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For as hard as Danny Garcia had to work to claim 140 lb. supremacy and as much as Lamont Peterson has been through just to remain an alphabet titlist, it’s a shame that their long-sought head-on collision takes place just north of the junior welterweight division.
Nevertheless, boxing fans get the matchup they wanted, as the two meet Saturday evening at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The bout headlines live in primetime on free-to-air NBC, as part of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions series.
Garcia (29-0, 17KOs) emerged as one of the best fighters in the world—as well as the lineal junior welterweight king—following his career-best win over Lucas Matthysse in their Sept. ’13 clash. The victory was added to a collection of scalps that includes Amir Khan, former two-division champ Zab Judah and twice beating faded ring legend Erik Morales, all coming within a span of 18 months.
2014 wasn’t anywhere nearly as kind to Garcia, however. The unbeaten Philly product struggled mightily in a debatable 12-round points win over Mauricio Herrera last March—his last official bout at 140 lbs., although he has yet to sever ties from the division.
His follow-up performance served as the butt of an industry-wide joke, as he and adviser Al Haymon were vilified for his facing blown-up journeyman Rod Salka, who was asked to move up more than two full divisions in their 142 lb. catchweight bout last August. Garcia scored a 2nd round knockout on the same show that hosted Peterson’s last fight, a 10th round knockout of brave but overmatched Edgar Santana on a night of mismatches at Barclays Center.
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Nevertheless, boxing fans get the matchup they wanted, as the two meet Saturday evening at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The bout headlines live in primetime on free-to-air NBC, as part of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions series.
Garcia (29-0, 17KOs) emerged as one of the best fighters in the world—as well as the lineal junior welterweight king—following his career-best win over Lucas Matthysse in their Sept. ’13 clash. The victory was added to a collection of scalps that includes Amir Khan, former two-division champ Zab Judah and twice beating faded ring legend Erik Morales, all coming within a span of 18 months.
2014 wasn’t anywhere nearly as kind to Garcia, however. The unbeaten Philly product struggled mightily in a debatable 12-round points win over Mauricio Herrera last March—his last official bout at 140 lbs., although he has yet to sever ties from the division.
His follow-up performance served as the butt of an industry-wide joke, as he and adviser Al Haymon were vilified for his facing blown-up journeyman Rod Salka, who was asked to move up more than two full divisions in their 142 lb. catchweight bout last August. Garcia scored a 2nd round knockout on the same show that hosted Peterson’s last fight, a 10th round knockout of brave but overmatched Edgar Santana on a night of mismatches at Barclays Center.
[Click Here To Read More]
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