Danny Garcia is “gift”, no more.

After years of being mocked as ‘gift’ because of winning controversial decisions and fighting lesser known foes, Philly’s Danny “Swift” Garcia stepped up to the plate when he agreed to fight WBA welterweight champion Keith “One Time”” Thurman next year:

https://twitter.com/keithfthurmanjr/status/787000095283695618

Stepping Up to The Plate

WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia has been labeled a cherry picker for fighting lesser known opponents. On Wednesday, that label may have been erased after PBC spokesman Tim Smith told media that Garcia has signed on a deal that would pit him against fellow unbeaten champion Keith Thurman in a title unification bout which could very well be the biggest match-up Al Haymon’s PBC will have ever put up.

Thurman is one of the division most feared punchers with his 27-0, 22 KOs record. One time is coming off a unanimous decision win over former IBF welterweight champion Shawn Porter last June. Prior to his win over Porter, Thurman had five successful title defenses under his belt.

Gifted Not Gift

Danny Garcia burst into the boxing spotlight with back to back wins over Mexican boxing legend Erik Morales. Then the unified 140-pound champion, Garcia sent Morales to permanent retirement in their second bout, knocking out El Terrible in 4 rounds.

He followed up that victory with impressive wins over Zab Judah and Lucas Matthysse. However, controversial wins over Mauricio Herrera and Lamont Peterson plus a fight over the overmatched Rod Salka led to him being called ‘Gift”.

But Garcia is more than that. He’s one of the most gifted fighters in the business with his combination of speed, skill and power. Perhaps he was just looking for the right fight at the right time. A title unification bout with Thurman would be big. In fact, it would be the biggest welterweight match-up since Mayweather-Pacquiao.

Tune-Up Bout

Before these bg names collide though, Danny Garcia will be having a tune-up bout against Samuel Vargas on November 12th. According to PBC spokesman Smith, Garcia is taking the fight in order to keep himself in the best physical and mental state while waiting for the Thurman bout. On the other hand, Thurman isn’t expected to have a tune-up bout.

While IBF Kell Brook and up and rising star Errol Spence entering the picture, boxings welterweight division remains one of its best despite the retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr. The winner of the Thurman-Garcia bout is likely going to be the Alpha Male of the division until he fights either Spence or Brook.