By Dan Ambrose: Danny Garcia says he plans on returning to the ring in February or March in 2022 at 154 in an attempt to become a three-division world champion.
Danny wants to move up to junior middleweight in 2022 to challenge IBF/WBA/WBC 154-lb champion Jermell Charlo for his titles, but at 5’9″, he appears to be too small to compete in that division.
The 5’11” Jermell would have a three-inch height and a five-inch reach advantage over the 5’8″ Danny, and that might be too much.
Many boxing fans believe Garcia, 33, is making a mistake by choosing to go up to 154, as his best weight class was at 140 and he hasn’t looked impressive since moving up to 147 in 2015.
In the ten fights Danny has had at welterweight, his record is a pedestrian 7-3, and he lost to the only three talented fighters he fought.
Danny Garcia is ready to move up to 154 in 2022
Looking overmatched, Danny ‘Swift’ (36-3, 21 KOs) hasn’t fought since losing 12 round unanimous decision to IBF/WBC welterweight champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence on December 5th, 2020. Garcia took a beating in that fight in schooled Spence.
The final scores were: 117-111, 116-112, and 116-112. Boxing News 24 had it 118-110. It was a one-sided dominating performance by Spence, who was too big, too strong, and too talented for the short-armed Danny.
“Am I moving up to 154 or staying at 147? I want to go up to 154, whatever the best situation,” said Danny Garcia on Instagram about his plans for his next fight.
“I want to become a three-division world champion. That’s my dream. I got two right now, 140 and 147,” said Danny ‘Swift’ in talking about the weight classes he’s captured world titles.
Danny looked good before moving up to 147 in 2015. Before Garcia made the move up to welterweight, he was considered the #1 fighter at light welterweight, beating these guys:
- Amir Khan
- Erik Morales
- Zab Judab
- Lucas Matthysse
- Kendall Holt
- Nate Campbell
It doesn’t make any sense for Danny Garcia to have moved up to 147, as he’s lost to Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman and Errol Spence since moving up in weight.
Those three fights showed that Danny is too small to compete with the best at 147, and he’s turned into the Adrien Broner of the division.
Garcia’s best wins at welterweight and have come against this mediocre bunch: Robert Guerrero, Samuel Vargas, Paulie Malignaggi, Adrian Granados, Brandon Rios, Ivan Redkach, and Rod Salka.
Garcia vowing to be champion at junior middleweight
“Everybody is saying ‘don’t move up to 154.’ You got to understand that so many fighters started at 140. Miguel Cotto at 140, 147, 154, 160. Roberto Duran 135, 140, 147. Sugar Ray Leonard, all the greats went up in weight.
“Honestly, I’d like to fight anyone at 154. I feel like I’m better than anybody at 154.
“I’m fighting next year,” said Danny Garcia. “I want to get back in the ring at the top of next year in either February or March. That’s when I’d like to be back, February or March.
“‘When do I plan on becoming champion again?’ Next year. I’m a champion, I’ll always be a champion.
“‘Who gave me my toughest fight?’ I think my hardest fight was Erik Morales number one. Erik Morales, the first fight, was my hardest fight. He broke my nose, he cut my eye. He took the young kid to school that night,” said Danny Garcia.
