Quote Originally Posted by Rantcatrat View Post
First, I want to make clear I don't think Garcia is obligated to do a rematch. I also am a big Matthysse fan and have already admitted to sour grapes on this fight. It was a tough fight and Garcia escaped with a win. If he wants to move on to tougher challengers, so be it. There are plenty of good fights for him that don't involve Matthysse including the Broner/Maidana winner, the Thurman/Karass winner, and Brooks. However, those fights are all at 147. At 140, outside of Lundy with the Philly angle, I'm not sure who else there is for Garcia to fight, other than a rematch.

In my opinion though, the welt grew in the 7th round. Prior to the _th round, I had the fight close. I thought he was getting to Garcia in the later rounds, especially when he knocked Garcia's mouthpiece out of his mouth and Weeks stepped in to get the mouthpiece, giving Matthysse time to recuperate. If he had both eyes, I'm not sure how that round would have ended. I thought I saw both guys make adjustments, but when the eye close, it appeared to me that Matthysse was beginning to adjust, and the closed eye ruined the momentum.

I also thought Garcia fought dirty. I thought he hit low and frequently held when the fight was in close. He was called for a point in the 11th round, but how many times did Weeks warn him before he took a point? With a different referee and without the closed eye, I think the fight goes differently.

Does every close fight deserve a rematch? No way. But, fights where there is an argument that the outcome changed due to a cut/closed eye, to me have more grounds for rematches.

Basically,
Fair enough. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it again simply because it has the makings of a great action fight.

To me though, unless the cut actually stopped the fight (like with Rosado), I don't think it warrants a rematch. There have been other fights (Stiverne/Arreola recently, Pavlik/Martinez is another) where a cut, swelling, broken nose, ect changed the momentum of a fight, but to me that's just boxing. It's up to the fighter to overcome the damage, and if it isn't the doctor stopping the fight and taking that ability away from him, I don't think he has any reason to gripe.

I really like both guys, and I was one of the many who underestimated Garcia and thought Matthysse would be too much for Garcia. Danny really showed a huge pair of balls and underestimated boxing skill in winning a hard fought victory. I think on that accomplishment, he deserves to propell upwards and enjoy bigger fights.