LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 14: Danny Garcia punches WBA middleweight world champion Erislandy Lara during the fifth round of a title fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
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Danny Garcia was one of the best fighters at junior welterweight in the 2010s, and though he hasn’t had quite as much success whenever he’s weighed more than 140 pounds for a fight, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate Garcia’s career. And if his matchup vs. Daniel Gonzalez on Saturday night is, in fact, Garcia’s final fight, he deserves to draw a huge crowd to Barclays Center to say goodbye to a potential Hall of Fame career. Here’s everything you need to know about Danny Garcia vs. Daniel Gonzalez, including the odds, their records and a prediction on who will win.
Garcia has only fought once in the past three years, and he’s only scored one win since 2020. He now says Saturday’s fight will be the final act of his 18-year, 41-fight career. And he wants to go out with an impressive third act.
“This feels like the ending of my movie,” he said. “We’ve got to end it with a win.”
Garcia faced and beat many of the best at 140 pounds 10-15 years ago, and even though he wasn’t quite as successful in the ring when he moved to welterweight, he still fought the best at 147 pounds and often made life in the ring with his opponents awfully difficult. He moved up to 154 pounds to try to beat Erislandy Lara for his world title 13 months ago, but he didn’t look good.
As Boxing Scene wrote at the time, “There comes a time in many boxers’ lives when, one day, they enter the ring and find, to their surprise and dismay, that they just ‘don’t have it.’ And for Garcia – competing 20 pounds above his most successful weight, after stepping into the ring just once since 2020 – this may well have been that night.”
Garcia, though, said he feels different now.
“I feel rejuvenated. This feels more like it’s my first fight than my last. I’m ready to go in there and do my thing,” he said. “Gonzalez is hungry. He’s got everything to gain, and I’ve got everything to lose. I have to train myself like I’m fighting for a world title. That’s how I always train. I’m sparring the young hungry lions who are trying to beat me up.”
Gonzalez is mostly unknown, and he’s never fought at 154 pounds. Heck, he’s only fought above 140 pounds four times. With a KO percentage of only 27%, there’s virtually no chance he can hurt Garcia, who has had a standout chin even when he’s facing power-punching boxers. Still, Gonzalez said he’s going to out-tough Garcia.
“It’s all about hard work,” Gonzalez said. “I’m the hungrier fighter, and that’s going to be the difference. I’m coming to win. I’m on a streak, and I’m going to keep winning.
“Danny has no power left in him. I’m going to bring the dog to the fight, and we’re going to see who’s got the bigger dog.”
Here’s more info on the Danny Garcia vs. Daniel Gonzalez showdown that U.S. viewers can watch on MILLIONS.co PPV for $39.99 beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.
BROOKLYN, NY – SEPTEMBER 08: Shawn Porter ( green trunks ) defeats Danny Garcia ( yellow pattern trunks ) by Unanimous Decision in their WBC Welterweight Title fight at Barclays Center on September 8, 2018 in Brooklyn. (Photo by Bill Tompkins/Getty Images)
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Danny Garcia vs. Daniel Gonzalez odds
Though Garcia is the sizable betting favorite at -575 (bet $575 on a $100 wager), I’m a little surprised that the odds are that wide (I would’ve predicted something like -800 or -900). Gonzalez, meanwhile is the +400 underdog (win $400 on a $100 bet). You could actually find some value in Garcia’s money line, but I’d rather put money on the -140 line for Garcia to win by decision (he’s also +210 to win by stoppage). If you like Gonzalez, I’d go with him to win by decision at +650.
Danny Garcia vs. Daniel Gonzalez records
Though he hasn’t had a truly impressive win since stopping Brandon Rios in 2018, Garcia (37-4, 21 KOs) is a borderline Hall of Famer because he has quite a few nice victories. Those include Lucas Matthysse, Erik Morales twice, Amir Khan, Zab Judah and Lamont Peterson. Garcia is coming off an unimpressive loss to Erislandy Lara 13 months ago, and he’s also fallen to Errol Spence, Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter.
The only notable opponent on Gonzalez’s record is a somewhat close unanimous decision loss to former junior welterweight world titlist Chris Algieri in 2019. Otherwise, Gonzalez (22-4-1, 7 KOs) hasn’t faced anybody of note, unless you count Petros Ananyan (who Gonzalez lost to in 2021).
Danny Garcia vs. Daniel Gonzalez prediction
Garcia is going to end his career with a solid victory and a nice performance in front of what should be an appreciative crowd. Say, Garcia by decision, somewhere in the 98-92 range.