Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, NV – Danny “Swift” Garcia (24-0-0, 15 KOs) has unified his WBC and the WBA jr. welterweight belts with a shocking fourth round TKO victory over Amir “King” Khan (26-3-0), knocking down the Boltonian three times along the way.
Khan started off strong with his aggression, and landed a lot of early punches that opened up a cut on Garcia’s right eye in the second round. Khan went off on a fast start and was throwing and landing combinations at a “Pacquiao-esque” pace. But just when the former Manny Pacquiao sparring partner was looking like Manny Pacquiao, Garcia rocked him with a left hook in the third round that dropped Khan and made him look more like a sparring partner. Khan barely escaped as the bell sounded the end of the round. View slideshow: Danny Garcia’s win over Amir Khan in photos
The main questions regarding Khan in the past have revolved around his chin and defense, especially after getting knocked out by Breidis Prescott in the first round in 2008 for his first loss. But since enlisting Freddie Roach as his trainer and gaining a lot of experience from working out with Pacquiao and being able to hang in their sparring sessions, Khan’s career skyrocketed, until a controversial split decision loss to Lamont Peterson last December grounded him back to earth.
Danny Garcia lands a big right on Amir Khan Photo credit: Jeff Gross – Getty Images
Video: Highlight of Garcia’s win over Khan
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Khan cried foul and pointed out many a reason (judges, referee, head-butts) which even got to a bizarre point when an unidentified man (later on identified as Mustafa Ameen), became the subject of controversy for allegedly interfering with judges. But during the lead up to their ordered rematch, Peterson would test positive for a banned substance which granted Khan some form of redemption as the WBA belt found its way back to Khan’s waist.
“Just in the nick of time”, Garcia must have said, as Khan proved to be just warming up his “new-old” belt for Garcia’s taking. And took it he did. Garcia jumped on Khan in the fourth round and loaded up his straights dropping Khan to a knee who was trying to run away.
Back on his feet, Khan tried to hold on, and courageously managed to stay up while eating a lot of solid punches, managing to even throw a few of his own until another big left hook shook him. Garcia teed off on Khan like a birthday boy looking for his prize inside a pi?ata. Khan would fall once again, and despite his attempt in trying to beat the count, referee Kenny Bayless rightfully called a halt to the beat down at the 2:28 mark.
