WBC world welterweight champion Danny Garcia warmed up for his unification clash against Keith Thurman with a comprehensive seventh-round stoppage of Samuel Vargas in Philadelphia on Saturday.
The unbeaten 28-year-old (33-0 KO19), who will meet WBA champion Thurman on March 4, was fighting in his hometown for the first time in six years and did not disappoint, producing a commanding and composed performance at the Liacouras Center.
Garcia dropped Vargas (25-3-1 KO13) in the second with a big overhand right and, as the bout wore on, began to pick the Colombian off with a full range of shots.
The fight was eventually brought to a halt 2:17 into round seven by referee Gary Rosado, with Vargas pinned against the ropes and on the receiving end of a series of powerful shots from Garcia.
Thurman watched from ringside and the pair shared a few words in the middle of the ring following the contest, with both keen to get their message across ahead of their clash.
"I just had to tell Keith that he's next," Garcia said. "I'm going to beat him down. There's not much more to say. Keith is going to get what he asked for and now he's going to face a big dog.
"On March 4, fans can expect what they always get from me. It's going to be fireworks. I'm a Philly champion. I have the heart of a champion and I'm coming to win and unify titles."
Thurman said: "You have two big punchers meeting on March 4. I don't see how the fight can go 12 rounds. I see myself as the best competition that Danny has ever faced.
"Danny can talk whatever he wants and Angel Garcia can say whatever he wants.
"They can talk smack all day. Danny is real flat-footed. I believe I'll be able to be on the outside, see the wide punches and counter punch. They said he wanted the tune-up, now he's ready to see me."
On the undercard, undefeated super-welterweight Jarrett Hurd (19-0 KO13) stopped former world title challenger Jo Jo Dan (35-4, 18 KOs) in the sixth-round.
While former WBA world super-featherweight champion Javier Fortuna (31-1-1 KO22) survived an early knockdown to earn a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Omar Douglas (17-1 KO 12) in their 10-round lightweight clash, with the judges scoring the bout 96-93 twice and 95-94 for Fortuna.