DANNY GARCIA TALKS LAMONT PETERSON CLASH: "EXCITEMENT AND ENTERTAINMENT...THEY WILL SEE WHAT I SEE AND THAT'S GREATNESS"
By Percy Crawford | February 02, 2015
PC: DG, how is everything going, man?
DG: I'm doing good, man. I just finished working out. I'm ready, man. I can't wait.
PC: I know a lot of you guys don't look for press in this, but I wanted to let you talk about it a little bit. Back in December, you linked up with Burlington Coat Factory and passed out some jackets to less fortunate families. What was that like to look in a kid's eyes and know he will be warm during some of these cold storms on the east coast?
DG: Ah man, it was a blessing, man. Al Haymon and me got together and came up with an idea to give back to families and the less fortunate, and we made it happen and it was a blessing.
PC: Did the kids know you as a boxing champion or just a generous person doing a generous thing?
DG: No, they definitely know who I am, but even if they didn't, it was a blessing to be giving back. It definitely wasn't about me.
PC: You said any of those kids could have been you. Did you see some similarities in some of their stories, or just coming up the way you did, you felt it could have been you in that position?
DG: When I was young, nobody never gave me nothing. There were times where I needed a helping hand or clothes or something and I was never fortunate enough for nobody to give me anything. So when I said that, I needed things like that when I was younger, but I was never fortunate enough to get it.
PC: Moving on to the boxing side of things, NBC, huge deal. I don't really even know if it's set in how huge of a deal this is to the fans, but what was your reaction when you heard you were gonna be a part of this?
DG: I was excited. I actually been knew about it, but I had to let it be a surprise to the world. So I'm excited, man. It's going to be great for the world of boxing. This is the way boxing is meant to be showed. I can't wait to go in there and perform and make NBC a household name for boxing.
PC: You guys hear things way in advance of us getting the news. Was it tough to sit on that knowing how much of a milestone this was?
DG: It's just exciting more than anything because the fans know, this is huge for boxing. I know some people really don't know how huge this is, but this is big for boxing and I'm just glad that I'm a part of it.
PC: You have been on the biggest stage, which is pay-per-view, and the two biggest boxing networks in Showtime and HBO, but this is totally different from that. Does that change anything for you as far as your approach and the way you handle things leading up to or during the fight?
DG: This is huge. This is 110 million families that this network reaches. This is huge for boxing and we are using Al Michaels, and Sugar Ray Leonard gonna be calling it, so the production is going to be out of this world. But I'm like everyone else, I just want to see how it's going to be.
PC: What was it like for you to be in the presence of Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, and Roberto Duran for an event and an announcement like this?
DG: It was great. It was great being around legends. I just felt like it was a passing of the torch for a new generation in boxing and it's just a brilliant idea that Al came up with. I just can't wait, man. I feel like there are a bunch of young great fighters coming up and I'm cut from that cloth. This is a perfect situation!
PC: Do you feel this is the event or platform to make someone like you the face of boxing? We all know who you are, but if this fight plays out the way I think it will with the way both you and Lamont fight, this could take both of your careers to a different level?
DG: Just in general people are gonna know who Danny Garcia is because this is what made Ali big, Sugar Ray big, and all of the greats big is when they fought on regular network TV, and I think this is going to be great for me and my career and I just can't wait to get in there and do my thing.
PC: I can't see this fight being dull at all, but the stakes are high, so are you expecting a more tactical approach from Lamont or for him to fight his typical come-forward fight and this fight will go off as advertised?
DG: I'm gonna go in there and just be me at the end of the day. I'm coming there to fight. I always come to fight, make adjustments, and get the victory. I'm all about getting my hand raised at the end of the night and there is no other way I see it going. I'm just going to go in there and do what I always do.
PC: It's been said that both of you guys will be moving up to 47 after this fight. Was the 143-pound catchweight just to assure that both you and Lamont will be comfortable enough to let it all fly on April 11th as opposed to draining yourself down to win a title that will be vacated shortly afterward?
DG: As far as that, it's not 100% sure. It might be at 143, but there is still a chance it could be a unification fight. It was just something that was said prematurely. If it is at 143, I'm just getting ready to fight at 143 and just let everybody know I'm coming for 147. I gotta get past this first.
PC: I'm sure you've been around Lamont prior to the fight being announced, but it's different when you're actually sizing someone up. I asked Lamont and I'll ask you, is he what you expected dimension-wise when you sized him up?
DG: No, I knew we were around the same height and about the same size. Nothing really surprised me. I think the only time I was really surprised was when I fought Matthysse because he was so much smaller than me when I stood next to him, but other than that, no surprises, he is what I expected.
PC: Are you in the gym 100% right now, because I see you post pictures and videos, or are you just doing maintenance work because April is a little ways away?
DG: I drive 45 minutes to the gym everyday, so when I come, I come to workout. I'm putting in work every day.
PC: Angel and Barry Hunter seem to get along well; you and Lamont don't seem to have any issues. At this stage, you guys don't seem to have to be fueled by trash talk and animosity.
DG: I'm always me. I ain't never really looking for any of that, but it is a fight, and nothing hasn't popped off yet, but you just gotta stay tuned and watch.
PC: Lamont is anticipating them making him shave his beard down a little. As a fighter, do you even think about stuff like that? In other words, when you saw his thick beard, did your mind say, "He's gonna have to shave that down!"
DG: I mean, I don't care about none of that to be honest with you. They make him do that, they do it; if they don't, they don't. I don't care. That's just something mental for him. Maybe he grows his beard because he thinks that probably can save his chin, but at the end of the day, that's something he's gotta worry about. I'm cool. I just got a goatee. I'm going to go in there looking sharp like I always do. I'm not really worried about him.
PC: You pay a lot of attention to your ring walks and to a degree, that is a marketing strategy. I'm sure you don't know what your ring walk will be, but have you received info on it from an NBC standpoint? Are you guys gonna even have ring walks or will you already be in the ring, or do you not know that right now?
DG: We definitely gonna have a ring walk for sure, but as far as what I'm gonna do yet, I'm not really sure, but I know it's going to be something special.
PC: This could open up doors and the market for fighters to get the attention that guys get in other sports from an endorsement standpoint. Is that something that you have given thought to?
DG: This is big and I understand this is big. All around the board this is big because this is why the NFL is so big and the NBA is so big and NHL and MLB because they are participating in their respective sports on regular TV. The commercials they have for the images of the athletes and the charity events they have for the athletes to keep them clean is huge for the regular network exposure. I think that is what boxing was missing, investing money into the athlete to give them a good image and keep their name clean. I think now, boxing has the budget for that with NBC to give us a good name and give back to charity and make things happen and make us look better, like other athletes, to the world.
PC: It was refreshing seeing you guys in suits and ties because it does take away from the image that you guys live in trunks and gloves. I think that was important to have you guys dress up as if it was a NFL or NBA presser.
DG: It was very important. Like I said before, that's why other sports are so big and little kids watch it because they maintain a clean image that way. Other sports make sure that they put out money to keep the athlete's image clean, and you can tell a lot by an athlete sometimes in the way that they dress and I think Al understood that. It's like the Ray Rice situation; that went from a negative situation to a positive situation because they have them touring around America speaking out against domestic violence and you see these athletes in the commercials against domestic violence and that's very important because you have to address it. What better way to address it than to make a terrible situation like that and turn it into something positive. I think that's exactly what boxing needs to give us a budget to go out and participate in things that will give us a positive image and make fans and kids and older people want to watch us fight. I think that's great for boxing to get the general public back interested in boxing. It's all coming along perfect.
PC: It doesn't seem like much bothers you. When Al Haymon and Golden Boy was going through the split, was it tough not to get caught in the middle or did you let it play itself out and just focus on the things you could control?
DG: I never got caught in the mix because I knew what I was going to do. I was going with Al Haymon. I will always love Golden Boy. I was just with "The Golden Boy" the other day at Bernard's party having fun, talking and politicking, but they know business is business and personal is personal. Golden Boy did sign me and moved me for a good part of my career, but Al Haymon took me to another level and I'm just thankful for everything. One day, maybe I will work with Golden Boy again, but as far as now, I'm with Al Haymon and, like I said, business is business and personal is personal and I'm still cool with Golden Boy. I'm cool with everybody, so I don't get caught up in any of the political stuff. I'm just an athlete at the end of the day and I'm just trying to make this money; that's it!
PC: Your fight will reach a lot of eyes that either stopped watching boxing years ago or never really watched boxing. What can they expect from Danny Garcia on April 11th?
DG: April 11th, they can expect what I always bring to the boxing ring, excitement and entertainment and something fun and something different. I feel like I'm a lot different from other boxers out there, so hopefully April 11th, when the new audience tunes in, they will see what I see and that's greatness!
PC: I appreciate the time and definitely look forward to April. We will speak a lot more leading up to the big day. Is there anything else you want to add?
DG: Cool man. If they want to get that DSG fan gear, they can go to www.dsgofficial.com and that's where they can get all of their hats and t-shirts and everything, and get ready for the fight. Make sure you look good and make sure you look nice in your DSG Wear; that's www.dsgofficial.com!
http://fighthype.com/news/article19226.html
Pretty vanilla interview
Good to hear that he's giving back to his city though:salutekobe:
By Percy Crawford | February 02, 2015
PC: DG, how is everything going, man?
DG: I'm doing good, man. I just finished working out. I'm ready, man. I can't wait.
PC: I know a lot of you guys don't look for press in this, but I wanted to let you talk about it a little bit. Back in December, you linked up with Burlington Coat Factory and passed out some jackets to less fortunate families. What was that like to look in a kid's eyes and know he will be warm during some of these cold storms on the east coast?
DG: Ah man, it was a blessing, man. Al Haymon and me got together and came up with an idea to give back to families and the less fortunate, and we made it happen and it was a blessing.
PC: Did the kids know you as a boxing champion or just a generous person doing a generous thing?
DG: No, they definitely know who I am, but even if they didn't, it was a blessing to be giving back. It definitely wasn't about me.
PC: You said any of those kids could have been you. Did you see some similarities in some of their stories, or just coming up the way you did, you felt it could have been you in that position?
DG: When I was young, nobody never gave me nothing. There were times where I needed a helping hand or clothes or something and I was never fortunate enough for nobody to give me anything. So when I said that, I needed things like that when I was younger, but I was never fortunate enough to get it.
PC: Moving on to the boxing side of things, NBC, huge deal. I don't really even know if it's set in how huge of a deal this is to the fans, but what was your reaction when you heard you were gonna be a part of this?
DG: I was excited. I actually been knew about it, but I had to let it be a surprise to the world. So I'm excited, man. It's going to be great for the world of boxing. This is the way boxing is meant to be showed. I can't wait to go in there and perform and make NBC a household name for boxing.
PC: You guys hear things way in advance of us getting the news. Was it tough to sit on that knowing how much of a milestone this was?
DG: It's just exciting more than anything because the fans know, this is huge for boxing. I know some people really don't know how huge this is, but this is big for boxing and I'm just glad that I'm a part of it.
PC: You have been on the biggest stage, which is pay-per-view, and the two biggest boxing networks in Showtime and HBO, but this is totally different from that. Does that change anything for you as far as your approach and the way you handle things leading up to or during the fight?
DG: This is huge. This is 110 million families that this network reaches. This is huge for boxing and we are using Al Michaels, and Sugar Ray Leonard gonna be calling it, so the production is going to be out of this world. But I'm like everyone else, I just want to see how it's going to be.
PC: What was it like for you to be in the presence of Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, and Roberto Duran for an event and an announcement like this?
DG: It was great. It was great being around legends. I just felt like it was a passing of the torch for a new generation in boxing and it's just a brilliant idea that Al came up with. I just can't wait, man. I feel like there are a bunch of young great fighters coming up and I'm cut from that cloth. This is a perfect situation!
PC: Do you feel this is the event or platform to make someone like you the face of boxing? We all know who you are, but if this fight plays out the way I think it will with the way both you and Lamont fight, this could take both of your careers to a different level?
DG: Just in general people are gonna know who Danny Garcia is because this is what made Ali big, Sugar Ray big, and all of the greats big is when they fought on regular network TV, and I think this is going to be great for me and my career and I just can't wait to get in there and do my thing.
PC: I can't see this fight being dull at all, but the stakes are high, so are you expecting a more tactical approach from Lamont or for him to fight his typical come-forward fight and this fight will go off as advertised?
DG: I'm gonna go in there and just be me at the end of the day. I'm coming there to fight. I always come to fight, make adjustments, and get the victory. I'm all about getting my hand raised at the end of the night and there is no other way I see it going. I'm just going to go in there and do what I always do.
PC: It's been said that both of you guys will be moving up to 47 after this fight. Was the 143-pound catchweight just to assure that both you and Lamont will be comfortable enough to let it all fly on April 11th as opposed to draining yourself down to win a title that will be vacated shortly afterward?
DG: As far as that, it's not 100% sure. It might be at 143, but there is still a chance it could be a unification fight. It was just something that was said prematurely. If it is at 143, I'm just getting ready to fight at 143 and just let everybody know I'm coming for 147. I gotta get past this first.
PC: I'm sure you've been around Lamont prior to the fight being announced, but it's different when you're actually sizing someone up. I asked Lamont and I'll ask you, is he what you expected dimension-wise when you sized him up?
DG: No, I knew we were around the same height and about the same size. Nothing really surprised me. I think the only time I was really surprised was when I fought Matthysse because he was so much smaller than me when I stood next to him, but other than that, no surprises, he is what I expected.
PC: Are you in the gym 100% right now, because I see you post pictures and videos, or are you just doing maintenance work because April is a little ways away?
DG: I drive 45 minutes to the gym everyday, so when I come, I come to workout. I'm putting in work every day.
PC: Angel and Barry Hunter seem to get along well; you and Lamont don't seem to have any issues. At this stage, you guys don't seem to have to be fueled by trash talk and animosity.
DG: I'm always me. I ain't never really looking for any of that, but it is a fight, and nothing hasn't popped off yet, but you just gotta stay tuned and watch.
PC: Lamont is anticipating them making him shave his beard down a little. As a fighter, do you even think about stuff like that? In other words, when you saw his thick beard, did your mind say, "He's gonna have to shave that down!"
DG: I mean, I don't care about none of that to be honest with you. They make him do that, they do it; if they don't, they don't. I don't care. That's just something mental for him. Maybe he grows his beard because he thinks that probably can save his chin, but at the end of the day, that's something he's gotta worry about. I'm cool. I just got a goatee. I'm going to go in there looking sharp like I always do. I'm not really worried about him.
PC: You pay a lot of attention to your ring walks and to a degree, that is a marketing strategy. I'm sure you don't know what your ring walk will be, but have you received info on it from an NBC standpoint? Are you guys gonna even have ring walks or will you already be in the ring, or do you not know that right now?
DG: We definitely gonna have a ring walk for sure, but as far as what I'm gonna do yet, I'm not really sure, but I know it's going to be something special.
PC: This could open up doors and the market for fighters to get the attention that guys get in other sports from an endorsement standpoint. Is that something that you have given thought to?
DG: This is big and I understand this is big. All around the board this is big because this is why the NFL is so big and the NBA is so big and NHL and MLB because they are participating in their respective sports on regular TV. The commercials they have for the images of the athletes and the charity events they have for the athletes to keep them clean is huge for the regular network exposure. I think that is what boxing was missing, investing money into the athlete to give them a good image and keep their name clean. I think now, boxing has the budget for that with NBC to give us a good name and give back to charity and make things happen and make us look better, like other athletes, to the world.
PC: It was refreshing seeing you guys in suits and ties because it does take away from the image that you guys live in trunks and gloves. I think that was important to have you guys dress up as if it was a NFL or NBA presser.
DG: It was very important. Like I said before, that's why other sports are so big and little kids watch it because they maintain a clean image that way. Other sports make sure that they put out money to keep the athlete's image clean, and you can tell a lot by an athlete sometimes in the way that they dress and I think Al understood that. It's like the Ray Rice situation; that went from a negative situation to a positive situation because they have them touring around America speaking out against domestic violence and you see these athletes in the commercials against domestic violence and that's very important because you have to address it. What better way to address it than to make a terrible situation like that and turn it into something positive. I think that's exactly what boxing needs to give us a budget to go out and participate in things that will give us a positive image and make fans and kids and older people want to watch us fight. I think that's great for boxing to get the general public back interested in boxing. It's all coming along perfect.
PC: It doesn't seem like much bothers you. When Al Haymon and Golden Boy was going through the split, was it tough not to get caught in the middle or did you let it play itself out and just focus on the things you could control?
DG: I never got caught in the mix because I knew what I was going to do. I was going with Al Haymon. I will always love Golden Boy. I was just with "The Golden Boy" the other day at Bernard's party having fun, talking and politicking, but they know business is business and personal is personal. Golden Boy did sign me and moved me for a good part of my career, but Al Haymon took me to another level and I'm just thankful for everything. One day, maybe I will work with Golden Boy again, but as far as now, I'm with Al Haymon and, like I said, business is business and personal is personal and I'm still cool with Golden Boy. I'm cool with everybody, so I don't get caught up in any of the political stuff. I'm just an athlete at the end of the day and I'm just trying to make this money; that's it!
PC: Your fight will reach a lot of eyes that either stopped watching boxing years ago or never really watched boxing. What can they expect from Danny Garcia on April 11th?
DG: April 11th, they can expect what I always bring to the boxing ring, excitement and entertainment and something fun and something different. I feel like I'm a lot different from other boxers out there, so hopefully April 11th, when the new audience tunes in, they will see what I see and that's greatness!
PC: I appreciate the time and definitely look forward to April. We will speak a lot more leading up to the big day. Is there anything else you want to add?
DG: Cool man. If they want to get that DSG fan gear, they can go to www.dsgofficial.com and that's where they can get all of their hats and t-shirts and everything, and get ready for the fight. Make sure you look good and make sure you look nice in your DSG Wear; that's www.dsgofficial.com!
http://fighthype.com/news/article19226.html
Pretty vanilla interview
Good to hear that he's giving back to his city though:salutekobe:
