DANNY GARCIA: "2014 IS GOING TO BE A BIG YEAR...I'M READY TO TAKE OVER THE GAME"
By Percy Crawford | November 13, 2013
"Most likely. We really don't know yet right now. It's 50/50 right now. Really, it's like 60/40 right now what I'm gonna do; whether stay at 140 or probably go up and fight at a catchweight or something. I don't know yet, so I'm just on vacation right now in Miami and enjoying my time off...2014 is going to be a big year for us. I'm ready, man. I'm ready to take over the game," stated undefeated jr. welterweight king Danny Garcia, who talked about his victory over Lucas Matthysse, his future plans, and much more. Check it out!
PC: Danny, congrats on all of the success you have accomplished. It seems that you are finally getting the credit you deserve. How does it feel to finally be recognized as one of the best fighters in the world?
DG: It feels good, man. I worked hard for this. I always knew where I stood at and that's why I took on all of the challenges that I took. I always knew what I was capable of. I'm just happy to be where I am and I'm just gonna continue to stay focused and keep working hard.
PC: I know fighters don't pay too much attention to what fans and media are saying, but when it's littering social media, you have to see it. People went as far as putting your face on a Howard the Duck picture, insinuating you were ducking Lucas Matthysse. Did that bother you or did you get a good laugh off of it?
DG: Yeah, I seen it. It was funny. The fans just wanted the fight to happen, but they gotta understand, fights like that don't get made overnight. I accepted the fight as soon as they offered it to me. I did what I did and now we move on.
PC: How crazy was it to see 12,000 people show up to see you guys basically step on a scale?
DG: Ah man., that was crazy; that was crazy. That was a historical event and I'm happy that I was able to be a part of it and do my thing.
PC: I know sometimes you guys don't really come face to face until the media blitz when the fight is signed. Once you were able to size Lucas up, what were your thoughts of him?
DG: When I sized him up, it was just like, he is smaller than me, he wasn't bigger than me, and he didn't look strong. I didn't see anything in him that I didn't see in any other fighter. He was just another guy in my way.
PC: It seems like every year in boxing, the fans and the media create another boogeyman that everyone is supposed to be afraid of and no one will fight. What are your thoughts on these mythical boogeymen that get created within the sport?
DG: Like I said before, ain't no boogeymen in boxing. Sometimes the media can become fans too and they find themselves becoming more of a fan than writing the truth. They go by what people say instead of doing their real research. I don't really worry about that.
PC: I think a lot of people didn't factor in your amateur pedigree and your ability to adjust during the course of fights. What was the plan going in and did anything Lucas do surprise you during the course of the fight?
DG: It was pretty obvious what he was going to do. I know that he can't fight backing up and he was just going to come forward the whole fight. I knew all I had to do was to just be smart and stay on his left and that's what I did. I did everything that I wanted to do in that ring. He had more fights, but I have been in better fights. I was the more experienced fighter and it showed that night.
PC: A lot of people didn't catch it, but the body shot you hit him with was the setup punch to the knockdown. Did you know that you had hurt him with that shot?
DG: Yeah it was. I hurt him to the body with a right uppercut that hit him right in the stomach, and then I hit him with a 4-punch combination and that's when he went down. I didn't really notice that was the shot until I saw it. It was actually a right uppercut and then another body shot and then the combination, and that's what put him down. He was hurt before he went down.
PC: You are on top of the world at 140. Obviously you will eventually fight at 147 because of your size. Will your next fight be at 140 or is it still up in the air?
DG: Most likely. We really don't know yet right now. It's 50/50 right now. Really, it's like 60/40 right now what I'm gonna do; whether stay at 140 or probably go up and fight at a catchweight or something. I don't know yet, so I'm just on vacation right now in Miami and enjoying my time off.
PC: You have a car wash, a barber shop, and a gym in Philly. How important is it to venture out into these businesses outside of boxing for you?
DG: It's important to me because not only am I investing my money, but I'm giving back to my community. I'm giving people jobs and giving people hope and just being a role model in the community, and to me, that's what it's all about.
PC: We have been talking for a long time and we have always talked about the importance of your dad, Angel Garcia. What is it like to have someone in your corner who you know, at the end of the day, has your best interest in mind?
DG: Ah man, it's a great feeling, man. He knows what I am capable of, so even if I am winning a fight, he wants me to be better. He was just doing what he does in the corner and I do what I do and it works for us.
PC: I appreciate the time as always. Enjoy your vacation and I look forward to seeing you back in the ring next year. Is there anything you want to say to your supporters my man?
DG: Ah man, 2014 is going to be a big year for us. I'm ready, man. I'm ready to take over the game.
