‘I fight for my name,’ he said. ‘For my dad’s last name to be recognized in the history books of boxing. My dad started it. My brother continued it. I have to leave my own special chapter.’ ESPN online article 25 July 2018 Mark Kriegel
Mike is the son of Mexican parents who crossed the border into California to find work in the strawberry fields.
His father Eduardo, an amateur boxer, kept him away from the street gangs by taking him to the gym with him when he was fourteen.
Garcia is a formidable boxer-puncher who often switches to southpaw. He is noted for his patience in the ring as he waits for the right moment to strike.
Four years ago, Mikey was unhappy with the money he was being paid and he refused to honour his contract with Bob Arum.
He took legal action against America’s top promoter and their bitter dispute lasted two years before they eventually came to an amicable agreement.
There were doubts after such a long exile if Garcia could get back to his former brilliance.
But when he returned he proved he was as good as ever.
Garcia will be going after his fifth world title when he challenges unbeaten Errol Spence for his IBF welterweight crown in the Texan’s backyard on March 16.
The majority of fight folk believe he is trying to cross a bridge too far by jumping two weight divisions to take on someone as formidable as Spence.
It is a match made in heaven and takes place at the 105,000 seater AT & T stadium – the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
At the moment there are seats at all prices – but I doubt if that will be the case for long. The Sun online article 22nd December 2018 Colin Hart, ‘Mikey Garcia only got into boxing to get out of gangs … now he is one of the best in the world’
36) Dejan Zlaticanin KO3: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Dejan Zlaticanin 28 January 2017 WBC Lightweight Nevada [r1] … Garcia coming back with a powerful right hand through the guard … nice counter-jab … good jab … [r2] … Garcia now beginning to showcase some of his power … nice one-two through the guard … good footwork … counter chopping right hand … [r3] … Another solid one-two … uppercut … and Zlaticanin goes down … and Mikey Garcia has become a three-division champion. US fight commentary
37) Adrien Broner Points 12: UK Fight Commentary TV -
v Adrien Broner 29 July 2017 New York [r1] … Cagey start … Garcia landed a good right hand … backing Broner up … [r2] … Garcia holding the centre of the ring … looks good … [r3] … Garcia very patient … good left hook … Broner again with a shake of the head … [r4] … Garcia just clinical … nice left to the body … uppercut … gets that right hand through … [r5] … Garcia is definitely four up … leading with a left uppercut … [r6] … looking very comfortable at the weight … controlling the pace … winning all the rounds … [r7] … [Broner’s] got to do something … Garcia is the stronger … that body attack again … straight right hand … [r8] … Garcia spread his gloves wide … inching forward … Who beats Mikey Garcia? … barely effortless … [r9] … [Broner] has to look for the big shot … up against a better fighter … [r10] … A shutout … soul-destroying for Broner … Good left hook from Broner … right hand lead … [r11] … Such a dominant performance … [r12] … Garcia has been top class. UK Sky TV commentary
39) Robert Easter Points 12: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Robert Easter 28 July 2018 WBC & IBF Lightweight California [r1] … Most of them jabs [Easter] … Sharp jab from Mikey Garcia … [r2] … Sharp jab by Easter … Garcia offloading punches … [r3] … Garcia attacking very well … sublime skills … left hook drops … Robert Easter junior down … Mikey Garcia pouring on the pressure … [r4] … Right hand behind the guard by Garcia … another sharp jab … pouring it on … [r5] … Upstairs by Garcia … right uppercut on the inside … [r6] … Easter coming forward lead right hand … Lead left hook clips the jaw of Robert Easter … lands a right hand … [r7] … Garcia is landing the better power jabs … a right hand behind the guard … Lead uppercut by Easter … Garcia scored with another left hook … [r8] … Double left hook there by Garcia … [r9] … One-two … an exchange here … Easter landing some nice shots … Garcia scored with the jab and then the right hand … lead left hook to the body … One-two … Garcia with a strong rally … [r10] … Garcia taking control of this fight … Easter absorbs those two punches … [r11] … Right and another left [Garcia] … the power shots … One-two combination … [r12] … still attacking … clubbing away … good one-two … Counter left hook by Easter … [116-111, 117-110, 118-109 Garcia] US fight commentary
[8.7] SAMUEL SERRANO 56-50(17)-5-1 [Super-Featherweight & Featherweight]: UPI.com online -
San Juan, Puerto Rico – Samuel Serrano of Puerto Rico, the World Boxing Association’s junior lightweight champion, rested Wednesday in preparation for his 14th title defense against Japanese challenger Hikaru Tomorari.
Serrano will be defending his title for the first time since he regained it last February from Yasutsune Uehara, whom he kayoed him in August 1980.
Serrano, who held the title for four years and is Puerto Rico’s most durable – and most active – champion, holds a 44-4-1 record, which includes defeats of 17 Orientals.
‘He likes to fight Orientals,’ said a promoter. ‘He was never very popular in Puerto Rico, so he’s fought a lot of fights in Japan.’
Known for a quick succession of left jabs, left hook and right cross, Serrano earn $100,000 for the bout.
He will have to lose ‘a pound or two’ the day of the bout to get down to the mandatory 130 pounds, the promoter said.
Tomorari, 130, is a half inch shorter than the titleholder and holds a 19-4-1 record. He will be paid only $10,000. UPI.com online article 9 December 1981
[8.6] BRIAN MITCHELL 49-45(21)-1-3: 702 online article -
Brian Mitchell can be described as one of the best boxers in South African history. The boxing legend turned pro in 1981 and captured the WBA and Lineal Junior Lightweight Title in 1986.
He defended the title 12 times, and never lost a title fight. In 1991 he captured the IBF Junior Lightweight Title with a decision win over boxer Tony Lopez. He retired after the fight, and came back briefly in 1994 for two local bouts, retiring completely in 1995 with a professional record.
Due to South Africa’s apartheid policy, the WBA ruled that Mitchell’s title defences were not to be held in South Africa. Mitchell then became a true ‘road warrior’, defending his title 12 times abroad.
Mitchell was a busy fighter who relentlessly came forward, throwing a high number of punches to his opponent’s head and body. Mitchell always entered his fights in peak physical condition, and it was usually this dedication that earned him his victories.
In March 1983, Mitchell won an eight-round decision from Jerome Gumede, earning him a South African junior-lightweight title shot at Chris Whiteboy. He made the most of his opportunity, knocking Whiteboy out in the ninth round to claim the title.
Mitchell then met Jacob Morake, the only boxer to have beaten him in his young career. Morake faced Mitchell for the third time in March 1984, and the champion again defended his South African title over 12 rounds.
In November 1985, he faced Jacob Morake for the fourth time. ‘I knocked him out in the last round to defend my South African title,’ says Mitchell.
The South African boxer was stripped of his WBA crown for facing Lopez for the IBF title, and suddenly he found himself without a world title for the first time since 1986. However, he again faced Lopez in Sacramento in September, and on that occasion made sure of victory with a convincing point win, claiming the IBF title in the process.