Brooklyn Boro

Garcia moving on up after narrow win in Brooklyn

Edges Peterson to Improve to 4-0 as Barclays Center Headliner

April 15, 2015 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Unbeaten Danny Garcia improved to 4-0 at Downtown’s Barclays Center with a majority decision over Lamont Peterson last Saturday night. Photo courtesy of Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions
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Danny “Swift” Garcia maintained his perfect record in the ring, and at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center last Saturday night with a majority decision over Lamont Peterson in front of more than 12,000 pro boxing enthusiasts.

He also realized that he has to move up in weight class, most likely into the 147-pound range, if he hopes to continue ascending the ranks as one of boxing’s best fighters and major attractions.

“I feel like I have to go up [in weight],” Garcia admitted after improving to 30-0 overall and 4-0 in Downtown’s home for pugilism with a tight and somewhat controversial 115-113, 115-113, 114-114 decision over Peterson (33-3-1).

“It’s affecting my performance, but I feel like I did a great job.”

A great job may be overstating it, but Garcia did just enough, at least in the judges’ estimation, to continue rolling through his pro career with an all-important “0” in the loss column.

His thus-far perfect slate, coupled with a desire to take on heavier and more-notable opponents, may put him in line to take on the best the sport has to offer, including, of course, Floyd Mayweather and/or Manny Pacquiao, should either continue fighting after their epic May 2 encounter.

Saturday’s headline bout featured plenty of movement from Peterson, and stalking by Garcia, who landed the more effective blows, but didn’t exactly dominate in front of a national television audience on NBC’s new Premier Boxing Champions series.

In fact, it wasn’t until the 12th and final round that Garcia and Peterson truly engaged in a heated battle, both likely realizing that they needed to win the final three minutes to escape the ring with a victory.

“I feel great. I prepared for a war,” Garcia noted. “[Peterson] was moving a lot. I thought it was close, not going to lie. It was definitely close the whole way through. I did enough to win and I’m happy with my performance.”

“I did my part,” added Peterson. “I’m not calling [the majority decision] a robbery, but it was a good fight. I don’t expect an easy journey for me to get where I’m going. I feel great. That’s probably the least contact I’ve ever had in a fight.”

Fighting at a catch-weight of 143 pounds, Garcia has pointed out in recent interviews that it is no longer possible for him to be at his best while training down to 140, a class he mastered over his first 30-plus bouts.

In two of his last three fights, including another disputed majority decision win over Mauricio Herrera in Puerto Rico in March of 2014, Garcia has not been overly impressive.

His belief that a shift up in weight class will bring better performances, and doubtlessly more lucrative opportunities, is something the Philadelphia native will have to prove over the next several years.

In the co-feature, New York native Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (31-0-1) earned a draw with “Irish” Andy Lee (34-2-1) in the most entertaining bout of the 11th pro boxing card at Barclays.

Quillin, looking to grab Lee’s middleweight belt in the borough in which he trains, scored a first-round knockdown and another in the third. But he was sent to the canvas by Lee in the seventh, and the two went blow-for-blow throughout the 12-round affair.

The final tally had the brawlers dead even, with each earning a 113-112 and the decisive card coming in at 113-113.

“There’s a reason why judges are judges. They see it their way. I respect the decision,” said Quillin, who was knocked down for the first time as a pro by the game and resilient Lee. “There’s a first time for everything. I’m very thankful that I was able to get back up and keep fighting. I took a year off and I was able to go 12-rounds and I could have kept going.”

“It was a tough fight,” noted Lee. “He dropped me early because I was being lazy. I got my momentum late in the fight and I boxed consistently. I understand why with two knockdowns people felt he won the decision. I could have done better tonight.”

Staten Island’s Marcus Browne, making his eighth appearance at Barclays, forced a sixth-round stoppage of Aaron Pryor Jr., son of the legendary lightweight champion, in an earlier bout.

The light-heavyweight contender and former U.S. Olympian improved his career mark to a perfect 14-0.

“It wasn’t the prettiest fight, but I had to get rugged with him,” said Browne. “I had it on my mind to stop him a little earlier. I guess I was pushing for it a little bit too much.”

Brooklyn native Luis Collazo (36-6), coming off a tough loss to Amir Khan last May, returned with a vengeance Saturday night, scoring a second-round TKO of Christopher Degollado.

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