Garcia, Peterson, And Jacobs Avoid Upsets

Danny "Swift " Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) looked sharp with a crushing second-round knockout victory over "Lighting" Rod Salka (19-4, 3 KOs) in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® main event in front of 7,012 fans Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Garcia knocked Salka down twice before laying his challenger flat on his back with a powerful left hook with 29 seconds left in the second round to secure the knockout victory. 

Garcia, of Philadelphia, showed his skills outpunching his opponent, landing 52 percent of his power punches, 24 percent of his jabs and 43 percent of his total punches. Salka, of Bunola, Penn., landed only 14 percent of his punches. 

After his victory, Garcia spoke with SHOWTIME ringside reporter Jim Gray. 

"I came here to purge. I told everybody tonight was going to be the 'Danny Garcia Show.' No matter who I fought tonight, they were going to get beat. I was going to purge. I was out to kill.

"I didn't think this was going to be an easy fight. I thought he'd try to box me. But it is not about the opponent. When I am at my best I can beat anybody and I already proved that.

On a potential matchup with Lamont Peterson..."I leave it up to Al Haymon, but if he [Peterson] wants it. I'll give it to him. I show up fight night and sometimes I have good nights or bad nights, but I always find a way to win.

SHOWTIME analyst Paulie Malignaggi on the fight..."He's not going to get a lot of credit because of the opponent. But for those that really know boxing, you can see that Danny Garcia was very sharp tonight. Punching well, moving and defending very well. He looked sharp and would have given anyone a tough time tonight."

In the co-feature bout, Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs) retained his IBF Junior Welterweight World Championship with a dominating tenth-round technical knockout victory over Edgar Santana (29-5, 20 KOs).

Peterson, of Washington, D.C., controlled the fight from the outset, lighting up New York native Santana with left hooks and shots to the body. Peterson was highly accurate, landing 53 percent of his power punches and 48 percent of his total punches.

The champion diversified his attack in later rounds, with Santana enduring consistent punishment. With 11 seconds left in the tenth, referee Pete Santiago had seen enough and awarded Peterson the technical knockout.

"I was able to show a lot of dimensions of my game," said 30-year-old Peterson. "I was boxing well. I fought on the inside well. I actually think I should have gotten him out of there sooner but I give myself an okay grade.

"I think it was [round] four or five. I hurt him. I didn't finish him. I don't know why I didn't but I knew I hurt him -and it was over- it was just a matter of time. I just had to get the right spot, push on the gas and go forward.

On a potential fight with Danny Garcia..."This is the fight all the fans and the media want. I'm willing to do it. Again, I'm going to say this: 'I'm willing to do it.' Hopefully it gets done...It makes more sense to do it at 140 but if it has to happen at 147 I have no problem.

In theSHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXINGopening bout, Daniel "The Miracle Man" Jacobs (28-1, 25 KOs) completed the next step in his inspirational journey by winning a world championship in his hometown of Brooklyn, N.Y., only three years after battling cancer. With his fifth-round knockout victory over Australian Jarrod Fletcher (18-2, 10 KOs), Jacobs earned the vacant WBA Middleweight World Championship and the 25th knockout win of his career. 

Jim Gray asked Jacobs if he even thought about boxing when he was on his deathbed. "My son, my baby boy, was my first priority. But getting back into the ring was my second motivation.  Boxing taught me to have the mental strength to overcome anything. And that's what I did."

"My advice [to others fighting cancer] is to be strong. But even if you can't beat it, be happy. Be grateful that we even have this life.

"I wanted to pace myself. I didn't want to punch myself out. I respected him. But I didn't see any way that he could defeat me. I was sitting down on my punches and throwing in bunches. He was a tough customer. I hope he's okay.

"I want to fight Peter Quillin in Brooklyn right here at the Barclays Center. The Brooklyn fans deserve it and it's going to happen soon hopefully.