Garcia to prove worth against Manny
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 10 Apr 2019
If former WBC welterweight and WBA/WBC superlightweight champion Danny Garcia hopes to hit the jackpot with a fight against WBA welterweight titlist Sen. Manny Pacquiao, he has to win convincingly over US-born Mexican Adrian Granados at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City on April 20.
Las Vegas international matchmaker Sean Gibbons said the other day Garcia and ?super? WBA welterweight ruler Keith Thurman are the leading candidates to be Pacquiao?s next opponent although at the moment, plans are still ?up in the air.? How Garcia performs against Granados could make or break his chances in the sweepstakes.
?We might wait and see what happens with Garcia (against Granados),? said Gibbons. ?The names tossed out there are still Thurman and Garcia. We need to make some decisions soon.? Gibbons said it?s 50-50 that Pacquiao will fight Thurman to unify the WBA 147-pound championship on July 13. Pacquiao?s trainer Buboy Fernandez said earlier that he expects the next fight to be in August or September.
But Gibbons said a July date is ?very possible? and confirmed that talks are ongoing to make it happen. He added that waiting until August or September may be too long. Pacquiao, however, is involved in campaigning for candidates in the May 13 elections and Fernandez himself is running for Vice Mayor in Polangui, Albay. If a July fight is set, Pacquiao and Fernandez will need at least eight weeks to prepare after a US promo tour. The schedule may be too tight to squeeze in a July appointment.
Undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr. appears to be out of the picture with his recent declaration that he?ll stay retired. He was in the country for a visit to Boracay and Manila last week and according to Gibbons, never reached out to Pacquiao. While going down an escalator at a Manila shopping mall, Mayweather heard a woman shout, ?I don?t like you, you?re chicken,? obviously referring to his refusal to engage Pacquiao in a rematch. Mayweather turned to the woman and gave a thumbs-up sign with a smile. He couldn?t care less what people say about him.
Garcia, 31, has a lot to prove against Granados who went the distance in losing to Adrien Broner and WBC welterweight titleholder Shawn Porter. Granados, 29, has a 74-inch wingspan compared to Garcia?s 68 1/2 and could pose a problem because of his length. Five of his six losses were either by split or majority decision and his last two fights were KO wins. His weakness is defense. He went down twice to Mark Salser in 2013, twice to Felix Diaz in 2014 and once to Frankie Gomez in 2011. The quality of his opposition is questionable.
Garcia is a come-forward type of fighter and won?t be afraid to mix it up with Pacquiao. He has lost only twice in his career to Porter and Thurman, both on points. His record is 34-2, with 20 KOs. Garcia became a household name in boxing when he brutalized Erik Morales twice in 2012. Three of his other victims were Lucas Matthysse, Zab Judah and Amir Khan.
Thurman, 30, wears the ?super? WBA welterweight belt while Pacquiao owns the ?regular? WBA version. There?s no significant difference. The WBA likes to recognize as many world champions as possible because the more title fights it sanctions, the more fees it pockets. If Pacquiao and Thurman face off, the winner will be the sole WBA champion so the unification angle makes it a step higher in prestige than a Pacquiao defense against Garcia.
Thurman defeated Garcia by a split decision in 2017 then took a 22-month layoff to heal from an elbow surgery and an injured hand. He returned to survive a few shaky moments in outpointing Josesito Lopez via a majority 12-round verdict in Brooklyn last January. The fighter known as ?One Time? has a 29-0 record, with 22 KOs so whether Pacquiao can put a stain on his pristine record or not is something fans would pay good money for to find out.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Dacullo Edges Cometa in Thriller, Remains GAB Philippine Youth Minimum weight Champion
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 27 Apr 2026SKYE NICOLSON FIRES WARNING TO MARIAH TURNER AS SHE TARGETS HOMECOMING WIN THIS WEDNESDAY IN BID TO LAND UNDISPUTED SHOT
Mon, 27 Apr 2026Salim Ellis-Bey Concludes 2026 World Boxing Cup - Stage 1 with Silver Medal
Mon, 27 Apr 2026IIEE PSME Quezon City wins all matches in PCAP
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 27 Apr 2026Alvin Gayeta Roma leads Mansa Engineering team to the championship of the Oliver Laroya 3x3 (Tatluhan) Rapid Chess Team Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 26 Apr 2026Simona Winkler, Salim Ellis-Bey and Noelle Haro Advance to Medal Rounds At 2026 World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
Sun, 26 Apr 2026Sanman 100 Official Weigh-In Results from General Santos
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Subkhankulov stops Usmonov, Agrba wins hard test, and Aminova claims WBA Asia title at IBA.PRO 17 in Ufa
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Pero vs Miller: Heavies Collide in Prove it fight on DAZN
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 25 Apr 2026Subkhankulov Stops Usmonov in Russia, Claims IBF No. 2 Spot at Lightweight
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Yeow Ming to fight in Bangkok for ABF title
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 25 Apr 2026MILLER VS. PERO - WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION
Sat, 25 Apr 2026IBA Pro Champions Night to feature world champions in Saint Petersburg
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Noelle Haro and Marie Rosendo Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Four of 2026 World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Bautista to face Dulayba at Okada on April 30
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 25 Apr 2026