by Cliff Rold

Danny Garcia rarely has an easy fight.

He’s never had a losing one.

Winning is the name of the game and, unlike the last two serious opponents he faced, there was little controversy after twelve rounds. One could make a case Robert Guerrero might have done enough to play even on the scorecards. He had the stronger first half in the fight last Saturday. It was Garcia who closed stronger, winning most if not all of the last six rounds.

Now with the WBC belt in his possession, Garcia is fully a factor in the fractured welterweight title picture. Will he look to add another belt before the year is out?

Let’s go the report card.

Grades

Pre-Fight: Speed – Garcia B; Guerrero B/Post: B+; B

Pre-Fight: Power – Garcia B+; Guerrero B/Post: B; B

Pre-Fight: Defense – Garcia B; Guerrero B-/Post: Same

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Garcia B+; Guerrero B/Post: Same

The pre-fight pick anticipated drama down the stretch with Guerrero coming on. In unfolded in the opposite direction with Guerrero getting off early. His slightly longer arms allowed him to get his jab working and he caught Garcia with some sizzling straight lefts. Guerrero also did a good job working his free hand inside and getting to the body.

What Guerrero couldn’t do was get twelve sustained rounds out of his 32-year old body. He never fell apart but his punches lost steam in the second half and he became a target in spots. Garcia, who seemed to be looking for counter opportunities with little work from the jab, started to find the openings as the fight went on.

Garcia caught Guerrero with some flush uppercuts and hooks down the stretch and blasted away in the closing seconds after taking most of the final round off. He landed enough that it made for two observations: Guerrero maintains a pretty solid beard and Garcia’s power might have been a hair overrated since the win over Amir Khan.

While the left hook certainly has mustard, Garcia has only scored three stoppages in eight fights since. Rod Salka doesn’t count for much; neither does the shopworn Erik Morales he saw the second time. Paulie Malignaggi was a methodical beating. Now fighting bigger men, Garcia is likely to see a lot of fights go rounds.

Given his style, they won’t be easy rounds. Rounds won’t be easy for Guerrero going forward either. Guerrero is on the brink of being an opponent, if he isn’t already. Title shots are going to be hard to come by, unless a champion is looking for a name opponent between top contenders. The end is nearer for Guerrero.

For Garcia, a showdown with the winner of the WBA title fight between Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter would be good business, and matchmaking, on the Haymon side of the street. Before he gets there, a rematch with Khan may be in order. Khan is closing in on a mandatory and is in desperate need of a win over a top guy. Khan has played vexed bridesmaid to the superstars for a few years while doing little to make a case in the ring.

Garcia-Khan II would be a fascinating showdown and a welcome sequel after their exciting first clash. It would also be a good payday for both men. Khan could always pursue a potentially bigger payday against fellow Brit Kell Brook for the IBF belt, but could Khan look at Garcia as the potentially more winnable fight?

The answer to that question could determine what’s next.

Garcia continues to look beatable.

No one has figured out how to beat him enough for the judges credit just yet  

Report Card and Staff Picks 2016: 4-1 (Including staff picks for Breazeale-Mansour and Vasquez-Martinez)

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com