Garcia vs. Peterson Fight Preview & Pick:
On April 11th the World Junior Welterweight Champion, Danny “Swift” Garcia, faces off with the division’s #2 contender and two-time titlist Lamont Peterson.
I recently described Danny Garcia as the world champion with a target on his back, since he rules a division with two formidable challengers either gunning for him or soon to be gunning for him, namely Lucas Matthysse and Terence Crawford. Yet even if Peterson isn’t in the same category as that pair (Matthysse took out Peterson in three, and Crawford would surely make equally short work of him), he is hardly a slouch and poses a stern test for Garcia.
This would have the makings of a good world title bout if only it were a world title bout, but it isn’t. This is a 143-lbs catchweight fight, the second in a row for Danny Garcia. So instead of a battle of the World Championship that would have incidentally unified three alphabet belts in the bargain, what we instead have is limited to a worthy clash between world class fighters, but one that leaves us wondering when Danny Garcia is going to stop pretending he can still make the 140 lbs weight limit.
Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs)
- 5’9″ tall, 72″ reach, 31 years old
- Two-time and current junior welterweight world titlist
Although Peterson lost some luster when he failed a drug test in the wake of his narrow, controversial win over Amir Khan in 2011, he remains a top contender in the division. He is also a very well-established and known quantity.
“Havoc” is a boxer, employing a smooth, polished version of the stand-up, orthodox style that relies on good speed and sound footwork as the foundation for a busy jab and sharp right hand. Yet that sharp right hand cuts more than it crushes, and Peterson’s chin is merely average at best. It takes the very best to beat Peterson, but he can be beaten, especially if that top-rated guy has a good punch.
Danny Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs)
- 5’8 1/2″ tall, 68″ reach, 32 years old
- Current World Junior Welterweight Champion
Garcia is a tough boxer-puncher, the kind of guy who is happy to trade because it gives him a chance to employ his thudding power. At the same time, he has a good foundation of technique, and is quick enough that his moniker, “Swift,” is in earnest.
From his 2011 victory over Nate Campbell to his 2013 win over Lucas Matthysse, Garcia fought a straight slate of name opponents and beat all of them, making him one of the most seasoned, capable, and proven characters in a division packed with talent. That such a thing can be said about a man with an undefeated record speaks volumes as to what Garcia can do in the ring.
Garcia vs. Peterson Fight Analysis
I did not name Lamont Peterson as a man with a good shot at dethroning Danny Garcia for good reason. While I do think Peterson’s combination of polish and reach will pose difficulty for Garcia, he lacks the speed of hand or foot necessary to simply out-box Garcia for round after round. Furthermore, any chance of out-lasting Garcia disappeared when the bout became a catchweight fight, since Garcia won’t show up drained by the demands of making weight.
Sooner or later, Garcia is going to catch Peterson with something that hurts him, and once that happens it will keep on happening. Although Garcia isn’t the knockout artist that Lucas Matthysse is, he has solid punching ability and that is what will eventually tell as the fight progresses.
Garcia vs. Peterson Preview
Garcia ought to have some initial trouble finding his mark in the initial stage of the fight, and I expect to see Havoc win most of the first third of the fight. After that, Garcia start landing, and will likely be either badly hurt or knocked down during the middle third. The last third will see Peterson start to slide, and when he gets hurt again he won’t recover.
Prediction: Danny Garcia TKO10 Lamont Peterson
