Floyd Mayweather's Next Fight: Danny Garcia Has Earned Right to Challenge Money

Floyd Mayweather Jr. wasn't the only world champion who put on a dominant performance on Saturday night. WBA and WBC light welterweight champion Danny "Swift" Garcia easily out-boxed the dangerous and favored Lucas "The Machine" Matthysse in the co-featured bout.

Garcia ran his record to 27-0 with the win and maintained his unified titles at 140 pounds. Though he would have to come up at least seven pounds in weight, Garcia is undoubtedly the man most deserving of a shot at Mayweather. Not only did he out-box Matthysse, Garcia took the powerful Argentinian's blows in stride. This was something almost no one thought he'd be able to do.

Not only did Garcia take Matthysse's punches, he dished out his own damage to the Machine.

Matthysse's eye was nearly swollen shut in the seventh round, and Garcia dropped him for the first time in his career in the 11th. It was a signature performance for the 25-year-old who is consistently overlooked when it comes to the top fighters in the sport.

It is getting harder and harder to sleep on Garcia, though. In his last six fights, he has defeated Kendall Holt, Erik Morales (twice), Amir Khan, Zab Judah and Matthysse. Every one of those fighters—except Matthysse—has been a world champion.

Garcia has proven he has the goods in the ring. With the help of his outspoken and boisterous father, Angel Garcia, Swift and Money could be a fairly big commercial draw. Who says boxing is dead?

Mayweather would obviously be the big favorite, but the underdog role is nothing new to Garcia. Most didn't expect him to beat Matthysse, Khan and the other bigger named fighters he's faced in his career.

Still, Swift keeps on winning. If you're looking for the most logical opponent for Mayweather, it is Garcia. Boxing fans will pine for a bout with Manny Pacquiao. Those requests will get even louder if Pacquiao defeats Brandon Rios on Nov. 23. But negotiating with Garcia won't be nearly as frustrating to boxing fans as a Mayweather-Pacquiao bout.

The boxing world has been down the road with Money and Pac-Man before.  Garcia is undefeated and has earned the right to fight the best.

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