Garcia bids 'Farewell to Brooklyn'

Two-division champion Danny “Swift” Garcia will fight for the 10th and final time at Downtown’s Barclays Center on Saturday night. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — No one can deny that two-division world champion Danny “Swift” Garcia has always been at his best right here in Downtown Brooklyn.

This is where his legend began to take shape and this is where it will likely end.

If, of course, you believe that the Philadelphia native of Puerto Rican descent will hang up the gloves for good following his 10-round welterweight bout with Daniel “El Gallo” Gonzalez on Saturday night at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

“My favorite thing about the fans is the atmosphere and the love,” Garcia said Tuesday in advance of his record 10th bout on the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush.

“I appreciate all the years that the fans have supported me,” he added. “Come out on Saturday night one last time, I’m gonna give you a hell of a show.”

Garcia (37-4) has fought nearly a quarter of his fights in Brooklyn, kicking off boxing cards at the newly constructed arena by defending his light welterweight crown with a win over Erik Morales here on March 24, 2012.

The now-37-year-old Garcia was only 24 that evening and virtually unknown to a sold-out Barclays crowd that had gathered to get a first glimpse at the venue, which was still months away from hosting its inaugural Nets game.

“When they first called to say I was gonna be main event at Barclays, I was excited,” Garcia recalled. “It was something new, so I didn’t know what to expect.

“When it was sold out, that was it, it was history. I was a little nervous walking to the ring, but I felt good. I felt strong and I felt like nothing could stop me.”

Nothing has stopped him from returning to our borough since.

Danny Garcia lost a tough split decision to Keith Thurman at Barclays Center in 2017, one of only two defeats he suffered in nine previous Brooklyn bouts. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II

Garcia is 7-2 in nine career Barclays fights, dropping a tough split decision to Keith Thurman in 2017 with welterweight unification on the line in 2017, and losing to Shawn Porter within the confines of his home away from home the next year.

Morales, Brooklyn’s Zab Judah, Rod Salka, Lamont Peterson, Bensonhurst native Paulie Malignaggi, Ivan Redkach and Jose Benavidez Jr. accounted for Garcia’s seven wins at Barclays over the years.

“My favorite fight at Barclays Center was probably Erik Morales, because I knocked him out,” said Garcia. “Also the Zab Judah fight. That was a hell of a rivalry. The Keith Thurman fight too because it was unification and a huge fight.”

This one may not be as huge, especially with Garcia coming off losses in two of his last three fights, but it will be significant to his legacy, both as a potential Hall of Famer and here in Brooklyn.

He is even promoting the entire card under his Swift Promotions banner.

“The fans have supported me the whole way, since I first fought here, and have made Brooklyn feel like my home outside of Philly,” Garcia noted prior to his first fight here in three years.

“There’s nothing like a big fight night at Barclays Center,” he added. “I had to do this show for the fans and show them how much I’ve appreciated them this entire time. The best way to say goodbye is by fighting here one last time and giving them a tremendous night of boxing full of rising young talent.”

Gonzalez (22-4-1), a native of Woodhaven, N.Y., is certainly hoping to raise his future stock in what Garcia is calling his “Farewell to Brooklyn.”

The 35-year-old has won his last two fights, but lost to Petros Ananyan the last time he stepped into the squared circle at Barclays in 2021.

Garcia wants to make sure he doesn’t walk out of the ring with a third Barclays loss come Saturday.

“Gonzalez is hungry. He’s got everything to gain and I’ve got everything to lose,” Garcia ceded. “I have to train myself like I’m fighting for a world title. That’s how I always train. I’m sparring the young hungry lions who are trying to beat me up.

“It’s the real Danny versus the fake Danny. He’s Dookie Gonzalez,” he jabbed. “This feels like the ending of my movie. We’ve got to end it with a win.”

Tickets for the live event are available now through Ticketmaster.com.

Trainer Angel Garcia will help his son Danny lace up the gloves one final time in Downtown Brooklyn on Saturday night. Photo by Don Avery/Swift Promotions

RING NOTES: Other bouts on tap for Saturday include rising contender Nahir Albright vs. former super lightweight world champion Richard Commey, Polish heavyweight Damian Knyba vs. countryman Joey Dawejko, Brooklyn native Chris “Primetime” Colbert vs. Blas Ezequiel Caro of Argentina and Philadelphia’s Gabriel Rosada vs. ring veteran Vaughn Alexander.