Danny Garcia Becomes New WBC Welterweight Champ With Win Over Robert Guerrero [Highlights]
Danny Garcia became the new World Boxing Council welterweight champion after escaping with a unanimous decision win against Robert Guerrero on Saturday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Garcia, whose parents are from Puerto Rico, had a slow start, as Guerrero implemented his fight plan effectively. Guerrero landed big punches in the early rounds of the match, inflicting damage below his opponent's right eye and preventing Garcia from connecting.
However, Guerrero failed to sustain his momentum as Garcia figured things out from the sixth round of the match until the final bell sounded. Guerrero launched a furious attack in the final round but it was not enough to knock Garcia out or overcome the deficit. All three judges scored the bout 116-113, ESPN reported.
Garcia, who improved his record to 32-0, said that after the match that he expected to win eight or nine rounds but also admitted that he had a hard time dealing with Guerrero, who was tagged as a heavy underdog before the match. In fact, most analysts were expecting a knockout win for Garcia.
"I'm back where I belong. I am now a two-division world champion," Garcia, who is a former junior welterweight world champion, said via BoxingScene. "Guerrero is tough. No one has ever stopped him. He came to fight. He was in shape. I'm taking nothing away from him. I am glad it went the way it went."
While Garcia declared that he clearly won the fight, Guerrero felt that he was robbed of a victory. The 32-year-old American of Mexican descent said that boxing fans are also convinced that he won the fight and reiterated that he wants a rematch soon.
"Not one person out there thought Danny won but his team," Garcia said via ESPN. "I pressured him, I nailed him, busted his body up. I out-jabbed him. I thought I won the fight. The crowd thought I won the fight. It was a great fight. I am happy, I'm healthy. I will be back. I thought I won the fight, and I definitely want a rematch."
Trainer Ruben Guerrero also felt that his son clearly won the fight, saying that Garcia kept running and holding for the entire match. The elder Guerrero also wants a rematch but they will have to wait for another chance since Garcia will likely defend his WBC welterweight title against Amir Khan, who is the mandatory challenger to the crown.
Watch the highlights of the Garcia-Guerrero world title fight below.
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