Danny Garcia leaves Granados three times, beats him for TKO

By Gilbert Manzano

CARSON, Calif. – Danny Garcia made a statement Saturday by doing something that 28 boxers could not do against brawler Adrian Granados.

Garcia regained the welterweight title by stopping Granados in seven rounds at the main PBC event on FOX card at Dignity Health Sports Park. It was the first defeat in the round of 16 of Granados.

The fighter known as "Swift" made a U-turn in the second round by unleashing Granados with a devastating left hook that recalled his knockout against Amir Khan in 2012. Garcia left Granados a second time in the round with a right in full swing. hand, similar to the one he delivered against Brandon Rios last year. A third reversal took place in the fifth round.

Referee Thomas Taylor put an end to the one-sided affair at 1:33 of the seventh round.

In the first round, Garcia took a left hook shot to catch the crowd's attention. Garcia was scored several times in the first run, but he set the tone early with his powerful shot.

"I have already said, when Danny Garcia is at his best, no one can beat him," said Garcia, who improved his record to 35-2 with 21 knockouts. "I was a little comfortable in the past, but I put my 110% in this fight, and when I do it, I beat everyone."

Garcia became agitated earlier this month when Granados called him just another opponent. The former two-division champion proved that he was well over with the dominant win.

Now, Garcia wants to return to fight the best welterweight. He called the future Hall of Fame member Manny Pacquiao, who needs an opponent.

"I hope I did not scare Manny Pacquiao," said Garcia, "I'd like a rematch with Shawn Porter or Keith Thurman, or a fight with Errol Spence Jr. I'm back." "

Garcia made a name for himself in the junior welterweights by winning victories against Erik Morales, Khan, Zab Judah and Lucas Matthysse, an impressive resume that placed Garcia in the top 10 books of the expert pound. But among the welterweight, the native of Philadelphia struggles since his rise in 2015.

In his biggest welterweight fights, Garcia fell to Thurman and Porter. With Saturday's win, Garcia should not be far from the next title.

"We worked harder and worked smarter at the training camp," Garcia said earlier this week. "My body is bigger and stronger now, I have become a real welterweight, I feel good."

Garcia, who fought in southern California for the first time since winning the WBC welterweight title against Robert Guerrero in 2016, said this week he would consider a fight with Terence Crawford, a non-PBC fighter. residing in Bob Arum's Top Rank.

The fight would be hard to do, but as Garcia risked being ruled out of the PBC welterweight category, his Al Haymon advisor could be open if the money is fair. According to sources, Thurman met Pacquiao in July and Porter in front of Spence in September.

The 147-pound division is arguably the most competitive in boxing right now. With the dominating performance of Garcia on Saturday, he will have plenty of options for his next fight.

As for Granados, it was perhaps his last opportunity to prove that he was more than a guardian. The Chicago native now has notable losses to Garcia, Porter and Adrien Broner.

"I had to make a statement and knock him out," Garcia said. "I had to be the first man to stop it and I did it."