Nickname - Swift
Height – 5' 9"
Weight – 140lbs (Junior Welterweight)
Date of Birth – March 20, 1988
Hometown – Philadelphia, PA
Record – 27-0 (16 knockouts)
A native of the fighting city of Philadelphia, Danny Garcia has big shoes to fill when it comes to the boxing legacy of the City of Brotherly Love, but with a unified world junior welterweight title already under his belt, this 25-year-old has shown that he has the skill, power and heart to live up to all expectations.
A US Olympic alternate who compiled a 107-13 record and won the 2005 Under19 National Championship, the 2005 International Championship in Finland, and the 2006 US National Championship before deciding to turn pro, “Swift” entered the punch for pay ranks in November of 2007, quickly closing out the year by knocking out Mike Denby in the first round on the Guzman vs Soto undercard in New Jersey and stopping Jesus Villareal in two rounds on the Mayweather vs Hatton undercard in Las Vegas in December of 2007.
2008 was just as explosive for Garcia, as he went 8-0 for the year, stopping five opponents (three in the first round), and shutting out former world title challenger (and 42 fight veteran) Julio Gamboa over six rounds on the De La Hoya-Forbes undercard in California on May 3rd.
On September 13th, Garcia was back in the ring, halting Tyrone Wiggins in just 64 seconds. A month later, the Philly banger defeated Deon Nash via third round TKO, but he wasn’t finished, as he showed his ever improving boxing skills in year-ending decision victories over Adan Hernandez and Jose Alfredo Lugo.
2009 got off to a rousing start for Garcia on February 28th, when he defeated experienced veteran Cristian Favela at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, and “Swift” claimed four more victims last year in the form of Humberto Tapia (W8), Pavel Miranda (TKO2), Oscar Leon (TKO3), and Enrique Colin (KO2).
In 2010, Garcia started his assault on the next level of competition and he didn’t miss a beat with impressive victories over Ashley Theophane (W10) in February and Christopher Fernandez (TKO7) in May.
On July 30th, he took on Jorge Romero in his highly-anticipated debut on Mexican soil and he gave the KO artist a dose of his own medicine as he halted Romero in nine rounds to win the interim WBC youth welterweight title.
But Garcia wasn’t done yet, as he closed the year out on October 8th with a fourth round knockout of former world title challenger Mike Arnaoutis, his biggest win to date.
Garcia stepped back into the ring on February 25, 2011 with a second round knockout of John Figueroa, and on April 9th, he defeated former world champion Nate Campbell with a near shutout 10 round decision win in Las Vegas.
On October 15th, Garcia faced former world champion Kendall Holt in a battle for the number two spot in the IBF and WBC junior welterweight rankings and he scored a huge victory, decisioning Holt over 12 rounds.
The victory earned Garcia a shot at Mexican legend Erik Morales’ WBC 140-pound title on January 28, 2012, and the Philadelphian did not let that opportunity slip by, as he knocked “El Terrible” down in the 11thround en route to a 12 round unanimous decision and his first world championship.
On July 14th, Garcia made the first defense of his title against Amir “King” Khan, and he stunned the boxing world with a fourth round stoppage of the British superstar to improve to 24-0 with 15 KO’s. Then it was off take care of some unfinished business with Erik “El Terrible” Morales in a rematch on October 20 in Brooklyn, and “Swift” did just that with a devastating fourth round knockout of the future Hall of Famer to defend his belts and earn strong consideration for 2012 Fighter of the Year honors.
But as far as Garcia is concerned, 2012 was just the beginning, and on February 9th, he kicked off 2013 with another Brooklyn battle, this one against hometown favorite and former two division champion Zab “Super” Judah. Again, it was Garcia showing his skill and will as he dropped the resurgent Judah in the eighth round en route to a 12 round unanimous decision victory.
On September 14, 2013, on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez card in Las Vegas, Garcia showed his true championship spirit once again with a brilliant performance against feared knockout artist Lucas Martin Matthysse, winning a 12 round unanimous decision that included an 11th round knockdown of the Argentinean star.
Now Garcia, established as one of boxing’s best, pound for pound, will for even bigger game in the coming months and years on his road to greatness.