Sammy Vasquez Jr. knows road to title in welterweight division a rough one

Sammy Vasquez Jr.

Sammy Vasquez Jr./Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

 

Sammy Vasquez Jr. is ranked as high as No. 8 in the world by one governing body. But it’s in the welterweight division, which is loaded with talent. The champions are Keith “One Time” Thurman, Danny Garcia, Kell Brook and Jesse Vargas and two of the contenders are Errol Spence Jr. and Shawn Porter.

Vasquez therefore knows it won’t be easy getting to the promised land that is a world championship.

“The division is loaded with great fighters,” said Vasquez, of Monessen, Pa. “With the exception of Jesse Vargas, all the champions are undefeated. The road to get to the top is very tough because everyone in the top 10 is an exceptional fighter.  I think it’s the toughest division in boxing.”

Vasquez is 21-0 with 15 knockouts. He’ll take on Felix Diaz (17-1, 8 KOs) of the Dominican Republic on July 16 at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Ala. They will tangle underneath the heavyweight title fight between Deontay Wilder and Chris Arreola (on Fox).

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Danny Garcia knocks out Paulie Malignaggi in the ninth round

Danny Garcia/Photo courtesy of Ed Diller, DiBella Entertainment

 

Danny Garcia of Philadelphia on Friday emerged with a ninth-round technical knockout of Paulie Malignaggi in the welterweight main event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Garcia (31-0, 18 KOs), a junior welterweight (140-pound) champion, had fought his previous two bouts at respective catch-weights of 141 and 143 pounds as he transitions to the 147-pound limit. Garcia weighed 146 3/4 for this one.

The lopsided bout was waved off at 2:22 of the round by referee Arthur Mercante.

This could be the last bout of Malignaggi’s career at age 34. The former junior welterweight and welterweight champion from Brooklyn is 33-7 with seven knockouts.

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Philly’s Danny Garcia says he’s following footsteps of other Puerto Rican greats

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Danny Garcia/Photo courtesy of Premier Boxing Champions

 

Super lightweight world champion Danny Garcia was born and raised in Philadelphia. But he is of Puerto Rican descent and when it comes to how he stacks up with other fighters of his heritage, he takes it very seriously.

“I used to love other great Puerto Rican boxers like Felix Trinidad, Miguel Cotto and Hector Camacho,” Garcia said. “I feel like I’m definitely working my way up into the ranks with them and following their footsteps.”

Right off the top, we noticed that Garcia left out Wilfredo Gomez. But Garcia has a lot on his mind as Saturday he will square off with fellow champion Lamont Peterson at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (on NBC). Also, Gomez, 58, retired in 1989 – the year after Garcia was born.

Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) and Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) will be fighting at a catch-weight of 143 pounds, so their titles will not be on the line.

 

 

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Riverside’s Mauricio Herrera realizes what he’s up against with Danny Garcia

Mauricio Herrera of Riverside will have quite a task in front of him when he challenges Danny Garcia of Philadelphia for his two super lightweight belts on March 15 at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico (on Showtime). And he knows it.

“I know this is a huge opportunity, and I’m going to take full advantage of it,” said Herrera, 33. “To have a shot at Danny’s belts has been a dream of mine for a long time.

“Danny Garcia is an intelligent and tough fighter, but so am I. I’m coming to Puerto Rico and I know there is a lot of pressure. But, hopefully they will support me, too.”

Herrera (20-3, 7 KOs) , who has never fought for a major title, is Mexican-American. Garcia (27-0, 16 KOs) is Puerto Rican-American, so he figures to have the bulk of the fans that night.

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Danny Garcia says all the right things at news conference in Puerto Rico

Super lightweight champion Danny Garcia is an outstanding fighter. He’s also smart enough to say all the right things at the right time.

Garcia, born and raised in Philadelphia, is of Puerto Rican descent. On Tuesday, he helped play host to a news conference in Puerto Rico promoting his March 15 title defense there against Mauricio Herrera of Riverside (on Showtime).

Garcia apparently wanted locals to know where his heart is, so he came with all kinds of good stuff.

“I am a Puerto Rican,” he said. “I could have been born on the moon, but I’m still a Puerto Rican.”

That’s not all.

“I think that Puerto Rico is going to accept me as its own after I win on March 15,” he said. “Philadelphia might be my birthplace, but Puerto Rico is my blood.”

Garcia, just 25, is 27-0 with 16 knockouts. Herrera, 33, is 20-3 with seven knockouts. The two will tangle at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon.

 

 

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Super lightweight champ Danny Garcia to defend against Mauricio Herrera in March

Super lightweight champion Danny Garcia of Philadelphia will defend his two championship belts March 15 against Mauricio Herrera of Riverside at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico (on Showtime), Golden Boy Promotions announced.

Garcia was born and raised in Philadelphia, and is of Puerto Rican descent.

“I’m a proud Puerto Rican and even though Herrera is a tough challenger, there is no way I’m losing in Puerto Rico,” said Garcia, 25; he is 27-0 with 16 knockouts.

Herrera, 33, is 20-3 with just seven knockouts. But he does have a January 2011 victory over current world champion Ruslan Provodnikov.

“I’ve waited a long time for a fight like this, and while I know Garcia is the favorite, I won’t be underestimated,” Herrera said. “I love the underdog role and I’m going to shock the world on March 15.”

 

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Danny Garcia, Lucas Matthysse make weight underneath Mayweather-Alvarez

With all the hoopla surrounding Saturday’s junior middleweight title fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view), let’s not forget that there is one heck of a semi-main event.

In it, Danny Garcia of Philadelphia will defend his two super lightweight titles against Lucas Matthysse of Argentina. It’s expected to be a hard-hitting thriller.

Garcia and Matthysse both made weight Friday before 12,200 at MGM Grand, unheard of attendance for a weigh-in. Garcia tipped the scales at the 140-pound limit on the second try. He wore a surprised look on his face when it was announced he first weighed in at 140 1/2. He got off, got back on only seconds later and it was announced he weighed 140.

It was kind of weird, as reporters talking among themselves laughed, saying things like, “I wish I could lose weight that quickly.”

Matthysse weighed 140.

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Danny Garcia: This was not supposed to be his time, but he made it his time

Junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia of Philadelphia was recently asked why, in his mind, there are still those out there who don’t quite yet believe he’s an elite fighter.

His answer was different, yet probably right on the money.

“I really don’t know because I feel like I’m before my time; a lot of people still don’t understand it because I’m not supposed to be here right now,” said Garcia, who Sept. 14 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas will defend his two championship belts against Lucas Matthysse of Argentina. “It wasn’t supposed to be my time right now. I made it my time. I took it and the people still don’t understand it, but I’m just going to keep building my legacy and proving myself.”

Garcia is right. He was flying under the radar, a victory over aging Erik Morales to win his first 140-pound belt in March 2012 notwithstanding. Morales was looked upon as past his prime, so while Garcia was given credit, no one was really singing his praises all that much afterward.

Then Garcia, 25, stopped fellow champion Amir Khan – in his prime – in the fourth round in July 2012. Too many, Garcia had arrived. Garcia knocked out Morales in the fourth round in a rematch in October. Garcia slugged it out for 12 rounds with Zab Judah and retained his two belts via unanimous decision in April in his most recent start.

Garcia (26-0, 16 KOs) also has victories over Kendal Holt in October 2011 and Nate Campbell in April 2011.

Garcia-Matthysse (34-2, 32 KOs) will be televised by Showtime pay-per-view on the undercard of the junior middleweight main event between Floyd Mayweather Jr. (44-0, 26 KOs) and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KOs) of Mexico.

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Trainer Angel Garcia: Lucas Matthysse does not instill fear in him, or son Danny

Trainer Angel Garcia has quickly gained a reputation as a tough-guy who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, regardless of what anyone thinks. It therefore wasn’t surprising to hear his thoughts this week about his son Danny Garcia’s upcoming junior welterweight title defense against hard-hitting Lucas Matthysse on Sept. 14 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The fight will take place on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and will be televised on Showtime pay-per-view.

Matthysse, of Argentina, is one of the hardest punchers in the game, pound-for-pound. He has a record of 34-2 with 32 knockouts. No problem, intimated Angel Garcia, who trains his son.

“My job is not to worry about Matthysse,” Angel Garcia said. “I am not worried. He doesn’t put fear in me. His coach doesn’t put fear in me. His people don’t put fear in me. His country doesn’t put fear in me. Nobody puts fear in me. The only one I fear is God.

“Nobody is beating us, not right now, not tomorrow and not in the future.  Believe this, on Sept. 14, Matthysse is going to get his (butt) whooped.”

Although Philadelphia’s Garcia (26-0, 20 KOs) is the champion, there is no shortage of experts who believe Matthysse could be the first one to hand Garcia a defeat. Again, Angel Garcia seems unfazed.

“Danny is the most underrated champion there is and I am the most underrated trainer,” Angel Garcia said. “But it doesn’t matter to me. As long as I know and as long as Danny knows and we’re happy, then I don’t care what the world says.

“You can love me or hate me, but it doesn’t matter. I believe in me and I believe in Danny.  I always tell Danny that hard work and dedication pay the bills.”

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