At times, even during the middle of a conversation, Danny Garcia stops what he’s doing and smiles. Some may view it as strange behavior but there’s a reason behind it.
Garcia didn’t come from much. Sure he was the top-rated amateur back a few decades ago and of course, he walks around nowadays in fancy clothes while getting in and out of luxurious vehicles but there was once a time when he barely got by.
He can still hear the creaky floors in his childhood home. He can also taste the homemade sandwiches he used to make. They weren’t always the best, but his stomach no longer growled in the middle of the night.
Nowadays, Garcia lives an entirely different lifestyle. The Philly native thoroughly enjoys the fruits of his labor. If he wanted, he could walk away from the game today. His legacy is secured, his money isn’t drying up anytime soon, and most importantly, he’s healthy.
But while the thought of hanging up his gloves does cross his mind from time to time, until he regains a specific euphoric feeling, Garcia refuses to do so.
“I wouldn’t say that I’m thinking about retirement but I wanna be healthy when I leave,” said Garcia recently on Fight Hub TV. “And I want to be a champion.”
That last piece of information is the most salient. It’s been over six years since Garcia has been able to wrap any sort of championship gold around his waist. He’s had a few cracks to regain that status but losses to Shawn Porter and Errol Spence Jr. ensured that his hopes and dreams weren’t fulfilled.
These days, Garcia fights less and less, making it arduous for him to grab another trinket before he hangs ‘em up. Still, even with a meager schedule, Garcia is attempting to line up a fight against current WBA middleweight titlist, Erislandy Lara.
Regaining that championship feel is near the very top of Garcia’s list but taking care of business against Lara would be a bit special. If he did push past the Cuban, Garcia would become a three-division champion.
Making mention of that is prudent for Garcia. Facing the veteran champion, of course, isn’t a walk in the park but even with the dangers that lie ahead, the now 35-year-old is impetuous. Simply put, the risk is great but the reward is greater.
“I wanna be a three-division champion. Two is good but three is a whole different legacy. That’s why I want this Lara fight. It’s the fastest way for me.”