| 15 October 2011
The second fight on the televised portion of the Hopkins-Dawson undercard is in the 140-pound division. It could be an explosive one as undefeated Danny Garcia collides with former champ Kendall Holt.
The 23-year old Garcia is 21-0 with 14 KOs, while Holt is 27-4 with 15 KOs. This fight is scheduled for 12 rounds as a minor WBO belt is on the line. Michael Buffer introduces both men, and we're all set to get it on.
Round 1
Max Kellerman calls this a crossroads fight, wondering if Garcia is too young for Holt. Kendall tries an early right-hand bomb. Garcia stays cautious as he feels his way out. Danny lands the first right hand, though it's not a big one. Holt grabs around the waist. Garcia ducks under for a left. Holt lands a short right hand before a clinch. There was another one that just missed. Kendall lands a right to the body. Garcia tries some of his own body work. Punches fly in both directions right at the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Holt
Round 2
A little more jabbing, though it's mostly for range-finding purposes. Emanuel Steward likes the snap and directness of Holt's punches. Right hand finds the target for Holt. Finally a right hand by Garcia. Holt comes right back over the top. Danny throws two light punches downstairs. The ref stops things to check Holt's shorts. Both men try left hooks to the body. Quick left hand counter by Holt. One-two by Holt, but Garcia responds with a sharp right hand at the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Holt
Round 3
Harold Lederman liked Garcia in that round. Garcia comes right back out with two right hands that stumble Holt a bit. Danny has confidence as he tees off to the body. He's throwing powerful blows to the body, especially. Holt tries to dig in with a left-right combination. He gets in a left uppercut. Garcia hooks with the left off the jab. Garcia is coming way over the top with some of his right hands. Right upstairs and two lefts to the body by Garcia. Great round for him.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Garcia
Round 4
Quiet first 40 seconds. Holt strikes first but almost slips on the Tecate logo. Kellerman doesn't like how Holt is looking for single shots. Lots of searching without much punching. Garcia tries a left to the body. He lunges for a right hand upstairs too. Holt has to duck and weave, leaving his body exposed again. Holt throws his own body blow in response. Left hook by Garcia, then he circles away to avoid return fire.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Garcia
Round 5
Holt tries to step on the gas a bit with left hooks. He needs to be busier for sure. An exchange comes close to producing a fight-changing bomb. Garcia doubles up his left hook. They clash heads, but no one is cut. Right hand by Holt upstairs. Holt is trying to time left hooks when Garcia comes forward. Kendall's looking slightly more defensively aware, except when Garcia goes to the body. Danny lands a bunch of body shots, then a right hook to the head as time expires.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Garcia
Round 6
The fighters are only throwing about half of the punches as an average 140-pound fight produces, according to CompuBox. Garcia reaches with several right hands to the body. Holt times a right hand counter that scores. Garcia flurries and backs up a step. Holt's left hook is answered by several Garcia punches. Garcia lands a three-punch combo, then crashes home a left hook. They trade in the corner, and Holt shows some fire with a left hook at the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Garcia
Round 7
Holt flurries early, trying to push the pace. He's throwing some rare jabs in there too. Both men connect with right hands, then jabs. Garcia goes to the body with both hands but gets tagged upstairs. Several clinches disrupt the pace a bit. Garcia lands a right and left to the body as Holt looks to load up a head shot. Holt has some swelling around his left eye. Wild miss by Garcia leaves him stumbling at the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Garcia
Round 8
Holt shrugs off a right to throw a two-punch combo. He goes to the body and head, finishing with a left hook. The ref earns his keep by breaking them up twice in a row. Body shots flow from Garcia. Two-punch combination by Garcia with nothing in return. There's three more shots from Danny, including two to the body. Holt tries to touch gloves, but Garcia nails him with two head shots. Holt doesn't like it, and he tries to flurry. The ref warns them, "We got a great fight going, don't do this shit now."
Tylwalk: 10-9 Garcia
Round 9
The swelling beneath Holt's eye is really getting bad, but he scores with a sharp left hook early on. Holt goes to the body with a left, then tries the right as well. Garcia eats another left hook that backs him up a step. A clinch prevents Garcia from teeing off on the body. Holt would rather hold than fight at close range. Both men land right hands, but Garcia's seems more damaging. Holt ducks down as if to lure Garcia in. Garcia sticks and moves with the left hook.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Holt
Round 10
Buddy McGirt implores Holt to stay busier and tells his man he needs to win all of the final three rounds. That's likely correct. Garcia times Holt coming in with hooks and body shots. Garcia snaps Holt's head with a right hand. Holt misses and gets tied up. Two jabs land from Garcia. Left-right combo also scores for Danny. He has just enough head movement not to get tagged by anything too flush. CompuBox only has Holt landing three punches with 30 seconds left. Garcia gets a crowd reaction with a left hook, and Holt is warned about almost punching after the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Garcia
Round 11
Garcia jabs and moves left to make sure Holt can't track him down. Danny uses quick flurries every time Holt thinks about opening up. Kendall has to cover up on several occasions. Holt lands a right to the body while also taking a left hook. Garcia smacks Holt cleanly with a right hand. He takes his time to connect with a left hook and another right hand. Garcia seems very comfortable as he lands right hands almost effortlessly.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Garcia
Round 12
Holt certainly will be trying for the KO shot all the way to the end. Holt does land a right hand, leading to an exchange. Garcia uses the left hook repeatedly to regain the momentum. Holt gallops forward with the high guard, looking for an opening. Garcia flashes quick hands in combination. Left hooks score for both fighters. Forty seconds to go. Garcia bounces and lands jabs. Three more jabs by Danny. Garcia keeps throwing with both hands, and we'll go to the scorecards.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Garcia
Tylwalk: 117-111 Garcia
The judges score it 115-113 Holt, 117-111 Garcia and 117-111 Garcia. The winner by split decision is Danny "Swift" Garcia.
