Danny Garcia: A champion stays true to his roots

"It's a boxing gym," said the undefeated Garcia, in town Thursday to train and promote his April 27 Showtime-televised bout with 35-year-old Zab Judah at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

"A boxing gym is not supposed to look like a hotel or a condo," he added. "It is supposed to be rugged. Philly is old-school. I think that is why we bring the best fighters, because we train in places like this."

Garcia (25-0, 16 KOs), who grew up just blocks away, was boxing's breakout star in 2012, exploding onto the national stage with wins over Mexican legend Erik Morales last March and up-and-coming Brit Amir Khan in July. The 12-round unanimous decision over Morales won Garcia the WBC light-welterweight title and his fourth-round stoppage against Khan consolidated that belt with the WBA crown.

As a result, the 25-year-old champ enters this matchup against Judah, a Brooklyn native, as a prohibitive favorite. It will be his third title defense. In October, Garcia dominated Morales in a rematch at the Barclays Center to retain his titles in what was the first world championship fight in Brooklyn since 1931.

In Garcia's mind, that performance, along with his Puerto Rican decent, has won over the Brooklyn faithful. Rumors abound that Judah has burned bridges in his hometown. Either way, Garcia expects to enter the ring with most of the arena in his corner.

"I'm the hometown guy," he said with a smirk. "He is from Brooklyn, but I was in New York 6 weeks ago and people were coming up to me saying, 'I'm from Brooklyn, but I can't wait until you knock [Zudah] out.'

"I think the crowd is going to be there for me. I know the crowd will be there for me. I will bet on it."

The fight was originally scheduled for February but was postponed when Garcia suffered a rib injury during a January sparring session. Judah accused Garcia of ducking him, exacerbating the bad blood that originated when Angel Garcia, Danny's father and trainer, nearly came to blows with Judah at the December kickoff news conference.

The outspoken Angel has always maintained his son was the world's best 140-pound fighter, calling Khan "just a name," despite being heavy underdogs. Title belts now in hand, not much has changed.

"Everybody is blind. When they open their eyes they'll see [Danny] is going to be a superstar," Angel said. "Right now, he's gone to college, he's already got his degree. In 5 years, he'll have his master's. Then, he'll be a professor."

With Danny's discipline, the Garcias believe they have a training advantage over their opponents. They prepare in Philadelphia with their minds at ease. Danny sleeps in his own bed, with a focus that enables him to avoid the temptations that come with training in his hometown.

"The champ doesn't drink," said Angel, referring to his son. "He doesn't go to the club and get all drunk and then hung over the next day. He is 100 percent an athlete."

Garcia addressed the media Thursday in comfort, his father's arm around his shoulders. Hanging on a wall in the gym is a photo of a 15-year-old Garcia alongside Philly legend Bernard Hopkins, who recently anointed him heir to the Philly boxing throne.

"It means a lot," Garcia said when asked how he felt about his Golden Boy teammate passing the torch.

"He just won the world title again so I guess the torch is now being passed back and forth. We're both the faces of the city. He is the living legend and I'm the up-and-coming star. We both have to keep winning for our city."