s what killed me. They probably didn’t want me to win this fight.
“It felt like somebody died that I knew. I woke up [the next day] and I couldn’t believe it was real. [Afterward,] I just went to my room, took a shower, and went to sleep.”
Garcia returned to the ring back in February and picked up a brutal knockout win over Brandon Rios.
Now Garcia is slated to return on September 8th at Barclays, against Shawn Porter for the vacant WBC title.
Garcia is very pumped to get the opportunity to reclaim the belt that he lost to Thurman over a year ago.
“It would feel better than any other one I’ve won, because it’s a different story,” Garcia said. “From losing it to getting it back, it feels better than being a young kid and winning it.”
“I would say I’m doing this for Danny Garcia, just to prove to myself where I belong and who I am. I’m going to be one of the best fighters coming out of Philadelphia and one of the best Latino fighters who’s ever done it.”
