"I think I can make the weight of 140 about 4 or 5 more times and keep doing damage in this division because 147 pounds, it only sounds like 7 more pounds, but you gotta build yourself up. You gotta build your strength and your chin and build a lot of things around it. We're working on that man, but I have gotten to the top, so now it's time to make my mark and then move up...I just want to tell the world that I'm a true champion. I fight anybody at any time. Danny Garcia is going to be pound-for-pound and I just thank the people that support me and it's gonna be a long ride," stated undefeated unified jr. welterweight champion Danny Garcia, who talked about his big win over Amir Khan, his future plans, and much more. Check it out!
PC: Congratulations on a helluva knockout win over Amir Khan. How does it feel to be on top of the world and do what you said you were gonna do?
DG: Man, it feels great, man. I had a great camp and I knew what I was capable of doing. I knew Khan was going to start fast; everybody knew that. I knew when the fight settled down, I would adapt to his speed and I was gonna knock him out and that's exactly what I did.
PC: He started fast and hit you with some good shots. Did your confidence go up when you felt you could take his punches and be okay?
DG: I knew he wasn't a big puncher. I said it all week because people were telling me he hit hard and were asking how I was going to handle his power. I knew he had good speed, but I knew I hit harder than him. I knew when I started landing shots, he wasn't going to be able to take 'em because he was using a lot of speed and that takes a lot of energy, man. I can be that fast too, but I close my hands when I punch. A lot of people, when they are fast like that, when they let their hands go, they leave them open. I knew that a big punch was gonna land.
PC: You throw that look-away left hook a lot. When it landed and he went down, did you think the fight would be over, because he went down hard?
DG: I thought it was over because of the way he fell back. I hit him with a punch and he hit his head. That probably woke him up when he hit his head. But the left hook, I actually stood in the pocket and the way I throw my left hook, I turn my whole body with it. I saw him. I hit him with a little left hook and I kind of backed him off and he threw an uppercut from far out and that's when I just sat down. I turned my whole body. It looks like I'm looking away, but I'm really not. I really know he's there; I'm just putting all of my power and force into it and that's why I lean all the way to the side like that.
PC: Naazim Richardson said as long as you can make 140, you will be a terror in the division. Is this a comfortable weight for you, because you are a big dude?
DG: I think I can make the weight of 140 about 4 or 5 more times and keep doing damage in this division because 147 pounds, it only sounds like 7 more pounds, but you gotta build yourself up. You gotta build your strength and your chin and build a lot of things around it. We're working on that man, but I have gotten to the top, so now it's time to make my mark and then move up.
PC: I think honest people and people that are not afraid to speak their mind and give their opinions are a lost thing in boxing. Your dad doesn't fit that criteria as he always says what he feels. He did the talking and you did the walking. Is it a situation where your pops is that confident in your skills and it bothered him that people didn't give you a chance against Khan?
DG: My dad knows how special I am. He raised me. Not only is he my dad, he's my trainer. He is with me every day in the gym. He knows the hard work I put in and most people don't see that. Most people are caught up in the politics of making somebody a star, the true champions are being left behind and that's what my dad was saying. My dad is basically just speaking up for American fighters and trying to open up doors for us. We need more American stars and we need that exposure, so that's why he gets angry, but he knows what I'm about and he believes in me and that's why I just let him be him. I know my dad. The same way he is outspoken, that's the way he is at home. My dad is just an outspoken person. He don't do that for the cameras; that's just the way he is.
PC: You told me pre-fight Khan was over-hyped. You also said you don't think he would be able to handle the shots Morales ate and you went in there and did what you said you were going to do. It's one thing to say it, but how does it feel to actually go in there and do it?
DG: I knew he was going to come out fast and I knew his confidence was going to be over the top. I know he doesn't have the strongest chin. He's been knocked out before, he's been hurt before, and he gets hurt in a lot of fights. I knew I had the power and I knew early in rounds when he was all hype and had all of that confidence, that's when I was gonna catch him early. We practiced that in the gym. My dad was like, "Danny, he is going to come out fast. Keep your composure. He's gonna get over-anxious and make a mistake and you gonna make him pay." And we just had the vision and I kind of knew it was gonna happen and I was gonna stop him.
PC: Were you surprised at how brave he got once he hit the canvas, because I thought for sure he would at least hold on for a few rounds?
DG: It surprised me because usually, when he gets hurt, he starts running and makes you chase him, but I guess he really wanted to knock me out. He wanted to show the world and he wanted to knock me out. But he showed a lot of heart and he surprised me a lot. But he is a true champion and that's what champions do; they go out on their shield. The same way if I was hurt, I would have gone out on my shield the same way. It was all about giving the fans a great fight and a night to remember.
PC: There was one point during the 4th round where I was thinking you may punch yourself out for a bit. Were you trained to finish and throw those hard shots like that or was that just killer instincts setting in and you went for the kill?
DG: (Laughing) That's the way I was sparring in the gym to be honest with you. I was sparring hard rounds and throwing hard shots. When I rip my shots and throw my shots, I kind of throw my body with it, so I don't use a lot of energy. I use the motion of my body. I relax my body and sit on my shots and motions to swing my body. It kind of looks like I'm punching myself out, but I'm just really relaxed and using the motion of my body against my opponents.
PC: I know you are coming off of a big win, so I don't want to ask who is next, but when would you like to return?
DG: Um, hopefully late October or early November. I really don't know who because Khan is one of the biggest names in boxing. It don't get no bigger than that, so I really don't know, man. That's my manager's job. My job is to get ready and train hard. I feel like I'm one of the best fighters in the world and I'm just gonna be ready for whatever they put in front of me.
PC: I appreciate the exclusive. I know you said this is your first phone interview since the fight. Much love on that and best of luck in your next fight. Is there anything you want to say before I let you go?
DG: Nah man, you know I had to give an interview to you. This is the first interview I do after my fights. After you win, everybody wants to interview you and I'm like, nah to the people who doubted me. They be wanting to do an interview now, but we are 100. I just want to tell the world that I'm a true champion. I fight anybody at any time. Danny Garcia is going to be pound-for-pound and I just thank the people that support me and it's gonna be a long ride, man; just buckle up.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]