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It wasn't a fight that set the world on fire when it was made, but Danny Garcia's title defense against Zab Judah was scheduled to go down in two weeks and Showtime had just poured significant time into promoting the bout on last night's Showtime Championship Boxing. Now, however, it looks like Garcia may be looking to pull out of the February 9 bout.
It started with some tweets from Mike Coppinger:
BREAKING: I've been advised by reliable sources that @dannyswift Garcia will withdraw from Feb. 9 @shosports bout vs Zab @superjudah #boxing
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 27, 2013
@jamesbaggjr I've heard rumors Garcia wasn't taking training seriously
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 27, 2013
I was told Garcia will pull out Monday. Things change of course, but it's what I was told by a reliable source. #boxing
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 27, 2013
Showtime spent a good portion of last night's broadcast of Lucas Matthysse's destruction of Mike Dallas Jr. promoting Garcia vs Judah. Between talking to Zab, showing a hype video focused on the argument between Zab and the Garcia camp at the presser and even asking Matthysse directly after his win if Judah had a chance, they were really pushing the event as well as attempting to lay the groundwork for Matthysse to fight the winner.
Zab, as one would expect, was none too happy:
Wow @dannyswift you backing out after all that talk. First ya'll call the cops now ya'll back out the fight!!! #Garciagirls
— ZAB JUDAH 5x Champ! (@SUPERJUDAH) January 27, 2013
Listen punk be a man and take this ass whipping I got for you on feb 9, @dannyswift and stop trying to back out punk boy #Garciagirls
— ZAB JUDAH 5x Champ! (@SUPERJUDAH) January 27, 2013
Obviously nothing is set in stone and things could change. So we'll have any updates of note here at Bad Left Hook.
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Update: Garcia-Judah fight off due to rib injury from sparring
Zab Judah had the following to say:
No one has said anything to me, but I heard Garcia hurt his ribs in sparring. But I know he's hurt and the fight with Garcia is off, but there might a replacement opponent. I worked hard for this and I don't understand how you're a champion and two weeks before a fight you say you're hurt.
I don't know if he's faking it or not, but they told me the fight is off and I know he's not ready. He might want to wait to April to fight-but that's not going to be it. I want to fight him now. We're hoping and looking for a replacement. I did everything I have to do to fight this guy.