BROOKLYN, NY — Barclays Center in Brooklyn has a history with two-division champion Danny Garcia. He sold out and set a gross record in a thrilling fight with Keith Thurman as fans from Philadelphia followed his journey as an elite champion and traveled up the turnpike to Brooklyn.
That was then and this is now, the old slogan in boxing. Garcia has not been in the ring often, 37 years of age and failing recently to take the WBA middleweight title from Cuban Erislandy Lara. Then, even with a loss, it was Garcia who built a legacy and certain to be an eventual inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Now a promoter with “Swift Promotions,” Garcia has emphasized building youngsters to also become champions and various events have been successful in Philadelphia. But as is the case with every fighter who says they took enough punches, Garcia wasn’t done.
In what was billed as “Farewell to Brooklyn,” Danny Garcia defeated Danny Gonzalez via a fourth round knockout Saturday night at the Barclays Center – Image Credit: Ed Diller/Swift Promotions
Saturday evening at the Barclays Center, it was vintage Danny Garcia, again this was not a homecoming but his farewell to Brooklyn and a career. His promotion staged a 14-bout fight card, of course Garcia was the main event and had that successful farewell.
Or was it the last time? Garcia was the highlight, though Barclays this time was not to capacity, a rarity in his previous fights at the venue. The crowd lacked that buzz of a Danny Garcia entrance. They roared through with one punch that knocked out Danny Gonzalez (22-5-1, 7 KOs) at 0:45 of the fourth round.
A fight at junior middleweight scheduled for 10-rounds, quick and vintage for Garcia. Again, though the left hook reminded many of the success he had in Brooklyn, Garcia (38-4, 22 KO’s) raised his hand in victory. Was this a farewell?
Danny Garcia speaking to the Barclays Center crowd Saturday night after his fourth-round KO – Image Credit: Ed Diller/Swift Promotions
“It’s a high chance, yeah,” Garcia said in the ring when asked if this wasn’t the last time. “At the end of the day, I’m healthy and I’ve got a beautiful family. I don’t know if I’m done yet.”
And that comment of not being done? That was expected after most not knowing what Garcia would deliver. Then again, fighters who say farewell and come out with an impressive win tend to not want their journey to end. It’s happened once, perhaps more than we expect.
But hand it to Garcia, emotional with his family surrounding him including his father Angel who has always been his trainer and cornerman. Garcia was content with this supposed farewell win, also looking like a champion, though Gonzalez was supposed to be a challenge and determined enough to say he would be the last opponent to send Garcia home.
Danny Garcia stuck to his game plan on Saturday night, working behind the jab and finding the right time to strike – Image Credit: Ed Diller/Swift Promotions
“I was just taking it round by round,” Garcia said. “I didn’t underestimate him. He was in great shape. My dad told me to just stick to the game plan. I know I hurt him in round one, but my timing was a little off. So I decided to work behind my jab and I knew when he stopped his feet I was gonna catch him.”
However the former unified welterweight champion wanted this to be his 10th and final bout at Barclays. Garcia was in command, used an effective overhand right and in the third round, it was constant punches that took a toll on Gonzalez.
Danny Garcia’s knockout on Danny Gonzalez Saturday night in the fourth round of their main event bout at the Barclays Center – Image Credit: Ed Diller/Swift Promotions
Even those who had doubt that Garcia would be successful exited Barclays with the same question. Was this the farewell? The buzz and answer came from Garcia, though going further in a talented and competitive junior middleweight division would be a tough road to climb in seeking another title opportunity.
Garcia said, “I’ve done a lot in my career and this is a great way to end it all.”
But was this the end?
SOME HIGHLIGHTS: Gabriel Rosado (28-17-1, 16 K0s) returned and won a unanimous eight-round decision super middleweight bout besting Vaughn Alexander (19-7-2, 12 K0’s). There was never any doubt on the scorecards of 80-72, and 79-73, twice.
Rosado, also from Philadelphia, has been aiming at meeting Edgar Berlanga in the ring, the super middleweight in Puerto Rico. Berlanga went the distance and lost to Canelo Alvarez last year.
Gabriel Rosado took home the victory Saturday night in Brooklyn against Vaughn Alexander as all three scorecards were in his favor at 80-72 and 79-73, twice – Image Credit: Ed Diller/Swift Promotions
“It was good to shake off the rust and get back out there tonight,” said Rosado. “It wasn’t my best performance but I focused on the fundamentals all training camp and took that into the ring. I’ll take some time to decide what’s next. Just wanted to use my strengths and control the fight from start to finish.”
And featherweight prospect Keith Colon (8-0, 8 KOs) in his third fight this year dropped and stopped previously undefeated David Calabro (5-1, 3 KOs) at 2:26 into the third round. Colon, of Newark, New Jersey, said he intends to fight again in December of 2025.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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