Danny Garcia shocks Khan to unify WBA and WBC titles

AS VEGAS, Nevada - Agence France-Presse

Danny Garcia (R) lands a right-hand punck to Amir Khan of Great Britain during their WBC/ WBA Super Lightweight title fight. AFP photo

WBC champ Danny Garcia added the WBA light welterweight belt to his collection with a stunning fourth-round upset of Britain’s Amir Khan in a unification title fight here on July 14.

American Garcia scored three knockdowns with the end coming with 32 seconds left in the fourth round when referee Kenny Bayless stopped the bout.

“I have always been overlooked, maybe it is the green eyes and the light skin,” said Garcia. “I look like a pretty boy. But I am a chiller baby and I will fight anybody, anywhere, anyplace.” Garcia, who already had the WBC title, now has 24 wins and no losses. Garcia, of Philadelphia, kept his perfect record intact by surviving the first two rounds before using a devastating left hook late in the third round that caught Khan flush on the right ear.

Garcia said he even surprised himself a little bit with the shot that changed the fight but it was one he worked on with his sparring partners during training camp.

“I knew he was coming in so I slipped down and set up my left hook and just fired it,” Garcia said. “That is the same hook I hit (Erik) Morales with. We practised that in camp.

“I feel great. I always knew I had it in me. I just needed the right fighter in front of me. I feel like the great fighters bring the best out of me and Amir Khan is a great fighter.”

Garcia, 24, was coming off a 12-round unanimous decision over Morales four months ago.
Khan, of Great Britain, suffered just the third loss of his career.

Khan is now the biggest trophy on Garcia’s unblemished record and this win could signal a jump for the American into the welterweight division where such stars as unbeaten Floyd Mayweather and Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao await him.

“I want to fight the best. Whoever is out there,” Garcia said after his remarkable victory.