Fibroso
04-11-2015, 12:02 PM
Garcia - Peterson: A fight so good there's no belt at stake By George Willis
April 10, 2015 | 1:52pm
https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/garciapeterson.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1
Danny Garcia (left) and Lamont Peterson (right), belt-holders at 140 pounds, will fight at a 143-pound catch-weight Saturday night at Barclays Center. Photo: Reuters; Getty Images
It’s not for a title or a belt. Pride and reputation mean more. That’s the cachet at stake Saturday night when Danny Garcia of Philadelphia faces Lamont Peterson of Washington, DC, in a boxing showdown at Barclays Center.
Garcia is the unbeaten WBA and WBC champion at 140 pounds, while Peterson is the IBF title-holder at 140. But instead of a unification bout, they’ll meet at a catch-weight of 143 pounds with no belts at stake. It will serve as the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on NBC. In the opening televised bout, Andy Lee of Ireland will defend his WBO middleweight crown against former champion Peter Quillin, who is based in Brooklyn.
There was disappointment in some boxing circles when it was learned no belts would be at stake in the Garcia-Peterson bout. It’s difficult to evaluate what owning a title means these days with so many weight divisions and different colored belts representing the various sanctioning bodies. Established fighters such as Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) and Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) don’t necessarily need the glitter. It’s more about beating a quality opponent.
“In order for the fight to be done in the time we had for it to be done, that’s the weight we had to fight at,” Garcia said. “At the end of the day, I feel like this is still a fight that the fans want to see. This is still a big fight no matter with the belts or without the belts. Come April 11, I guarantee the media and the fans won’t even be talking about that anymore because the fight will be so good.”
Peterson also has no issues with it being a non-title bout. “He’s considered to be the best guy at the weight class. I just want my shot at that crown — belt or no belt,” Peterson said. “At the end of the day, fans wanted to see the fight.”
Lou DiBella’s DiBella Entertainment will serve as the promoter for NBC’s second installment of their return to prime-time boxing.
“With Mayweather-Pacquiao on the horizon and the introduction of boxing to so many new platforms and networks, getting involved once again, it’s exciting times for boxing, and we’re very happy to be part of it,” DiBella said.
Garcia is building quite a resume since winning his first title on March 23, 2012 with a decision over Erik Morales. He has since beaten Amir Khan, Zab Judha, Lucas matthysse and mauricio herrera. Peterson was stopped in the third round by Matthysee in May 2013, but beat Dierry Jean to capture the IBF crown and stopped Edgar Santana in the 10th round last August.
“Every fight is a different fight,” Garcia said. “Sometimes I go out there, chase them down, and sometimes I have to make adjustments and box my opponent like I boxed Matthysse. I prepare myself in the gym for the worst. If we’ve got to sit there and bang it out for 12 rounds, then you got to bang it out. But if I’ve got to chase him down, then I’ve got to chase him down. I’ve just got to make adjustments like a true champion does.”
April 10, 2015 | 1:52pm
https://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/garciapeterson.jpg?w=720&h=480&crop=1
Danny Garcia (left) and Lamont Peterson (right), belt-holders at 140 pounds, will fight at a 143-pound catch-weight Saturday night at Barclays Center. Photo: Reuters; Getty Images
It’s not for a title or a belt. Pride and reputation mean more. That’s the cachet at stake Saturday night when Danny Garcia of Philadelphia faces Lamont Peterson of Washington, DC, in a boxing showdown at Barclays Center.
Garcia is the unbeaten WBA and WBC champion at 140 pounds, while Peterson is the IBF title-holder at 140. But instead of a unification bout, they’ll meet at a catch-weight of 143 pounds with no belts at stake. It will serve as the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on NBC. In the opening televised bout, Andy Lee of Ireland will defend his WBO middleweight crown against former champion Peter Quillin, who is based in Brooklyn.
There was disappointment in some boxing circles when it was learned no belts would be at stake in the Garcia-Peterson bout. It’s difficult to evaluate what owning a title means these days with so many weight divisions and different colored belts representing the various sanctioning bodies. Established fighters such as Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) and Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) don’t necessarily need the glitter. It’s more about beating a quality opponent.
“In order for the fight to be done in the time we had for it to be done, that’s the weight we had to fight at,” Garcia said. “At the end of the day, I feel like this is still a fight that the fans want to see. This is still a big fight no matter with the belts or without the belts. Come April 11, I guarantee the media and the fans won’t even be talking about that anymore because the fight will be so good.”
Peterson also has no issues with it being a non-title bout. “He’s considered to be the best guy at the weight class. I just want my shot at that crown — belt or no belt,” Peterson said. “At the end of the day, fans wanted to see the fight.”
Lou DiBella’s DiBella Entertainment will serve as the promoter for NBC’s second installment of their return to prime-time boxing.
“With Mayweather-Pacquiao on the horizon and the introduction of boxing to so many new platforms and networks, getting involved once again, it’s exciting times for boxing, and we’re very happy to be part of it,” DiBella said.
Garcia is building quite a resume since winning his first title on March 23, 2012 with a decision over Erik Morales. He has since beaten Amir Khan, Zab Judha, Lucas matthysse and mauricio herrera. Peterson was stopped in the third round by Matthysee in May 2013, but beat Dierry Jean to capture the IBF crown and stopped Edgar Santana in the 10th round last August.
“Every fight is a different fight,” Garcia said. “Sometimes I go out there, chase them down, and sometimes I have to make adjustments and box my opponent like I boxed Matthysse. I prepare myself in the gym for the worst. If we’ve got to sit there and bang it out for 12 rounds, then you got to bang it out. But if I’ve got to chase him down, then I’ve got to chase him down. I’ve just got to make adjustments like a true champion does.”