Danny Garcia Aims for Storybook Ending in Farewell Bout at Barclays Center

In a sport notoriously resistant to fairytale endings, former two-division world champion Danny "Swift" Garcia is set to defy convention as he approaches the final chapter of his illustrious 18-year boxing career. Garcia (37-4, 21 KOs) will headline a card at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday, seeking to orchestrate his own farewell victory as both promoter and main event participant.

The bout, scheduled for 10 rounds in the junior middleweight division, will pit Garcia against Daniel Gonzalez (22-4-1, 7 KOs), a 35-year-old Queens native. The fight card will be broadcast as a pay-per-view event on Millions.co, with promotion handled by Garcia’s own Swift Promotions.

Garcia’s choice of venue carries significant weight. Nearly 13 years prior, he played a pivotal role in inaugurating boxing at the Barclays Center, securing a fourth-round knockout victory over Hall of Famer Erik Morales in their rematch. His return to Brooklyn marks his tenth appearance at the arena, a testament to his enduring connection with the city and its boxing fans.

"Not many fighters can say they have a home where they can go back to and fight, but Brooklyn adopted me," Garcia stated in a recent interview. "I have built a great legacy at the Barclays Center. This is my tenth fight there, and I always told everybody I want to go out like a boss. I want to go out promoting my own fight, having my own fighters on the undercard, and, obviously, going out with my hand raised."

The event presents Garcia with the opportunity to improve his record at the Barclays Center, where he currently holds a 7-2 ledger. Notable victories at the venue include triumphs over Zab Judah, Lamont Peterson, and Paulie Malignaggi. Garcia also experienced narrow defeats in two high-profile welterweight title fights at the arena, against Keith Thurman in 2017 (a bout broadcast live on CBS) and Shawn Porter.

Over the past decade, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) has consistently featured marquee names at the Barclays Center, from Adrien Broner and Deontay Wilder to Gervonta "Tank" Davis. However, Garcia’s appearances have consistently generated a unique atmosphere, characterized by fervent fan support and high levels of excitement.

"I definitely feel like the atmosphere is different when I fight there," Garcia remarked. "There is nothing like a Danny Garcia show at the Barclays Center. On [Saturday], I feel like it’s going to be another electrifying night for me and my fans."

Gonzalez enters the fight as a significant betting underdog, having posted a 2-2 record since 2021. He also suffered a defeat to former 140-pound titleholder Chris Algieri in 2019. Despite the unfavorable odds, Gonzalez asserted his intention to win at the pre-fight press conference, vowing to send Garcia into retirement with a knockout loss.

"One thing I learned, you can never out talk a New Yorker. They are the best talkers in the world," Garcia responded. "[Gonzalez] is going to do what he has to do to sell the fights, but he has never been in there with anyone like Danny Garcia. Once he starts feeling the punches and seeing what I bring to the table, I think his whole mindset is going to change. I know he’s coming to fight, but I’m preparing for whatever he brings to the table. I’m going to get this knockout."

Garcia’s career has been marked by significant achievements. He established himself as the dominant force at 140 pounds, securing multiple titles and establishing himself as the division’s top fighter. He then transitioned to the welterweight division, where he competed against a formidable roster of elite fighters, even headlining a pay-per-view event at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in 2020, where he lost to then-undefeated Errol Spence Jr.

A loss to Erislandy Lara in 2024, for a Middleweight title, was a setback, but doesn’t detract from his career.

Garcia’s rise to prominence was not without its challenges. Early in his professional career, he was often viewed as an underdog. It was his upset victories over Amir Khan in 2012 and Lucas Matthysse in 2013 that propelled him to stardom and solidified his reputation as a top-tier fighter.

"I feel like, in my heart, I was never the underdog because in the amateurs, when I won the U.S. championship in 2006, you couldn’t hand pick [opponents]," Garcia explained. "In the amateurs, you have to fight the best every single day, and I was No. 1 in the amateurs. For some reason, when I turned into the pros, I guess I went under the radar. I wasn’t hyped.

"When I came out and I beat Morales, Khan, and Matthysse, everybody said, ‘Where the hell did this kid come from?’ I just didn’t get that superstar push from the beginning, I had to earn it. And I think that’s why I got the underdog look. I fought everybody they put in front of me because I thought I was better, and I knew I could beat them. That’s just what I was taught."

The upcoming bout also marks the culmination of Garcia’s long-standing relationship with his father and trainer, Angel Garcia. Angel Garcia has served as Danny’s brash mouthpiece, his chief tactician in the corner, and his unwavering supporter. Their partnership has defied the stereotype of volatile father-son dynamics often seen in boxing.

"I’m very proud of him. We started this journey together, we are going to finish together," Garcia said of his father. "I saw my dad lose his jobs, he almost lost his marriage, and he almost lost his life to cancer. He had a stroke. I have seen him go through everything, and no matter what happened in his life, he always showed up to the gym because he loved it. He sacrificed a lot to be here, we both did, and I’m very proud of him.

"I feel like I had a hell of a career. I thank my father, Angel Garcia, for being on my side. I thank Al Haymon for getting me all those big fights. I fought 14 world champions, 10 fights at the Barclays Center. I feel like I put a lot of work in, and I fought nothing but the best. That’s what boxing is all about. I won some and I lost some, but at the end of the day, I’m still standing."

Danny Garcia’s record is a testament to his achievements in boxing, highlighting his resilience and skill. He won the WBC light welterweight title in 2012, defeating Erik Morales, and later unified the title by defeating Amir Khan. He also held the WBA (Super) light welterweight title. In 2016, Garcia won the vacant WBC welterweight title, defeating Robert Guerrero. Throughout his career, he faced and defeated numerous top-rated opponents, including Zab Judah, Lucas Matthysse, and Lamont Peterson. His losses came against formidable fighters such as Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Errol Spence Jr., and Erislandy Lara. Despite these setbacks, Garcia consistently competed at the highest level, earning respect for his toughness and determination.

Daniel Gonzalez, Garcia’s opponent, has a professional record of 22 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. While he has not achieved the same level of success as Garcia, Gonzalez has proven to be a durable and determined fighter. His notable bouts include a loss to Chris Algieri in 2019 and recent victories that have kept him active in the junior middleweight division. Gonzalez’s challenge will be to overcome Garcia’s experience and power, aiming to disrupt the planned farewell narrative.

The Barclays Center in Brooklyn holds a special place in Garcia’s career. He has fought there nine times prior to this bout, establishing a strong connection with the New York boxing community. His fights at the Barclays Center have often been marked by high attendance and enthusiastic fan support. This familiarity and support could provide Garcia with an additional advantage as he seeks to close out his career on a winning note.

As Danny Garcia steps into the ring for what is expected to be his final fight, the boxing world will be watching to see if he can achieve his goal of retiring on his own terms. The event is not just a fight; it is a celebration of a career that has seen Garcia rise from underdog to champion, overcoming obstacles and leaving an indelible mark on the sport. Whether he secures the victory or not, Garcia’s legacy as a fighter who always gave his all will endure.