Philippines, 18 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Garcia vs. Benavidez: Can Danny Make Noise in Act III at 154?


PhilBoxing.com




This Saturday night Danny Garcia makes his return after a long layoff dating all the way back to December 2020. The distinct difference this time out will be Garcia moving up to the junior middleweight division. His opponent Jose Benavidez Jr. has just one loss to Terence Crawford but has only fought one time since then and is coming off a majority-draw to Francisco Emanuel Torres. Danny makes his comeback at a venue he knows all so well in his home away from home at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This Showtime Tripleheader is available on the network or the SHO app and features two interesting undercard bouts along with two bouts streaming live on Showtime’s YouTube Channel.

Can Danny Garcia make some noise at the 154-pound division in what could be described as Act III of his career? Obviously Danny has competed against elite boxers across 140 and 147, but how realistic is it for Danny to take on a top level guy at his third weight heading into Saturday’s? Boxing has plenty of politics issues per usual but we can strike that one off the board because of the depth of quality opposition his representation has at junior middleweight. Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions has invested a lot of time into 154 since 2016. A division that may not be among the top tier as far as the amount of elite boxers, regardless it’s delivered fans so many great matchups and upsets along the way to crowning Jermell Charlo as the current king.

Power is always a question to see if a boxer can carry it up in weight and it was clear when Danny Garcia moved up to welterweight he didn’t seem as powerful of a puncher as he was at 140. Garcia clearly still had plenty of pop at 147 a weight class he’s compete in for a long time now. The argument of course which Danny’s side is using is the weight drain of making it all the way down to welterweight and the effects that can have on a fighters body during training camp. Not having to lose that last chunk of pounds and being able to be full strength while training can make a difference. We won’t know how successful Danny can be a junior middleweight until we see him in there with a top-10 guy which he won’t be facing this go around.



Beyond a decent performance in a loss to Crawford, Jose Benavidez does have two good wins over Mauricio Herrera and Francisco Santana. It should be noted both of those fights were competitive regardless of the scorecards and this boxing podcaster believes he lost one of them. It’s very difficult to know what version of Jose Benavidez will see in the ring on Saturday given his time out of the ring. On paper this appears to be an okay name for Danny Garcia to face testing out a new weight class considering his time away from the sport. Expect some two-way action either round to round or within in the rounds in the first part of the fight.

Look for Danny Garcia to catch Jose Benavidez with a counter shot via the left hook and whenever it lands it will change the fight. Danny Garcia should be able to wear down Jose Benavidez with power shots to the head and body in what will at the very least be an entertaining scrap unless the +425 and up underdog can’t make it close heading into the later rounds.

My Official Prediction is Danny Garcia by Unanimous Decision or late TKO.

The undercard features what should be a bit of a slobber-knocker between Adam Kownacki and Ali Eren Demirezen. At times crossroads fights can create so much urgency in fighters that the desperation comes through the screen and in to our living rooms so let’s hope that exactly what we get in the co-feature. The opener is a good test for a rising contender at 140 in Gary Antuanne Russell taking on a skilled veteran in Rances Barthelemy. In recent years Barthlemey is thought of as a bit of a spoiler due to his style but mainly it was the boring fight he had against Robert Easter Jr. At just 16 fights into to his pro career Russell can benefit by facing an experienced guy like Rances who could possible present some issues by taking a strength away thus forcing the younger fighter to adjust.
Podcast Link: tobtr.com/s/12126155

Side Note: Just a heads up for Saturday checkout Chris Billam-Smith vs. Isaac Chamberlain which is a closely matched bout on paper. Also, before Showtime’s Tripleheader streaming on YouTube will be Vito Mielnicki vs. Jimmy Williams and Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs. Joshua Conley.

Written by Chris Carlson Host/Producer of The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast Available at www.blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio Follow on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Chris Carlson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Sumabong to defend WBO title against undefeated Taiwanese on July 11 in Bohol
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Jordan Orozco Remains Perfect with Dominant Third-Round TKO of Fernando Diaz on MVP/Boxlab Card in Orlando
    , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Floyd Mayweather Jr could face charges of fraud in Las Vegas
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • EDDIE HEARN SIGNS DIVINE OMOJOR FOR MATCHROOM BOXING ON LONG-TERM DEAL AS NEWCASTLE TEENAGE CRUISERWEIGHT TURNS PRO
    , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • DC Trail Ultra on July 26 in Calinan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Torre to grace Gov. Oaminal Chess Festival
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Apolinar, Santisima to fight on June 19 in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Canoy still waiting for his US visa for June 20 fight against Collazo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • "Hand of Stone" Roberto Durán celebrates 75th birthday
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Sy-Tancontian excited on Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Backs RP Blu Girls' Intensive Japan Training Camp Ahead of Women's Softball World Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Digos 2 Malita 70km Ultramarathon on June 20
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 JUNE 2026: Bam Stops Vargas in 6; Wins by Michel Soro, Wilkens Mathieu, Elif Nur Turhan, Nataly Delgado and Abraham Perez
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Undefeated world champion Ataev faces experienced Venezuelan puncher Uzcátegui at IBA PRO 19
    , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Full Fight Card Set for MF Pro’s “Pugilist Revolution” June 19 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach
    , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Campbell son of Ricky Hatton confirms ring return
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Deaño to fight for ABF super feather title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Former champ Andy Ruiz could return against Huggie Fury in 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026
  • Mexican legend Jackie Nava inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 15 Jun 2026
  • Ronnie Alvarez Dominates Filip Stankovic, Scores Seventh-Round TKO at Desert Diamond Arena
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • THE CROWNING OF BAM: Rodriguez Overcomes Early Storm to Detonate Vargas in Six, Eyes Inoue Super-Fight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • New York Knicks win the NBA Championship with historic comeback
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Panamanian superstar Nataly Delgado wins 115lb female WBA world championship in Orlando, Florida
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • IBA Bare Knuckle to make historic United States debut in Miami
    , Sun, 14 Jun 2026
  • Laurente remains undefeated, TKOs Aguan in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 14 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.