The woe of Danny Garcia: How an undefeated boxer can get no respect

The world loves a winner and Danny Garcia is, without question, a winner.

He’s 30-0 with 17 knockouts and, at 27, is entering the prime of his career.

Garcia, though, has taken a disproportionate amount of abuse on social media for a guy with his résumé. Nine of his past 10 opponents were or had been world champions.

Paulie Malignaggi, his opponent on Saturday in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions series card on ESPN, will make that 10 of 11.

Garcia, though, can’t find much love among the fan base these days. He’s been ripped for being on the winning side of close decisions in fights with Mauricio Herrera and Lamont Peterson, for not fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. and for taking on the unheralded Rod Salka.

Garcia is puzzled by it, but he’s as low key as his father and trainer, Angel, is outspoken.

“In the sport of boxing, you’re going to have your critics no matter what you do, so you might as well ignore them and focus on training hard and fighting to win,” Garcia said. “I think I’ve proven what I can do. I go out and fight hard and win. And I do win.

“I’m not sure why all the criticism, but take a look at the other young champions out there. My résumé is right there. None of their résumés stack up with mine, if I’m being honest.”

Garcia didn’t fight Mayweather, and it looks like it will never happen since Mayweather chooses who he wants to fight and said his Sept. 12 bout will be his last.

No question, Garcia didn’t chase the bout publicly, even when many linked him to Mayweather, but he didn’t have an offer he declined.

He was blasted for fighting Salka last year, and there is little doubt that Salka was not the kind of opponent who figured to give Garcia much of a problem.

But how much input Garcia had into that match is debatable.

And then, there is a school of thought among some that Herrera and Peterson both deserved victories over him.

Garcia said he felt he won both fights, naturally, but pointed out that he doesn’t score them.

“The Peterson fight, I watched it and I felt like I won the first seventh and the ninth for sure,” he said. “It was easily 8-4, 7-5 for me. He was moving, but he wasn’t really throwing punches.

“Herrera, that was a tough competitive fight. I went out there and fought my heart out, like I always do, and the judges said it was 8-4 for me. I guess some people expect me to go out and knock guys out all the time and get upset if I win a close fight. But it’s OK. I can’t worry about that because it’s out of my hands.”

What he can control is how he performs and he’s eager to put on a show against the veteran Malignaggi. Malignaggi is a slick and elusive boxer, and Garcia wants to dictate the pace.

If he wins, he’ll be in the mix for any number of good bouts in the welterweight division.

And Garcia said he’s not chasing or calling anyone out, but will hope to get the best opponent possible.

“I don’t dream of fighting anyone and I’m not much for call-outs,” he said. “I take it one fight at a time and let destiny take its course. I have a great team and they have a lot of years in this business and they know what’s best. When my manager tells me who I’m fighting, I get ready and go out and get ready to win.

“It’s how I’ve always done it and it’s what I’ll continue to do. I can’t be worried about getting credit from people I don’t know or what everyone has to say."