Photo Credits: SHOWTIME/Amanda Kwok
Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
BROOKLYN, NY — Danny Garcia vs. Rod Salka headlines tonight’s Showtime triple-header also featuring Lamont Peterson facing Edgar Santana, and Danny Jacobs taking on Jarrod Fletcher. Yesterday’s weigh-in took place right outside the Barclays Center with everyone making weight on their first attempts. Tonight’ card airs at 9 p.m. ET.
Garcia: 141.75
Salka: 141
PREDICTION: This deservedly maligned fight is no fault of Salka’s. Salka is a solid boxer, but he was selected for a reason. He doesn’t have the power to really give Danny any pause. However, Salka does move enough to be able to go rounds. Considering that Garcia’s last knockout came over a faded Erik Morales several years back, I see Salka being able to weather that left hook and putting up a better fight than expected. Nonetheless, he’ll still lose this one by unanimous decision. GARCIA UD
Peterson: 140
Santana: 139.5
PREDICTION: Edgar Santana won’t get steamrolled, but Peterson only bows down to top fighters. Santana last two wins were quick KOs against fighters over 40 years old and that’s not sufficient preparation for a fighter in Peterson’s class. We’ll get a typical slow Peterson start before he starts taking over matters and backing Santana up by the fourth round. PETERSON WIDE UD.
Jacobs: 159.5
Fletcher: 159.25
PREDICTION: You can view this fight as a step-up for Danny Jacobs, whose competition has been carefully selected since his return from cancer nearly two years ago. Fletcher is a solid, fringe Top 20 middleweight with no spectacular attributes in any particular area. Outside of being blown out by Billy Joe Saunders a few years ago, Fletcher has shown to be durable. The problem he’ll have here is Jacobs is much more physically gifted and will be able to beat him to the punch every time. In his recent KOs, Jacobs has also shown the ability to tighten up his shots when inside, further nullifying the area that would have been Fletcher’s spot to put in work.
Fletcher probably gets rocked and possibly dropped early on, but I do see him holding up until the middle rounds. JACOBS TKO7
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 