Danny Garcia stops Samuel Vargas and sets up unification clash with Keith Thurman
WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia (33-0, 19 KOs) halted Samuel Vargas (25-3-1. 13 KOs) in the 7th round of a non-title bout on Saturday night at the Liacouras Center in his hometown of Philadelphia.
Garcia dominated from the start, dropping Vargas (25-3-1 KO13) in the second with a big overhand right and he punished the overmatched Colombian with more hard shots as the fight progressed.
The American pinned Vargas against the ropes in the 7th and landed a series of powerful punches that prompted referee Gary Rosado to halt the one-way action at 2:17 of the round.
Garcia will meet WBA champion Keith Thurman, who watched from ringside, on March 4 in a unification clash, and the pair excchanged words following the fight.
"I just had to tell Keith that he's next," said Garcia. "I'm going to beat him down.
"On March 4, fans can expect what they always get from me. It's going to be fireworks. I'm coming to win and unify titles."
Thurman said: "I asked for this fight this year. They wanted a tune-up. I was ready this year.
"You have two big punchers meeting on March 4. I don't see how the fight can go 12 rounds.
"I think my counters and my power is going to be the ultimate game-changer."