Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer announced this afternoon that WBC/WBA junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia (26-0, 20 KOs) will defend his titles against the hardest hitting man in boxing, Argentinean Lucas Matthysse (34-2, 32 KOs), on the Sept. 14 undercard of Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez.
The superlatives are flying fast and furious, as superlatives tend to do, in perfect tune with the recent announcement, but this may be one of those rare instances when the enthusiasm is justified.
Pay-per-view cards are habitually weighted down with junk. It?s not unusual to sit through four noncompetitive fights of marginal interest while waiting impatiently for the main event. If nothing else, by having Garcia vs. Matthysse on the card, we have another reason beside Floyd and Canelo to tune into THE ONE.
?This is the fight I wanted and the fight that I asked for,? said the 26-year-old Garcia, somewhat belying his reaction to Matthysse?s destruction of Lamont Peterson. ?That is why I?m so happy this fight has been made and will be a part of this huge event. I?m more confident than ever in my abilities and I?m going to show it on September 14. Matthysse is a good fighter and has a big punch, but I?m a talented fighter with what it takes to be a champion and stay that way. This is an opportunity for the world to see what I can really do in the ring.?
No doubt Danny Swift is being handsomely rewarded for putting it all on the line against the 30-year-old Matthysse. He hasn?t learned to lose, which will work to his advantage. But defeating a surprisingly competitive Zab Judah last April, and an inconsistent Amir Khan and somewhat decrepit Erik Morales twice in 2012, may be inadequate preparation, as though adequate preparation exists, for hoping to dismantle The Machine.
?I?m glad I finally get a chance to fight Danny Garcia,? said the ?speak softly and carry a big stick? Matthysse. ?This is the fight that the entire boxing world (especially my country Argentina) and I wanted. I want to thank my promoters Golden Boy Promotions and Mario Arano for making this fight possible. On September 14, I will show the world that I am the best 140-pound fighter on the planet.?
Garcia has had a good run. He?s a fine fighter and may even defeat Matthysse. But this is a fight where the challenger is the favorite going in. It?s also a fight where Angel Garcia?s juju will have no effect.
