By Steve Davis: Danny Garcia (28-0, 16 KO’s)) got lucky in retaining his super lightweight titles against Mauricio Herrera (20-4, 7 KO’s) in Puerto Rico via majority decision last Saturday night in Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, Bayamon, in Puerto Rico. The judges scored the fight 114-114, and 116-112 twice. This result should put Garcia out of the running for fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September or early next year.
Danny Garcia looked great in out pointing dangerous puncher Lucas Matthysse in his previous fight in September. The Herrera fight was supposed to have been an easy defence and a thank you to the people of Puerto Rico, where his family descend from.
Garcia was quoted in saying ‘this is what the people need’. It was a horrible fight to watch for the most part with both boxers styles making for an untidy mess. Garcia simply took Herrera to lightly. Many critics thought it was a mismatch, but how wrong they were. The first four rounds just saw Herrera moving forward throwing shots with everything set up by the jab, which was troubling Garcia. Garcia worked off the back foot throwing the odd combo but basically not doing enough.
Round 5 saw Herrera catch Garcia with a beautifully timed right hand and the champion was beginning to mark up around the eyes. The announcement of the judges scores at the end of this round with the open scoring, (never a good thing, just ask Austin Trout) had Garcia ahead on two cards and even on the other. The judges seemed to be gifting the fight to the champion. On several occasions the fighters heads clashed as they mauled each other on the inside. Before the seventh round, Angel Garcia [Danny’s father] could be heard telling his son to “wake up”, maybe feeling that is charge could be on the end of an upset.
Herrera just kept plodding forward throwing jabs, right hands and then the fighters would move in and hold. Garcia had a good eighth round, keeping on the move and throwing combinations, but Herrera just kept coming forward, taking everything Garcia had and coming back with shots of his own. The fight was hard to score. Were the judges more impressed with a fighter who walks forward throwing shots or the fighter working off the back foot throwing combinations in bursts?
The ninth round was a good round for Herrera. He backed Garcia up with a three shot combo, which bloodied his nose. Garcia tried to finish the round strong firing back with shots as the fighters traded. Again the tenth saw the two boxers at times stand and trade. Garcia when he did throw combinations looked good but he just didn’t do it enough.
At the end of the fight, I think you could say the fight was close but for me Herrera edged it and should have been announced the ‘new world champion’. Garcia in his comments after the fight said he thought he had won the fight but also blamed his performance on making the weight. So what now for Danny Garcia? Well he should be out of the running for fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. anytime soon. If that fight was made, I’m sure Danny would give a better account of himself but again he would surly be out-boxed and lose a lopsided decision.
I think Danny Garcia could certainly pick up one of the other welterweights world titles, if he moves up in weight. On his best day, he is a good boxer puncher with a cracking left hook. Last night was an off night for sure, but it showed that he shouldn’t be getting in the ring with Mayweather anytime soon. If Herrera beat him up pretty bad, imagine what the money man would do.
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