Philadelphia’s Danny Garcia, left, landing against Lucas Matthysse this past September in Las Vegas (Photo: Naoki Fukuda)
By Chris Robinson
As the days go by, we continue to wait for word on Floyd Mayweather’s next ring opponent.
At the moment there seems to be a very strong chance that Mayweather will end up facing off with British star Amir Khan on May 3 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
And while Khan surely serves as one of the biggest names for Mayweather at the moment, North Philadelphia’s Naazim Richardson has two other prizefighters in mind who could possibly trouble, and maybe even defeat Mayweather.
“Tim [Bradley] and Danny Garcia are capable of beating anybody in boxing,” The Zen-like trainer told me recently when discussing the WBO welterweight titlist and the WBA/WBC junior welterweight champion.
“Tim and Danny Garcia are young versions of a Bernard Hopkins,” Richardson added. “You can never gauge them. You can’t watch film on them. You can’t anticipate with them. Because they are super over-achievers. What Bernard Hopkins was. What Joe Frazier was.”
And while Richardson isn’t bold enough to side with either man against Mayweather, he wouldn’t be stunned if either pulled an upset.
“If Tim Bradley or Danny Garcia were to beat Floyd Mayweather I would not be shocked,” Richardson stated. “Would you bet against Floyd? F*ck no. The only person you’re supposed to bet against Floyd with is Wladimir Klitschko on a good day.”
It’s obvious in speaking with Richardson just how much respect he has towards the Grand Rapids native, however.
“Floyd is one of them fighters now who you aren’t supposed to bet against until you see him lose,” Richardson explained. “He’s that special of a kid. But Tim or Danny getting past him would not shock me at all.”
TO LISTEN TO the full interview with Richardson, where he recounts knowing Garcia and Bradley as amateurs while also pondering a Garcis vs. Bradley matchup, please check below…
Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com
