Mikey Garcia

Mikey Garcia
Garcia in 2014
Statistics
Real name	Miguel Angel Garcia Cortez
Rated at	Featherweight Super featherweight Light welterweight
Height	5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Reach	68 in (173 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	(1987-12-15) December 15, 1987 Ventura, California, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	35
Wins	35
Wins by KO	29
Losses	0
Medal record Men's amateur boxing U.S. National Golden Gloves Little Rock 2001 Lightweight

Miguel Angel Garcia Cortez (born December 15, 1987), best known as Mikey Garcia, is an American professional boxer.^[1][2] He is a two-weight former world champion, having held the WBO and Ring magazine featherweight titles in 2013, and the WBO junior lightweight title from 2013 to 2014.^[3] He is trained by his father Eduardo and his brother, former world champion Robert Garcia.^[4][5][6]

Personal life

Early life and education

Miguel Angel's father, Eduardo, was an amateur boxer and trainer of world champion boxer Fernando Vargas at La Colonia Youth Boxing Club.^[7] His older brother, Roberto was a professional boxer and a former IBF Super Featherweight Champion who lost his belt to the late Diego Corrales. His oldest brother, Daniel, was a boxer and trainer.^[8] Miguel Angel graduate from Ventura County Police Academy.^[9] He has been featured on ABC's show American Latino TV and he talked about balancing studies with the demands of boxing.^[10]

Amateur career

Garcia started his amateur career at the age of fourteen. In 2003, he won a silver medal at the National Junior Olympic Championships in the 125 lb division. In 2004, he won a gold medal at the National Junior Golden Gloves Championships and a silver medal at the National Police Athletic League Championships, both in the 132 lb division. In 2005, he won a bronze medal at the National Golden Gloves Championships and a gold medal at the National Police Athletic League Championships, both in the 132 lb division.^[11]

Amateur highlights

• 2003 National Junior Olympic Championships (Silver Medal, 125 lbs)
• 2004 National Junior Golden Gloves Championships (Gold Medal, 132 lbs)
• 2004 National Police Athletic League Championships (Silver Medal, 132 lbs)
• 2005 National Golden Gloves Championships (Bronze Medal, 132 lbs)
• 2005 National Police Athletic League Championships (Gold Medal, 132 lbs)

Professional career

Featherweight

Early career

García is known as a patient fighter with good punching power, a natural right-hander who likes to switch to southpaw during some of his fights. He turned pro in 2006 and signed with Bob Arum's Top Rank.^[12] Garcia was undefeated in his first 20 professional fights, winning them all with 17 of them coming by way of knockout.

In April 2010, Miguel Ángel beat the veteran Tomas Villa by T.K.O. in the first round, to win the USBA Featherweight Championship.^[13] He then beat Matt Remillard to win the WBO NABO Featherweight Championship. This would not only be the last boxing bout but also the last event Nick Charles would broadcast, Charles would die a few days later from cancer.^[14]

In his next fight HBO asked García to turn down a world title shot against Billy Dib to fight on the undercard of Julio César Chávez, Jr. vs. Sebastian Zbik. After his win over Rafaël Guzmán, García sent his well wishes to Genaro Hernández who was struggling with cancer, Hernández would die a few days later.^[15] Months later he beat Juan Carlos Martinez in under four rounds at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.^[16]

WBO featherweight champion

García vs. Salido

Garcia's first major step up in competition came on January 19, 2013 against WBO Featherweight champion and Ring No. 1 ranked Featherweight, Orlando Salido. Garcia dominated the bout from the very beginning, keeping Salido at range with the jab. Garcia knocked Salido down four times early on in the fight, building up a large lead on the scorecards. During the 8th round, Salido accidentally clashed heads with Garcia, causing Garcia's nose to break. The fight was stopped between rounds, with the decision going to the scorecards. Garcia won a wide unanimous decision, to win his first world title.^[17]

Garcia vs Lopez

Garcia was scheduled to make his first title defense against Juan Manuel Lopez in Dallas on June 15, 2013. Garcia failed to make 126 lb weight limit coming in two pounds overweight. He was stripped of the title. The fight went ahead after Garcia paid Lopez a penalty of $150,000 for missing weight. Garcia won the fight with a fourth round knockout.^[18]

WBO junior lightweight champion

Garcia vs. Martinez

Garcia challenged Puerto Rican WBO junior lightweight champion Rocky Martinez for Martinez's title on November 9, 2013 in his first fight since failing to make weight and having to relinquish his featherweight title. Garcia went down in the second round from a Martinez counter right hand. Garcia, however, recovered and dominated the rest of the fight before knocking out Martinez with a left hook to the body in the eighth round. The victory meant Garcia is the 130 lbs WBO champion.^[19]

Garcia vs. Burgos

On January 25, 2014, Garcia made his first title defense against mandatory challenger Juan Carlos Burgos at Madison Square Garden in New York City on HBO Boxing After Dark. After being staggered in the second round, Garcia took control of the fight and won close to every round for the remainder of the bout. At the end of the fight, Garcia won via unanimous decision (118-110, 118-110, 119-109), improving to 34-0. In the post fight interview, Garcia called out Yuriorkis Gamboa for a potential fight.^[20]

Contract dispute

Garcia had been unhappy over his purses, which had been increasing to career-high six-figure levels fight after fight, sued Top Rank in 2014 to get out of the agreement, and the parties had been fighting it until 2016. Although in arbitration with his promoter, Garcia has expressed plans of returning to the ring under a new contract with Top Rank. On April 8, 2016, it was confirmed that Garcia and Top Rank, who where locked in a dispute over his promotional contract, had reached a settlement, according to Bob Arum. Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN.com. "All parties came to a mutual agreement, details of that agreement are a confidential matter. We all move on and do what we do." Although Garcia's Top Rank contract was up in August, they reached a deal and are in the process of putting it to paper.^[21]

Return at light welterweight

Garcia vs. Rojas

Top Rank announced on June 28, 2016, after 2 and a half years off, Garcia would be returning to the boxing ring against former world featherweight titleholder Elio Rojas on July 30 on Showtime in a 10 round bout at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on the undercard of Santa-Cruz-Frampton. This would be a one-fight deal with promoter Lou DiBella and Showtime. They met at approximately 138 pounds. The weight had not been contractually hashed out, however Garcia plans to move down with the hopes of challenging for a world title in the 135-pound lightweight division.^[22] Garcia scored four knockdowns, before finishing Rojas in the 5th round via knockout. Garcia hit Rojas face-first with a left hand and dropping him with a right uppercut-left hook combination. Rojas, who was only fighting for the second time in four years, beat the count, but referee Claudio waved it off at 2 minutes, 2 seconds.^[23]

Lightweight

Garcia vs. Zlatičanin

Garcia announced he would be fighting at lightweight to challenge undefeated WBC champion Dejan Zlatičanin (22-0, 15 KOs). Zlatičanin claimed the vacant title by knocking out Franklin Mamani in June and also holds decision victories over the likes of Petr Petrov and former multiple weight world champion Ricky Burns. The fight would take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and again serve as a co-feature to the anticipated rematch between Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz on January 28, 2017.^[24]

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
36	N/A	N/A	Dejan Zlatičanin	N/A	– (12)	Jan 28, 2017	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.	For WBC lightweight title
35	Win	35–0	Elio Rojas	TKO	5 (10), 2:02	Jul 30, 2016	Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
34	Win	34–0	Juan Carlos Burgos	UD	12	Jan 25, 2014	The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.	Retained WBO junior lightweight title
33	Win	33–0	Román Martínez	KO	8 (12), 0:56	Nov 9, 2013	American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.	Won WBO junior lightweight title
32	Win	32–0	Juan Manuel López	TKO	4 (12), 1:34	Jun 15, 2013	American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas, U.S.	Retained The Ring featherweight title
31	Win	31–0	Orlando Salido	TD	9 (12), 0:01	Jan 19, 2013	The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.	Won WBO and The Ring featherweight titles; Unanimous TD after Garcia sustained a broken nose from an accidental head clash
30	Win	30–0	Jonathan Victor Barros	TKO	8 (10), 2:24	Nov 10, 2012	Wynn, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
29	Win	29–0	Mauricio Pastrana	KO	2 (10), 1:05	Sep 1, 2012	Arena TKT Box Tour, Los Mochis, Mexico
28	Win	28–0	Bernabe Concepcion	TKO	7 (10), 2:33	Mar 10, 2012	Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico	Retained NABF and WBO–NABO featherweight titles
27	Win	27–0	Juan Carlos Martinez	TKO	4 (10), 2:40	Oct 22, 2011	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.	Retained NABF featherweight title
26	Win	26–0	Rafael Guzmán	KO	4 (12), 1:55	Jun 4, 2011	Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.	Retained NABF and WBO–NABO featherweight titles
25	Win	25–0	Matt Remillard	RTD	10 (12), 3:00	Mar 26, 2011	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	Won NABF and WBO–NABO featherweight titles
24	Win	24–0	Olivier Lontchi	KO	5 (10), 1:30	Dec 4, 2010	Honda Center, Anaheim, California, U.S.
23	Win	23–0	Cornelius Lock	TKO	11 (12), 1:09	Aug 14, 2010	Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas, U.S.
22	Win	22–0	Pedro Navarrete	UD	8	May 8, 2010	Plaza de Toros Monumental, Aguascalientes City, Mexico
21	Win	21–0	Tomas Villa	TKO	1 (12), 1:07	Apr 3, 2010	American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.	Won vacant USBA featherweight title
20	Win	20–0	Arturo Gómez	TKO	5 (8), 2:35	Jan 30, 2010	Restaurante Arroyo, Mexico City, Mexico
19	Win	19–0	Yogli Herrera	KO	3 (8), 2:19	Dec 19, 2009	Beeghly Center, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
18	Win	18–0	Carlos Manuel Rivera	TKO	7 (10), 0:40	Aug 29, 2009	QuikTrip Park, Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.
17	Win	17–0	Anthony Napunyi	TKO	3 (10), 1:04	May 16, 2009	Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, Nevada, U.S.
16	Win	16–0	Lucian Gonzalez	RTD	5 (8), 3:00	Feb 6, 2009	Activity Center, Maywood, California, U.S.
15	Win	15–0	Walter Estrada	UD	8	Oct 31, 2008	Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
14	Win	14–0	Jose Hernandez	TKO	8 (8), 0:24	Aug 2, 2008	Palms Casino Resort, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
13	Win	13–0	Jae-Sung Lee	TKO	4 (8), 1:14	Jun 26, 2008	The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Robinson Castellanos	TKO	5, 0:11	May 17, 2008	Plaza de Toros Monumental, Aguascalientes City, Mexico
11	Win	11–0	Jorge Ruiz	TKO	5 (6), 1:35	Feb 16, 2008	MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Manuel Sarabia	UD	6	Sep 20, 2007	Sagebrush Cantina, Calabasas, California, U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Reggie Sanders	KO	3 (6), 2:23	Jul 13, 2007	Congress Theater, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Carlos Zambrano	TKO	2 (6), 2:45	May 25, 2007	Isleta Resort & Casino, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Steve Trumble	TKO	2 (6), 2:30	Apr 27, 2007	Crowne Plaza Hotel, Houston, Texas, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Gabriel Rangel	TKO	2 (4), 1:56	Mar 9, 2007	Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Frankie Martinez	TKO	2 (4), 1:51	Jan 19, 2007	Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Baladan Trevizo	KO	1, 2:18	Dec 8, 2006	Florentine Gardens, El Monte, California, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Mario Franco	KO	2 (4), 0:52	Sep 29, 2006	Performing Arts Center, Oxnard, California, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Andrew Gannigan	KO	1 (4), 2:19	Aug 12, 2006	Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Herrera Mendoza	UD	4	Jul 14, 2006	Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California, U.S.	Professional debut

Titles in boxing

Summit for brain health

In February 2014, Garcia along with Bernard Hopkins and a few other athletes attended a summit at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health at the United States Capitol, in support of furthering research of preventing brain damage and other mental risk in competitive activity. The summit consisted of speeches about preventing brain damage and research to aid already suffering victims.^[25]

Filmography

See also

• Notable boxing families

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mikey Garcia.

• Professional boxing record for Mikey Garcia from BoxRec