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Two-division world champion Danny “Swift Garcia dominated in his tremendous welterweight debut Saturday night time, cruising to a majority determination victory over thrilling contender Jose Benavidez Jr. within the SHOWTIME primary occasion from Barclays Heart in Brooklyn headlining a Premier Boxing Champions occasion. He saved maybe his most expressive second post-fight when he broke down within the ring discussing his struggles with psychological well being with SHOWTIME reporter Jim Grey, displaying the authenticity that has made him such a fan-favorite in Brooklyn.
“I did take a break going via psychological issues, issues went darkish, I went via nervousness, deep melancholy, simply making an attempt to be robust,” stated a visibly emotional Garcia. “It was the strain of life, being a great dad, simply letting it out proper now, as a result of it was all caught inside. It rained on me for a 12 months and a half and the one method to do higher was to combat once more. I’m a fighter. If you happen to battle nervousness and melancholy, you will get out of it, that’s what I did right this moment. I fought.”
Philadelphia’s Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) has develop into a staple at Barclays Heart ever since headlining the world’s first boxing occasion in 2012, and his return on Saturday night time in opposition to Benavidez (27-2-1, 18 KOs), noticed him decide up his seventh victory in Brooklyn.
After runs as a world champion at 147 and 140 kilos, Garcia debuted at 154 kilos after a virtually 20-month layoff. Often called a counterpunching knowledgeable, Garcia went on the assault early and sometimes, focusing on Benavidez’s physique on his method to touchdown a career-high of 153 physique photographs in accordance with CompuBox. Garcia’s superior hand and foot velocity left Benavidez trailing him for a lot of the night time, trying to land proper fingers over Garcia’s vaunted left hook.
Benavidez greatest second got here in spherical 9 when he related on a kind of proper fingers and popped Garcia’s head again, however he was unable to capitalize on the assault sufficient to alter the trajectory of the combat.
“I’m pleased with my efficiency,” stated Benavidez. “I really feel like I did good. I’m preventing in his yard, top-of-the-line, I took his punches like they have been nothing. I believed I received the combat. However it’s what it’s, a loss makes you stronger.
“It’s powerful, issues don’t all the time go your method, there are ups and downs. I attempt to be optimistic, like when the physician stated I’d by no means stroll once more. I didn’t let that get to me. I saved on going.”
Total Garcia ran up a 233 to 117 edge in punches landed and owned a 31% join price in comparison with Benavidez’s 20%. After 12 rounds, Garcia had achieved sufficient to earn the choice by scores of 117-11, 116-112 and a shocking 114-114. After the combat, Garcia credited his father and coach Angel Garcia with staying by his aspect all through his battle with nervousness and melancholy.
“Angel was there with me the entire method,” stated Garcia. “I’m nothing with out this man. I thank him on daily basis. Individuals ask me on a regular basis, why do I combat? I make some huge cash. Why does Warren Buffett nonetheless earn a living? I’m a fighter. That is what I do, what I like to do.”
Garcia additionally added two intriguing potential future opponents he want to face.
“I’d just like the rematch with Keith Thurman, he took my ‘0,’” stated Garcia. “I’ll additionally take [WBA Middleweight Champion] Erislandy Lara for the middleweight title at 154 kilos.”
Within the co-main occasion, Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen (17-1, 12 KOs) scored a career-best victory through a unanimous determination (97-93 twice, 96-94) over Polish star and Brooklyn fan-favorite Adam Kownacki (20-3, 15 KOs) after 10 rounds of heavyweight motion.
“I really love preventing within the U.S. and I like New York so I stated earlier than you will note me extra,” stated Demirezen. “I used to be nervous as a result of he’s a robust fighter and I might have been significantly better, nevertheless it’s my first time right here and he’d fought right here earlier than.”
In his eleventh combat at Barclays Heart, Kownacki rode the urging of his hometown followers to a quick begin as he focused Demirezen’s physique regularly in spherical one. Because the bout progressed, Demirezen flipped the script and ended up being the extra aggressive fighter, throwing 915 punches to Kownacki’s 851, whereas touchdown 239 energy punches in comparison with Kownacki’s 186.
After back-to-back losses to Robert Helenius, Kownacki had hoped to return to the win column and again to his standing amongst the heavyweight contenders, however was turned again by the decided Demirezen, who stopped Gerald Washington in January.
“I’m a bit rusty, I believe he was getting off first within the exchanges, I didn’t’ sit down as a lot, I believe the rust performed a component, being out so lengthy,” stated Kownacki. “I used to be out of the ring since final October, camp was good however I don’t know, I used to be letting him get off first, I wasn’t transferring my ft. I went again to the previous me as a substitute of the primary few rounds once I was doing good.
“I’ve two youngsters, I’ll have an extended speak with my spouse to see what I wish to do. I’ve had so many fights right here, so many nice reminiscences, I don’t wish to exit like a loser. I would love one other combat to go away my followers with a win.”
In spherical 10, Kownacki, with blood dripping from his left eye, once more was in a position to convey his legion of followers to their ft as he put collectively a brave effort in rocking Demirezen with a proper hand, forcing Demirezen to briefly combat on his again foot. Nonetheless, Demirezen recovered to win the spherical, and sweep the final two rounds on all three playing cards to clinch the victory.
“I promised everybody a battle, and that’s what the individuals obtained,” stated Demirezen. “I beat him in his hometown. I wish to be an inspiration and a job mannequin for Turkish children that have been watching this combat. I hope I made them proud.”
Within the telecast opener, unbeaten rising star Gary Antuanne Russell (16-0, 16 KOs) delivered a sixth-round TKO (:50) over former two-division Rances Barthelemy (29-2-1, 15 KOs) of their tremendous light-weight conflict to maintain his good knockout streak intact. Russell landed a clear leaping proper hook that dropped Barthelemy early within the spherical, and whereas Barthelemy was in a position to get to his ft, referee Shada Murdaugh waived off the motion, drawing boisterous complaints from Barthelemy, his nook and the gang in attendance. (Watch video spotlight HERE)
“I do know Rances is a high-grade, class athlete and he wished to proceed,” stated Russell, who revealed submit combat that he harm his left hand within the fifth spherical. “Feelings have been excessive. Whether or not we’re bruised or overwhelmed, as a warrior, you all the time wish to proceed however the referee was doing his job and if he was allowed to proceed it could have been the identical consequence. I’d have gotten him.
“Within the sixth spherical I had him backing up. I knew he was searching for his proper cross and I caught him backing up and I shot my hook and put him down, he was buzzed however he wished to maintain going. He’s a warrior.”
“That is probably the most bitter lack of my profession,” stated Barthelemy. “I’m destroyed. Don’t get me fallacious, this wasn’t Russell’s fault in any respect. I’m a veteran, and I had been via one thing like that loads of instances in my profession. The referee handled me like a rookie as a substitute of the two-time world champion I’m.”
The bout featured intriguing motion from two expert southpaws, as Russell and Barthelemy went toe-to-toe in a compelling spherical one which noticed each males throw over 60 punches and every eat massive photographs. Because the motion progressed, Barthelemy was capable of finding success countering the hard-charging Russell, who dictated a lot of the combat’s tempo.
The fighters threw inside 5 whole punches of one another per spherical throughout the bout, together with combining to throw 361 energy punches out of 515 whole thrown. Barthelemy expressed his displeasure with the referee’s determination post-fight and staked his declare to a rematch in opposition to Russell. On the time of the stoppage, the rating totals have been 49-46 twice and 48-47 in favor of Russell.
“No, they shouldn’t have stopped it,” stated Barthelemy. “I felt good. It was a great shot, I’m not denying that, however they shouldn’t have stopped it. I obtained up and advised him I used to be advantageous and good to go. After all I need the rematch with a special referee.”
Preventing for the primary time for the reason that passing of his father and lifelong coach Gary Sr., Russell was led in his nook by his brother and former WBC Featherweight World Champion Gary Russell Jr., as he appears to be like to proceed his ascent within the 140-pound division.
“I wish to inform my father up above I did it for him, we’re going to maintain it going for pops,” stated Russell. “That is one thing my dad instilled in us, it doesn’t matter what you undergo in life and dying, two issues are inevitable, he raised us to be males and well-rounded males. Being thorough means to be ready, and he ready us for boxing and for all times outdoors of boxing. I thank my father and I did what I needed to do.”
In reside streaming motion previous to the telecast, SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN noticed prime middleweight contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko (14-4, 10 KOs) cruise to a unanimous determination over Joshua Conley (17-4-1, 11 KOs) by scores of 99-91 twice and 98-92 after 10 rounds.
Bouts streamed reside on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Fb web page additionally featured thrilling rising prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. (12-1, 8 KOs) incomes a sixth-round stoppage over Jimmy Williams (18-9-2, 6 KOs) of their tremendous welterweight bout. The 20-year-old Mielnicki battered his opponent all through the body till Williams’ nook stopped the combat 2:12 into the spherical. (Watch video spotlight HERE)
The occasion was promoted by TGB Promotions and DSG Promotions.
Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® telecast will replay Sunday, July 31 at 9 a.m. on SHOWTIME EXTREME® and Monday, August 1 at 10 p.m. on SHOWTIME EXTREME.
Veteran sportscaster Brian Custer hosted the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast whereas versatile fight sports activities voice Mauro Ranallo dealt with blow-by-blow motion alongside Corridor of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. Three Corridor of Famers rounded out the telecast crew – Emmy® award profitable reporter Jim Grey, world-renowned ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. and boxing historian Steve Farhood as unofficial scorer. The chief producer was four-time Emmy award winner David Dinkins, Jr. with Ray Smaltz III producing and Bob Dunphy directing. Former junior middleweight world champion and SHOBOX: The New Technology commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez and sportscaster Alejandro Luna served as knowledgeable analysts in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP). Veteran fight sports activities reporter Luke Thomas of MORNING KOMBAT, Marquez and star Philadelphia natives Jaron “Boots” Ennis and unified 122-pound world champion Stephen Fulton Jr. referred to as the reside streamed bouts.
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