Fight fans can’t stop talking about the upcoming Danny Garcia vs. Lucas Matthysse fight on September 14. Now, the fighters will be doing the talking, as you can see a huge collection of quotes from each man as they discussed their exciting clash on a media conference call.
Additionally, find a special pre-fight Garcia vs. Matthysse video preview, with fight action highlights from each man in his recent bouts.
Garcia-Matthysse Preview Video & Fighter Highlights
Garcia & Matthysse Conference Call Quotes
Lucas Matthysse
Hi. Good afternoon. I’m here at the gym trying to train. We’re sparring and I’m very happy and pleased to be on this call.
De La Hoya
Now, I’m going to introduce to you a young man who needs no introduction. He is the unified super lightweight world champion. He first won his world title in 2012 by dropping then … legendary Erik Morales for the WBC 140 pound title, and, like I said before, he keeps proving everyone who has doubt in him—he keeps proving them wrong in every fight that he’s in. He has great knockout power but at the same time he does possess the talent of a boxer/puncher. He hales out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the unified super lightweight world champion with a record of 26-0, 16KO’s, Danny “Swift” Garcia.
Danny Garcia
Hey. What’s up, everybody? I want to say good afternoon to everybody. I hope you’re having a blessed day, and I’m very motivated for this fight. I’ve been working hard in the gym, and I’m very excited for September 14th and it’s going to be another epic showcase by me that night.
Q
Lucas, what is your plan for this fight?
Matthysse
I am training very hard. It’s a hard fight but I’m going to give the fans what they want, and I’m going to bring the win to Argentina.
Q
Lucas, Danny Garcia as an athlete and as a fighter or are you going to go in to the ring and just give it your all?”
Matthysse
I respect Danny as a fighter. He’s a great champion, but I am going to give the fight 100%.
Q
Lucas, can you talk about what it has been like for you since you’ve signed with Al Haymon? Do you have this new sense that you’re going to be able to be in big fights such as this in your future?
Matthysse
Yes the plans are to have bigger and greater fights and to continue fighting.
Q
Danny, just from some of the stuff that I’ve read and some of the way your father has reacted I get the sense that he feels you’re not being as respected as a champion as you feel you should be and he feels you should be, and, in fact, that maybe you’re not being treated as or perceived as the a-side. Most notably, he talked about Lucas’ presence on the cover of Ring Magazine. What are your thoughts? What do you have to say about that and is that true?
Garcia
You know I really don’t care what the media thinks or who they think is the best because in my heart I know I’m the best, and I hold the titles, and September 14th is going to be another day at work for me, and I’m just going to defend my title. I’m still champion and the people who don’t believe hey that’s their problem. I know in my heart I’m the best 140 pound fighter in the world, and I’m going to show it on September 14th.
Q
Last question for you, that left hook sequence—where Lucas dropped Lamont Peterson with his left hook, and obviously Peterson landed his but it didn’t have as much of an effect. You are known as the left hooker. If that sequence happens in your fight can you kind of address what might happen? Do you think he’s seen a left hook like yours?
Garcia
We’ll have to see. I’ve fought big punchers. I took big shots before, but Peterson when he threw that left hook he was more in a position that’s why he got the end of it. But I’m just going to be smart. I’m going to do what I do best, make adjustments in the fight and get the victory.
Q
Okay. My question is for Danny Garcia; Danny, do you think that for this match the winner deserves the fight with Mayweather and Canelo’s winner? Do you think you are ready for the fight with Mayweather?
Garcia
It’s a big fight but I’ve got to worry about my fight. I’m not really worried about the future right now. My future is Lucas Matthysse and I’m not looking past him, but that’s up to Golden Boy and Al Haymon and whatever they want to do. I’m just a fighter and that’s what I do is fight, so whoever they put me against that’s what I do.
Q
Why do you think that the people doesn’t believe you after the many fights, many knockouts in favor of you?
Garcia
I really don’t know because I feel like I’m before my time a lot of people still don’t understand it because I’m not supposed to be here right now. It wasn’t supposed to be my time right now. I made it my time. I took it and the people still don’t understand it but I’m just going to keep building my legacy and proving myself.
Q
My question for Lucas is he had such an easy time knocking out Lamont Peterson, I wondered did he anticipate that victory was going to be as easy as it, at least, looked on the outside of the ring, and does he think that he can do something similar and make that kind of statement against Garcia?
Matthysse
Going in to the Lamont Peterson fight was difficult at the beginning but then it became easy for me and that’s why I knocked him out. With Danny Garcia, I have prepare myself but I believe that I’m going to do my best and just give a great fight.
Q
Do you think though that the end result could be the same, an early knockout because your power at least it looks so good in his recent fights?
Matthysse
I respect Danny Garcia as a champion. I am going to give a lot of resistance, but I feel that I am confident enough to give a great fight. It is going to be a difficult fight but I’m not looking for a knockout. I am looking to have a great victory and give a great fight.
Q
I have just one other question for Lucas. Some of the comments Danny has made—although he is showing respect for Lucas it doesn’t sound like he really thinks a whole lot of his punching power. He has said that he has a built up record in Argentina where he really didn’t fight a lot of top opponents, and then when he came to the United States and fought people like Zab Judah, like Devin Alexander that—the way Danny described it was as soon as somebody hit him back he lost, and that the record and the knockout power is maybe a little overrated. How does Lucas respond to that?
Matthysse
On September 14th I’m going to prove to Danny—That’s going to be the proof that when he feels my punches if they’re strong enough or not, and that will either give him the benefit of the doubt if he is strong.”
Q
How do you think the ambiance is going to be around Las Vegas? There’s going to be a lot more Mexicans than there is Argentinians. Do you believe the Mexicans are going to be behind your back?”
Matthysse
Yes. I believe the Mexicans will be behind me; although, there will be a few Argentinians there to support me and to see a great fight.
Q
If there is a victory against Danny Garcia what element will it give you with the Argentinian public?”
Matthysse
I would be on top of the world. The Argentinians will—it would be the best fight of my life.
Q
Hey, Danny. I know that you said that your job is just—on your team is just as a fighter but the reality was this fight was on the table for a while. How soon after your win over Zab Judah did you realize that you would probably be fighting Lucas Matthysse?
Garcia
I accepted the fight when he came to me. I think it was about five, six weeks ago, five weeks, six weeks ago. As soon as the fight was gave to me I accepted it but it took them time because the negotiations; you know it’s a big fight. It’s not an easy fight to make, and as my fighter I accepted the fighter. Me and my dad we accepted the fight and the negotiations—where the fight was going to take place, the money so it was a lot of things but the fight got done. I’m happy and then I’m happy to give the fans again what they want.
Q
I guess what I was trying to get at like when you—before you even accept a card do you have like an idea of who you want to fight next? I know you’re the type, you know I fight whoever they put in front of me, but obviously I know you always want to fight the best. Did you recognize Matthysse as the best of the lot and that you would have to fight him? Not that you would have to fight him but fight him to prove that you are the best.
Garcia
Yeah no doubt it was a fight that the fans wanted and the boxing world. He’s buzzing off his last two victories; his last two knockout wins so the fight was built up. Showtime made it big. The media made it big so it was only worth it to fight with me.
Ellerbe
I want to touch on to what Danny just added on. I just think this is kind of important. A lot of times when you have big events like this and obviously this is a main event on its own, but there was a lot of criticism coming Danny’s way, unjustifiable, by members of the media and the fans because obviously those out there who thought that Danny was unafraid to take the fight. But let me go on the record with this; I know firsthand. Obviously, I have a very close working relationship with my business partner and everyone knows who that is and we at least talk ten times a day. Danny and his dad, I know firsthand, have been very, very adamant that they wanted that fight to the point where they were bugging Haymon about making the fight. What’s taking so long?
I just want to be clear that this is a fight that Danny and his dad wanted from the very beginning. It’s just a matter of the things that take time for fights to come together, and it’s just not simple little things. Obviously, when you’re talking about large amounts of revenue and other particulars that come in to play because that’s great but you know fighters at this level there’s no such thing about being scared of one another. When it comes down to it nobody is scared to make money. Danny didn’t get to this level—his father is a tremendous trainer. They didn’t get to where they’re out—Lucas didn’t get to where they’re at—two fighters being scared of one another. This is a tremendous fight and this is the fight that the fans have demanded and both guys want to fight and it’s going to be a great fight come September 14th. I just wanted to add on the fact that I know firsthand that Danny and his dad had demanded this fight to the point where they were bugging Mr. Haymon about what was taking so long in getting this fight made.
Q
Danny, I know that you were ringside for Lucas’ KO Peterson and you’re a champion. I mean we all know that you have the ability and the goods to make this happen and pull off a victory, but I’m just wondering what you’re doing psychologically to prepare yourself because he’s a scary dude.
Garcia
I’m doing the same thing I always do, just training hard, and yeah he has power but I have power too so if he’s not careful he’s going to get hurt. But I’m not going in there worrying about another man. I’m doing what I do best and just training hard, staying focused, and adapting; adapting to the fight. I’m not going in there worrying about another man’s power. I’ve got power myself so I’m just going to go in there, make adjustments and get the job done.
Q
Hey, Danny. Was the random blood testing as a result of what happened with Eric Morales or is it something that’s related to suspicions that have crept up concerning Lucas’ camp or his results in fights?
Garcia
No. That has nothing to do with Lucas Matthysse. Ever since I won the world title, ever since I bet Erik Morales the first time, Amir Khan took the test, Morales took it again, Zab Judah took the fight and now this fight. It doesn’t matter who I fight for what it’s just something I feel needs to be done if you want to be the champion. And it’s my fourth defense and it’s the fourth fighter who has took the test; it’s just something that comes with do you have to beat the champion and that’s something I ask for. I just want a clean fight and that’s it. It has nothing to do with Lucas Matthysse. It’s just what I do.
Q
Hey, Danny, this question is for you. You’ve been in lots of fights. We all know this is not going to be an easy fight. Would you say this is your hardest fight up to date?
Garcia
I could probably answer that question after the fight because the fights not here yet. I really don’t know because sometimes the hardest fights—sometimes you think the hardest fights will be the easiest fights, sometimes you think the easiest fights will be the hardest fight. You really don’t know until the fight happens, but you know at this level you know you’re going to get hit. It’s all about preparing for the fight and making adjustments, and that’s what I feel I bring to the table.
Garcia
Okay. You know I’ll thank the media for taking the time out to ask these questions, and I’m very excited about being a part of this and I’m training hard. I’m very motivated, and I can’t wait to show my fans and all the new fans that are going to be watching me September 14th what I’m about and I’m going to keep the title in Philadelphia. I’m going to do this for all my Latinos around the world. The end.
Matthysse
I just want to thank everyone for their time today. I am training really hard in Argentina and will be ready for September 14.
Thanks for checking out all the quotes, and enjoy the Garcia vs. Matthysse video preview video.
