TENSION RISES AT KHAN-GARCIA PRESS CONFERENCE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 05 Jun 2012
Tension rose at the pre-fight press conference to promote the WBC super lightweight title fight between former WBA/IBF champion Amir ?King? Khan (26-2, 18 KO?s) and reigning, undefeated WBC champion Danny ?Swift? Garcia (23-0, 14 KO?s) ahead of their July 14 clash at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
Garcia?s trainer and father Angel Garcia started the verbal confrontation when he told Khan ?First of all we are having a good camp. Khan is an overrated fighter. When Danny starts hitting you what are you going to do 1-2 and roll out all night? Come on man you?re overrated.? He rubbed it in by stating that ?on July 14 and still undefeated super lightweight champion of the world Danny Garcia.?
The champion was far more subdued compared to his outspoken father. He said ?July 14 it?s going to be a great night, Khan is a great fighter. You haven?t seen the best of me, I want to defend my title and July 14 I am still going to be champion.?
Khan?s camp felt Garcia?s father/trainer was disrespectful and Khan Promotions Asif Vali said ?We will not disrespect our opponents, we are very disappointed Mr. Garcia.?
When he stepped up to the podium Khan, the Athens Olympic Games silver medalist promised that the July 14 title fight will be a good fight and then he looked at Garcia?s father and posed the question, ?When I beat your son, will I still be overrated??
Tensions rose when Angel Garcia butted in as Khan was speaking, prompting a member of Khan?s team to shout, ?Let him talk!? even as Garcia made ?magic carpet ride? remarks to Khan as things got a little heated.
Khan later told Fight News ?I don?t like him he is very disrespectful.?
The British fighter of Pakistani descent wants to re-establish his name after a hugely controversial split decision loss to Lamont Peterson in his hometown of Washington D.C. when the referee deducted a point from Khan in the final round that proved costly.
The rematch set for May 19 had to be called off after Peterson tested positive in the Voluntary Anti Doping body VADA?s drug test weeks before the fight.
Khan who is trained by the celebrated Freddie Roach, said Danny Garcia ?has a dangerous style. Don?t get me wrong, he is tough [but] he has never faced anyone like me. I am the best guy he is facing.?
Garcia is coming off a unanimous decision win over Mexican legend Erik ?Terrible? Morales last March in Houston. He also has big wins over former world champions Kendall Holt last October and a decision win over Nate Campbell.
But Khan is unfazed. He took a dig at Garcia?s father when he told Fight News ?It?s a shame that his father will not be taking the punches that his son is going to suffer for. You can expect an explosive a fight I will go in and win, I will be on my A game I will go in and knock Garcia out.I usually don?t make predictions but I will stop him in the ninth.?
Filipino fight fans will get a chance to see whether Khan will make good on his prediction or whether Garcia will retain his title as he promised when AKTV 13 telecasts the fight on ?Big Time Bakbakan? at 12:00 noon on July 15.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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