Danny Garcia is now one step closer towards fighting for another world title.
In the main event of a Showtime-televised card from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Garcia outperformed Ivan Redkach throughout 12 rounds to win his second straight fight. Garcia was way ahead on the scorecards, winning the bout by unanimous decision with scores of (118-110, 117-111, 117-111).
From the start, Garcia was able to slow down Redkach's usual fast pace of action, not allowing him to string together any big combinations. Garcia was also able to land multiple timely left hands to Redkach and even briefly hurt him on a couple of occasions. Dealing with a cut for the second half of the fight, Redkach was barely able to make any lasting impact on the fight or on the scorecards, but was willing to trade with the former world champion at times.
.@DannySwift's counter punching on full display tonight#GarciaRedkach pic.twitter.com/AzBYFJA2iK
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 26, 2020
.@DannySwift connects and draws blood. #GarciaRedkach pic.twitter.com/dRscGiasA6
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 26, 2020
Tongues out, guns out. #GarciaRedkach pic.twitter.com/YK00F2N8xK
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 26, 2020
Garcia is in the welterweight title mix and was planned to be Errol Spence Jr.'s next opponent, but that all changed when Spence had his car accident last year. With the win, Garcia still stands a chance to have a fight against Spence, the WBC and IBF champion, or possibly against WBA champion Manny Pacquiao next.
The co-main event saw the return of former unified junior middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd as he fights for the first time since May 2019. Hurd had a relatively easy time taking care of business facing Francisco Santana, winning the bout by a wide unanimous decision (97-92, 99-90, 99-90).
Hurd used his mobility, height and reach advantage to easily overpower Santana, who wasn't able to land anything big that hurt Hurd. In the closing seconds of the fight, Hurd managed to score a knockdown against Santana, cementing the victory. This was Hurd's first fight since he lose his WBA and IBF junior middleweight world titles against Julian Williams.
.@Swift_JHurd sends Francisco Santana to the canvas as the 10th and final round comes to a close. #HurdSantana pic.twitter.com/8GQtHJyHAr
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 26, 2020
Unanimous decision by @Swift_JHurd highlighted by his knockdown of Santana in the final round. #HurdSantana pic.twitter.com/xeNAaEGm7R
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 26, 2020
A battle of unbeaten rising contenders opened the main card with Stephen Fulton taking on Arnold Khegai. Fulton utilized his jab extremely well keeping Khegai from being able to get into a rhythm for more than one round at a time. Fulton ended up outboxing Khegai the bout, winning by unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 117-111) to capture the WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight title. With the win, Fulton moves one step closer towards challenging for a world title at 122 pounds.
