Danny Garcia warns Shawn Porter: ‘There’s something different inside of me’

 by John Dennen

DANNY GARCIA and Shawn Porter will contest the vacant WBC welterweight world title on September 8 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“I’m excited for this fight because I’m a world championship-level fighter and this gives me the chance to be back where I’ve been for so long. It doesn’t matter who it is, I’m just happy to be back and fighting for the title,” Garcia said. “There’s no pressure on me, I’m just going to come to fight. We can dance if he wants, but I guarantee I’m coming to bang with him in the middle of the ring. I feel I’m the stronger puncher, have the faster hands and am the better all-around fighter.

“I have to go in there and make adjustments and do what I do best. I’ll set the tempo and the pace and take it one round at a time.”

The WBC title was vacated by Keith Thurman, who has been recovering from injury since beating Garcia last year. “The loss against Keith Thurman hurt me for a little bit. I thought I finished the fight strong and won. At the end of the day though, I feel motivated again. I feel more motivated now than I did before the fight. There’s something different inside of me,” Garcia said.

But Porter had a warning for him. “This is a great opportunity to get the fight I wanted for my career. I’m thriving right now and you’ll see it all on fight night,” he said. “I’m a very difficult fighter to prepare for. You never know what you’ll get with me. I’m used to being the underdog and I thrive on it. I’m the more intelligent fighter at the end of the day.

“I think for a long time, watching Danny do what he does and hearing him say what he’d do to me, I got stirred up to the point where I really wanted this fight. I made that known after his fight against Brandon Rios and I think that’s why we’re here right now.

“The belt is all I want. Winning a title is always special, but beating Danny Garcia for it will be icing on the cake. He’s been a top fighter for a long time and this win will help solidify me. Once I have the belt, the sky’s the limit.”