The Danny García Show Goes to Vegas in Hopes of a Storybook Ending

On December 5, 2020, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Danny García found himself in one of the biggest fights of his career. Standing across from him was the undefeated Errol Spence Jr., the unified welterweight champion. It was supposed to be another opportunity for García to add to his already decorated resume. But that night, things went differently. Spence dominated García, winning a unanimous decision in what was the first decisive loss of García’s career. It was his third loss overall, but this one felt different.

Unlike his previous defeats to Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter, which were both razor-close and could have gone either way, this one was definitive. For the first time in his storied career, García questioned whether his best was still good enough. That loss took a toll on him mentally. Always known for his toughness and resilience, García took a long break from boxing, needing time to reflect.

But the struggles weren’t limited to the ring. In September 2021, García’s father and longtime trainer, Angel García, was hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. The news shook the family deeply. The elder García had already faced a health scare back in 2006 when he was diagnosed with throat cancer and given a terminal diagnosis. He spent two years on a feeding tube, defying the odds largely due to the inspiration of his son’s promising boxing career. As a result, the bond between father and son was as much a cornerstone of Danny García’s career as his left hook.

Angel would eventually recover, once again defying the odds, and was back in his son’s corner where he belonged. Around the same time, García’s partner was expecting a baby girl, giving him even more reason to push forward. With his father by his side and another child on the way, García decided to return to the ring. But this time, he’d do it at a new weight class.

In July 2022, García made his long-awaited return to the ring, debuting as a super welterweight against the tough Jose Benavidez Jr. at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. García looked sharp, dominating the fight en route to a majority decision victory. After the fight, García’s post-fight interview became one of the most poignant moments of his career. Overcome with emotion, he broke down in tears and opened up about the mental battles he’d been fighting.

“I was going through some mental things. I felt a little dark,” García told SHOWTIME’s Jim Gray. “I went through some anxiety and depression. I just tried my best to stay strong. It’s just the pressure of life, the pressure of boxing, being a good dad. I’m letting it out because it was stuck inside. It weighed on me for a year and a half. And I know the only way to get better is to fight… and to win. I’m a fighter. This is what I love to do.”

That night in Brooklyn, García gave fans a glimpse into the challenges he had been dealing with outside the ring. Despite the triumph, it was clear that life had been moving fast for García. He credits his family, especially his father for helping him get through those dark times. One month after the Benavidez bout, his daughter was born, and García once again took a break from boxing to focus on his family.

By August 2023, García was set to return and challenge Cuban legend Erislandy Lara for the WBA Middleweight Championship. However, the bout was postponed due to the sudden decision by Paramount to shutter Showtime Sports, putting García’s career on hold indefinitely. In the meantime, life threw another curveball: his father Angel suffered a stroke in April. For a family already familiar with health crises, the news was devastating. But, as they had done before, the Garcías faced the challenge head-on, with Angel eventually making a full recovery.

With his father back by his side, the Danny García Show was ready to resume. Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) announced that García would challenge Lara for the WBA Middleweight Championship on September 14, 2024, on a PBC on Prime PPV event. The fight would serve as the co-main event to a blockbuster Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga showdown, adding even more significance to García’s return.

At the fight’s kickoff press conference, a visibly excited García couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. “I love this sport like a fat kid loves cake,” he joked. Grateful for the opportunity to share the stage with Canelo, one of boxing’s biggest stars, García was keenly aware of the historic nature of the fight for him. A victory over Lara would make him a three-division world champion and place him alongside Puerto Rican legend Félix “Tito” Trinidad as one of the only Puerto Rican fighters to win both the welterweight and middleweight titles.

“This is a fight that I wanted. He has the title, and that’s what I was looking for. He wants my name, and I want his title. It makes perfect sense. I’m coming to make history,” García declared.

But the challenge is monumental. Lara, the reigning WBA Middleweight Champion, is widely regarded as the best in the division. This will also mark García’s first fight at middleweight. Despite the odds stacked against him, García remains unfazed. He’s been the underdog before. Both Lucas Matthysse and Amir Khan were expected to beat García, but he shocked the boxing world by winning both of those fights.

“Boxing is all mental. You can do whatever you put your mind to,” García said confidently. “Weight is just weight. Boxing is about skill and will. At the end of the day, when you’re tired, and you go into those championship rounds, it’s about who’s got the will. He can box, but everyone knows Danny García comes to fight.”

As the fight draws nearer, García finds himself in familiar territory: the underdog, the man with something to prove. But this time, there’s more on the line. This is his chance to cement his legacy, to become a three-division world champion, and to add yet another chapter to the Danny García Show. The stage is set, and as he prepares to walk into the bright lights of Las Vegas, he’s ready to pull off another upset.

“This is my time,” García said with a grin. “Lara is Cuban, but I am the real Danny Montana. I’m bringing the Danny García show to Las Vegas!”

With his father in his corner and history in his sights, García is ready for one last run at glory, hoping for the storybook ending he’s fought so hard to write.