Erislandy Lara dominates Danny Garcia, retains WBA title via TKO

Erislandy Lara handed Danny Garcia his first stoppage defeat.

Erislandy Lara retained his WBA middleweight title with a pretty one-sided win over a listless Danny Garcia tonight, closing the book on the Canelo vs Berlanga undercard and perhaps on Garcia’s career.

Lara (31-3-3, 19 KO) wasn’t exactly exciting to watch, which is not unusual for him, but that usually happens when opponents allow Lara to do very basic boxing and win rounds. And tonight, Garcia (37-4, 21 KO) had nothing to offer.

In an intensely dull fight to watch, the 41-year-old Lara landed just 63 punches over nine rounds, according to CompuBox, but the 36-year-old Garcia landed an even more paltry 33, with neither wanting to lead the dance.

This would likely have always been the case, as both are natural counter-punchers, but this was not the Danny Garcia of yesteryear, either. In his first fight in nearly two years, he just didn’t look motivated, and his effort was empty.

Garcia won world titles at 140 and 147, of course, and his attempt for a third at middleweight just did not pan out. The stoppage loss was the first of Garcia’s 17-year professional career.

“I tried to be great, it wasn’t my night. No excuses,” Garcia said. “This is only my second fight in, like, four years. I couldn’t catch my rhythm. Maybe because I haven’t been active, or maybe he was just better than me tonight. ... I didn’t conquer (a third division), but I tried.”

Garcia said he would “step back and think about” his potential future, but stopped short of announcing a retirement.

Asked if he would advise his son to retire, Angel Garcia said it was “up to Danny” and that he would support him either way.