Danny Garcia defeats Jose Benavidez Jr. in super welterweight debut (Video)

Danny Garcia fought for the first time as a super welterweight, and the two-division world champion was successful against Jose Benavidez Jr. 

After 19 months away from the boxing ring, Danny Garcia made a triumphant return against Jose Benavidez Jr. on Saturday, July 30.

Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) fought as a super welterweight for the first time at Brooklyn, New York’s Barclays Center. The 34-year-old from Philadelphia, PA, gave up four years and over two inches in height to the younger Benavidez, but he looked like he handled the added weight well.

Before the fight, Garcia told FanSided that he needed a break from boxing after losing to unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. in December 2020. Garcia looked refreshed in the ring against Benavidez and utilized his hand speed and footwork to defeat his bigger opponent.

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Benavidez (27-2-1, 18 KOs) hadn’t won a fight since 2018 coming into his contest with Garcia. He fought to a draw against Francisco Emanuel Torres in 2021 but looked sluggish. He was dormant for two years before that, telling FanSided that he spent that time enjoying being a father to his children.

Garcia displayed his championship pedigree against Benavidez. The two-division world champion looked faster and more active than Benavidez, but it took a little time for Garcia to get started.

Danny Garcia defeated Jose Benavidez Jr. by majority decision at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center

Benavidez deviated from his usual routine and was much more active in rounds 1 and 2 than in previous bouts. He jabbed well and stalked Garcia for much of those rounds.

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Garcia started to let his hands go down the stretch of round 2 and significantly picked up the pace in round 3. His counterpunching kept Benavidez on guard, and Garcia’s hand speed allowed him to pile up the points.

Benavidez’s punch output slumped from rounds 3 through 8, and Garcia was on cruise control. Garcia’s hands flowed as he invested wisely to Benavidez’s body.

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Benavidez had a solid round 9 that found him throwing punches as he did in round 1, but he couldn’t keep up the momentum.

Garcia closed the fight well as he continued to outland Benavidez until the final bell. The judges returned scores of 114-114,116-112 and 117-111 for Garcia.

The 114-114 score made no sense in a bout that Garcia controlled. The win should have been unanimous, but Garcia gets the victory all the same.

While Benavidez’s boxing career could be over, Garcia is already in title talks. Benavidez can still box, but he doesn’t look like he can cross the bridge from contender to champion.