I have covered Danny Garcia for many years and last night he proved yet again what I have always said.
Danny is one of the toughest fighters in boxing.
Last night he showed that with his dominating win in his super welterweight debut against Jose Benavidez Jr.
Announced as a majority decision win, the contest was actually a unanimous victory for those who watched the fight; obviously, judge Waleska Roldan missed it as she scored it 114-114.
But it was a triumphant victory for Garcia (37-3) who returned to the ring for the first time since losing to Errol Spence Jr. almost two years ago.
After the decision, Danny revealed news of his own.
He had been battling mental health issues during his absence from the ring.
‘I was going through some mental things. I felt a little dark,” said Garcia, who then broke into tears as the Brooklyn crowd voiced their strong support for the Philly fighter. “I went through some anxiety and depression and I did my best to stray strong.”
It was a shocking disclosure from one of the toughest fighters in the game, one whom I have never seen hit the canvas.
Yet many athletes are revealing that they do, in fact, deal with challenges internally that take them to a dark place.
But fighting through those mental health obstacles proves their strength also exists outside of the field of play, and Danny proved that last night.
Not only did he move up from 147lbs. to 154lbs. to fight Benavidez Jr., but he also fought the demons that took him to that dark place and ultimately returned to the ring successfully.
It’s a fight that continues, Garcia later revealed. But it’s one he’s using boxing to help address.
“I still battle some days,” said an emotional Garcia. “I do battle some days. I have some dark days, but I try my best to stay positive.
“But I feel good now,” he added.
Danny Garcia has been a world champion at 140lbs and 147lbs, and he has had some of his toughest fights in front of the Brooklyn crowd at Barclays.
Those fights include Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman, the latter who he stated he wanted a rematch with.
“I’d like the rematch with Keith Thurman, he took my ‘0,’” said Garcia. “I’ll also take [WBA Middleweight Champion] Erislandy Lara for the middleweight title at 154 pounds.”
Danny looked sharp last night at 154lbs, the added weight not detracting from his talents.
But we all learned that mental health issues had detracted from his well-being, and from what he said and the manner in which he broke down, he suffered greatly during the last 20 months.
Yet he returned to the gym, and ultimately to the ring, and bravely faced the demons that tormented him.
Last night, boxing and the Brooklyn crowd, the latter unknowingly, help pull him through both fights and he emerged victorious.
As we said, Danny Garcia has always been one of the toughest fighters in the sport.
Last night, he proved it again with two fights and two victories.
