"I'm just ready, man, I'm prepared and it's going to be a great night of boxing and on August 1st, you're going to see a new and improved Danny Garcia...I feel strong, I feel sharp, and I'm ready to go...I feel like I got that snap back training at 147. I feel strong, I don't have to drain myself anymore. I'm 27 years old now. I'm in the prime of my career and I just feel great," stated undefeated world champion Danny Garcia, who spoke in-depth about his upcoming clash this Saturday with former world champion Paulie Malignaggi. Check out what he had to say!
PC: DG, what's good my man?
DG: Ain't nothing much, man. How you doing?
PC: I can't complain, man. Everything is great. August 1st, you back in there. How has training been in preparation for Paulie Malignaggi?
DG: Man, I'm great, man. I feel great, I feel strong, and I'm ready to fight already. I'm just staying focused for the last week and then it's showtime. Everything's good.
PC: Talk about going back where it all started. You will be on the network where you first got your start, which is ESPN. How does it feel to go back to the roots and be fighting on ESPN?
DG: This is great for boxing. This is ESPN, not ESPN2. This is primetime and a bigger stage than Friday Night Fights. I'm just ready, man, I'm prepared and it's going to be a great night of boxing and on August 1st, you're going to see a new and improved Danny Garcia. I can't wait.
PC: Obviously 140 became very difficult to make. Now that you're able to get an extra meal or so in, how do you feel on the way to 147?
DG: I feel good, man. I'm already on weight. I could make weight tomorrow if I wanted to. I only gotta lose about 3 or 4 pounds. I'm good. The weight is coming off good. I've been eating good food. I been on a good diet and eating a lot of food that makes me strong. When I was fighting at 140, I couldn't eat a lot of good food. I didn't have a lot of nutritious foods in me. This time, I get to eat food and be strong throughout training camp and not be all weak the last couple of weeks of sparring. I feel strong, I feel sharp, and I'm ready to go.
PC: When you were on your way to winning titles at 140, you looked fresh and you were stopping a lot of fighters. As it became time to start making a lot of defenses, you could tell the weight was beginning to affect your performances. Now that you're at welterweight, can we expect the old Danny Garcia and what we used to see from you?
DG: Yeah, no doubt. Like you said, in the prime of my career at 140, when I was in my prime at 140, I was knocking dudes out. I put everybody on the canvas. Every fighter I fought, I put them on the canvas. And then it just got to a point where in my last 3 fights, I didn't feel strong anymore. I felt like I was pushing my punches; like I didn't have snap on them like I used to have. I feel like I got that snap back training at 147. I feel strong, I don't have to drain myself anymore. I'm 27 years old now. I'm in the prime of my career and I just feel great.
PC: How long did you compete at 140 pounds?
DG: I have been at 140 since I believe 2007, since the amateurs. I've been at 140 for a long time in my career. That's a long time to do that and I believe I did everything I could do at 140. I fought every 140-pound champion. They were the champion when I fought them. I feel like I am one of the best 140-pound fighters in my opinion; at least in the last 10 years.
PC: When you were told it would be Paulie Malignaggi, what was your reaction?
DG: It is what it is with me. It's like we always do, Al Haymon picks my opponent and I train for the fight. My dad trains me and it's teamwork. I never go against the grain. I believe in destiny and this is the fight Al wanted and I think it's a good fight. Philadelphia vs. Brooklyn. He will bring the Brooklyn fans and I will bring the Philadelphia fans. He has a big fan base in Brooklyn, I got a big fan base in Brooklyn. He's been around. He's a former champion. He was a reigning 40-pound champion, so I think it's a good fight overall.
PC: You have been fighting guys who would be considered more bangers than boxers. Paulie is going to try and dictate the pace with a good jab and great movement. Do you feel like you have been getting the look you need in the gym to prepare for that style?
DG: Yeah, we have been getting guys who is about his height, 5'7"-5'8", that move around a lot and use the jab. They try to use their feet and move in and out. I think we're prepared. We got the perfect sparring, we got the perfect game plan, and now we just gotta go in there and execute.
PC: Paulie is usually a little more vocal and disrespectful to his opponents. On the PBC broadcast, even after they showed your commercial, he's been very respectful to you. Is that a mutual respect or did you expect a little more trash talk from him?
DG: You know, I don't know what's in his mind, but me as a fighter, everybody know that I don't talk, so it is what it is. If he waiting for me to say something so he could say something, it ain't going to happen because I'm not a talker. I like to fight. I like to go in there and handle business. I'm one of the most exciting fighters in boxing and the fans know that. They had 12,300 people at the Barclays for my last fight and that was a record gate at the Barclays Center for boxing. The fans love me. I don't have to talk a good game because I'm going to go in there and fight.
CHECK BACK SOON FOR PART 2 OF THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DANNY GARCIA
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