Danny Garcia isn’t the most active fighter in the world anymore. He seldom makes multiple trips to the ring on a yearly basis and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.

After coming up woefully short against Errol Spence Jr. in late 2020, Garcia took nearly two years off. His time away allowed him to recharge but most importantly, forced him to rethink a few things.

Once he felt the need to make his comeback, Garcia (37-3, 21 KOs) did so but at a new weight class. So far, ditching the welterweight division has been sagacious. In his 154-pound debut, the now 35-year-old picked up a smooth win vs. Jose Benavidez Jr.

Ultimately, the Philly star was hoping to land a showdown against Jermell Charlo, the division's unified champion. Charlo, however, went on to do other things.

With the dust on his birth certificate piling up, Garcia decided that he didn’t want to wait around. So, with his shoulders bereft of a world title for several years now, Garcia found someone else to fight.

The worst-kept secret in boxing is Garcia’s next opponent. The former two-division champ is supposed to take on current WBA titlist, Erislandy Lara, at a catchweight. Initially, they were slated to get it on in mid-December but, unfortunately for Garcia, that show was eventually canned.

Although he doesn't have a clue when he’ll actually face Lara, Garcia does know that his 2023 was essentially a wasted year.  

“The fight was supposed to happen in December but it’s looking like next year,” Garcia told YSM Sports Media. “I won’t be fighting in 2023.”

Moving up in weight is a common thing in boxing but Garcia’s transient pitstop in the junior middleweight division is a bit out of the ordinary. Facing someone far bigger than him is a piece of cake for Garcia. Going back to his pro debut in 2007, coupled with his time in the amateurs, Garcia firmly believes that the reprieve his body is going through right now is exactly what he needed.

“I used to fight 140 in the amateurs so I been in the 40s my whole career. Now I’m letting my body breathe and I can focus on training and being great. I feel better than ever.”