Danny Garcia to fight Jose Benavidez Jr. on Showtime on July 30th in New York

By Boxing News - 06/01/2022 - Comments

By Dan Ambrose: Danny Garcia and Jose Benavidez Jr. have agreed to a deal to fight on July 30th in the 154-lb weight class in the main event on Showtime in a PBC card at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Both guys have been inactive for most of the last two years, and it’s unclear what either of them has left in the tank.

Benavidez, 30, the brother of the highly ranked super middleweight contender David Benavidez, has fought once since losing to WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford in 2018.

Jose Benavidez Jr (27-1-1, 18 KOs) came off a long layoff last November and shockingly fought to a 10-round majority draw against Francisco Emanuel Torres. It was luck on Benavidez’s part not to have been given a loss because he fought poorly and appeared to lose.

The 34-year-old former two-division world champion Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia (36-3, 21 KOs) makes his first appearance in the 154-lb division after being out of the ring for nineteen months since losing to Errol Spence Jr. in December 2020.

Danny Garcia’s last six fights:

  • Errol Spence Jr. – UD 12 loss
  • Ivan Redkach – UD 12 win
  • Adrian Granados – TKO 7 win
  • Shawn Porter – UD 12 loss
  • Keith Thurman – SD 12 loss
  • Samuel Vargas – TKO 7 win

The 34-year-old Danny ‘Swift’ should have too much talent & punching power for Benavidez Jr, but it’s hard to see him enjoying much success beyond this fight.

The 5’8″ Garcia will have many problems trying to beat these killers at 154: Jermell Charlo, Sebastian Fundora, Tim Tszyu, Tony Harrison, and Israil Madrimov. Danny is too small, old, and inactive to defeat those guys.

Also, Spence and Terence Crawford are both moving up to 154 soon, and Garcia isn’t going to beat either of those guys.

Yeah, Danny can be the B-side opponent for Crawford, but he’s probably not going to win, and Spence will not give him a rematch.

Jose Benavidez’s last six fights:

  • Francisco Emmanuel Torres – Draw 10
  • Terence Crawford – TKO 12 loss
  • Frank Rojas – KO 1 win
  • Matthew Strode – TKO 8
  • Francisco Santana – UD 10 win
  • Sidney Siqueira – UD 10 win

Benavidez’s 12-year professional resume is barren of names for the most part, aside from Crawford, and that’s troubling.

You’d like to have seen Benavidez take a step up long before he fought Crawford, and probably too late now.

Benavidez’s last two performances suggest that he’s got a massive amount of work to do before being considered one of the top welterweights, and he doesn’t fight often enough to make the needed improvements.

Who knows how long it’ll be before we see Benavidez fight again after facing Danny on July 30th?

“Danny Garcia and Jose Benavidez Jr. have agreed to a deal for a July 30 fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn; sources tell ESPN. The PBC on Showtime main event is Garcia’s 154-pound debut after DSG captured titles at 140 and 147. His first fight since December 2020 was a loss to Spence,” said Mike Coppinger.

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