Boxing fans excited to see the junior welterweight division crown a unified king will be disappointed to hear that Danny "Swift" Garcia's upcoming fight against Lamont Peterson in April will be fought at a 143-pound catch weight and no titles will be at stake.
"Yes, we're fighting at 143," Peterson told ESPN.com. "I'm not sure why but it was brought to me at that weight so I agreed."
Garcia, who owns the WBC and WBA titles at 140 pounds has found difficulty making the 140-pound weight. His last fight, a one-sided beating of lightweight Rod Salka in August, was also fought above 140 pounds with his titles not up for grabs. This will be the second straight non-title fight for the junior welterweight lineal champion.
"I'm slowly making my way up to welterweight," Garcia told ESPN.com. "I feel a lot fresher and stronger. At the end of the day this is a fight the fans want to see no matter what weight."
The fight would undoubtedly be a bigger draw for fans if Garcia's and Peterson's belts were up for grabs though. If Garcia is unable to make weight at junior welterweight, he should surrender his titles and move up to 147 pounds as many champions have done before him. There are several big money fights that await him at welterweight, and new titles to chase.
While Garcia vs. Peterson is a step up for both from fighting the likes of Salka and Edgar Santana, neither fighter is a superstar capable of generating major interest without a championship on the line. It is also frustrating for fans who tire of figuring out which fighters have what titles to see two men get in the ring, both holding titles, and fighting without settling a unified champ.
[ESPN]
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