Posted on 07/31/2022
By: Sean Crose
Size didn’t much matter on Saturday night as Jose Benavidez proved to be no match for a smaller and older Danny Garcia. Having been out of the ring for about a year and a half after losing to Errol Spence, there were questions as to how well Garcia would perform now that he was moving up from welterweight to junior middleweight. That questions still may not be answered, but the Philadelphia native was certainly off to a good start on Saturday. From the opening bell the 36-3 former titlist showed that he was simply levels above his 28-1-1 opponent.
It was a strange fight, with the 30 year old Benavidez
appearing supremely confident pretty much throughout that his size and power
would surely bring about Garcia’s demise before the final bell. It simply
didn’t happen, and all the showmanship in the world on the part of the Phoenix
fighter couldn’t change that. Oddly enough, Benavidez appeared fine eating
Garcia’s punches for the first eight rounds while doing little himself. And
when he did punch, he didn’t exactly land effectively all that often. Garcia
had a lot to do with that, of course, but Benavidez’ strategy remained
completely puzzling.
Things finally changed a bit in the ninth round, when
Benavidez began landing well and effectively. Yet Garcia resumed looking sharp
and crisp in the tenth. Again, Philadelphia’s Garcia simply looked to be a
considerably better fighter than the once promising Benavidez. Garcia reminded
people on Saturday just how good a very good fighter can be. Although few would
call Garcia great, he certainly showed how close to the top of the talent
mountain he was – even in his mid thirties. And so the fighter known as
“Swift” slipped punches, outfoxed and outlanded his man for the
remainder of the fight, which, of course, he ended up winning by majority
decision.
“I worked through some anxiety, depression, and I just
tried my best to stay strong,” Garcia said afterward, fighting through
tears while referring to his time away from the ring. “The pressure of
life, the pressure of boxing, being a good dad,” he stated, admitting to
the concerns that have plagued him. As for the future? “I’d like to have a
rematch with Keith Thurman,” he said. Garcia also mentioned Erislandy Lara
as a potential opponent.