Boxer Danny Garcia pays visit to fan fighting cancer

A white top hat hid Darnel Baez's head - almost bald as a result of chemotherapy treatments - as he sat on a recliner in his Juniata Park living room Friday afternoon.

The limousine that was scheduled to whisk him to Community Academy Charter's junior prom wasn't going to arrive for at least three hours.

Yet his mother, Grisel Claudio, forced Baez to dress in his white tuxedo and pink vest.

Something must be up, thought the 17-year-old, who was diagnosed with leukemia in December.

A knock at his door told him he was right.

Danny Garcia, the unified world light-welterweight boxing champion, surprised Baez with a visit. Baez said he is amazed each time he watches Garcia fight.

Unknown to Baez, Garcia had once lived in an apartment next door on O Street. Garcia, dressed in a gray workout outfit, handed Baez an autographed boxing glove and gave his family $1,000 in cash.

Garcia, 25, was on his way to train at Harrowgate Boxing Club.

"It's awesome that he would take the time out before a fight to come see me," Baez said.

Garcia will defend his titles April 27 against Zab Judah at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

"It's all about giving back," Garcia said. "Giving back and giving people hope."

Garcia said he hoped his visit boosted Baez's morale. Baez begins five straight days of chemo on Wednesday at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The money will go toward a new family car.

"I have an old Camry that's had CPR a thousand times," Claudio said. "It's not going to get any more CPR."

More important than the gifts, Claudio said, was the smile Garcia brought to her son's face.

"You can't buy that," she said.

Garcia's father and trainer, Angel Garcia, hugged Baez in the living room and pointed upward. The only way to beat the disease, Angel Garcia said, was through faith. He should know. After being diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2006, he made a full recovery.

Friday's visit was organized by Dawn Papeika, a nurse at a Northeastern Hospital doctor's office used by both Claudio and Angel Garcia.

"I know the support you need to beat it and to fight it," Danny Garcia said. "And you just need motivation. Anytime it's something with cancer, I'm there."

One of the photographs Danny Garcia signed with a silver Sharpie for Baez showed Garcia connecting with a left hook to Amir Khan last summer. Everyone except Khan likes that one, Angel Garcia said.

They handed Baez a white "Team Garcia" shirt. It's the same style the Garcias wear during training at Harrowgate.

"I'm going to wear this when I watch his fight," Baez said.

Danny Garcia said that he attended three proms. His only advice was to dance a lot.

"You just have to enjoy yourself and make it the best night you can," Garcia said.

Garcia posed for more pictures before it was time to leave. The limousine would soon be coming for Baez, and the ring at Harrowgate awaited Garcia.

"Wait," Papeika said. "take this."

She handed Garcia an orange rubber bracelet. "No one fights alone," it read.

"Put it on the big left hook," Angel Garcia said.

The champ did that, walked back onto O Street, and returned to training.