Mayweather vs Canelo undercard: Danny and Angel Garcia think Matthysse is overrated ahead of showdown

Danny Garcia will meet Lucas Matthysse in the featured undercard bout of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez pay-per-view on Showtime Saturday night. The undefeated Garcia is putting his light welterweight titles on the line against one of the hottest knockout punchers in the sport.

Despite Matthysse having picked up a few losses in his career, he’s the favorite heading into the bout. Garcia spoke to the media and addressed being the underdog as well as his thoughts on his opponent (transcription via Bad Left Hook):

Question

“Danny, he’s had two big fights that he lost, had to go back to his country to rejuvenate his career, then came back. You haven’t been afforded that opportunity, you fought all of your big fights on TV, and pretty much had to grow up in the public eye. Do you think that helped you?”

Danny Garcia

“I’m 25 years old, but I’m like a young veteran in the game, you know what I’m saying? I’ve been fighting veterans, I’ve been fighting strong fighters, I’ve been fighting fans’ fighters, I’ve been fighting world class fighters. I’ve been fighting a lot of good fighters, and I’ve been growing, man. I’ve been growing. I’m a lot smarter now, and I’m gonna go in there and get the job done.”

Question

“Who do you think is taking the biggest step up in terms of the atmosphere here?”

Danny Garcia

“Oh, he is! I’m the best fighter he’s ever faced. He’s not the best fighter I’ve ever faced. I’ve fought way better fighters with skills. He may be the strongest, but he’s not the best.”

Garcia’s incredibly outspoken trainer (and father), Angel, spoke to SB Nation’s Luke Thomas and added to the idea that Danny doesn’t get respect:

“Because we’re working in God’s time. That’s what people wanna see. They’re still blind. Their eyes in darkness. Hey, listen, it’s OK. They don’t gotta love him. They don’t gotta love him. I gotta love him. I’m happy. I love him, I know Saturday night, still undefeated champion. Listen, Danny’s not just gonna give up his title. If he’s thinking he’s gonna come here and hit Danny with a two-piece, he’s in for a long night. You don’t just hit the champion with a two-piece. They said one punch could change the fight around, the same way it could change his fight around. I’m thinking about Danny. I’m not worried about him. I’m not going in thinking like an opponent. I’m thinking like a coach that trains a champion. That’s their job. They the ones that got two losses. Why they tryin’ to sugarcoat, tryin’ to put icing on the cake with Zab and Alexander. No, they beat him! Why? Because they’re two American fighters that beat him? Now they’re trying to say that it was controversial. No. You lost.”