Mikey Garcia: I'd Be 'A Huge Star in Boxing' If Not for Long Layoff

[Ruthless-RKO]

Mikey Garcia didn’t want his layoff to last 2½ years, but he doesn’t regret traveling the path that he took.

Garcia wanted out of his promotional contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. and ultimately, that’s what he got. His last fight for Top Rank was a 12-round, unanimous-decision defeat of Juan Carlos Burgos in January 2014 in The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

By the time his legal battle with Top Rank ended and he got back in shape, Garcia didn’t fight again until he stopped Elio Rojas (24-3, 14 KOs) in the fifth round last July 30 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

“I never imagined it would take that long,” Garcia said following a recent press conference to promote his July 29 fight against Adrien Broner at Barclays Center. “But I’m actually fine with it. I’m OK with it because I also learned from it. I grew from it and I think this next stage of my career is the best stage of my career, and I don’t have to share [money] with nobody.”

“I always felt that had I not stopped fighting for the period of time that I did, I would’ve been a huge star in boxing,” Garcia said. “Now that I’m back, these are the kind of fights that I want. These are the fights that will put me back where I should be.”

“There’s always a risk, but that’s why I take these fights,” Garcia said. “You know, no risk, no reward. I could’ve taken an easy title defense at 135, but that doesn’t do anything for my career, other than just a simple paycheck and a title defense. I would rather have a good challenge in front of me. That motivates me more and it proves to everybody the kind of fighter that I am.”

Thoughts on this..

[Tanzio]

So the talk about him no longer being able to make 135 is bullsh!t then. He sounds well adjusted to reality to me.

[imaioral]

As happens with most boxers that are uninformed about how boxing industry (profit) works, as far as I know he is another victim of boxing profiteers (managers, promoters and its) whom take advantage that most boxers come from poor/difficult life without education to try take a better one and these "smart guys" do that. Examples with have: Rigondeaux, Tyson, Holyfield, Hopkins, Pacquiao, Acelino "Popo" Freitas, Mayweather (Ellerbe robbed him a few times) between others.

[gilgamesh]

He might be where he's about to be when he beats Broner already, but I don't think he'd have been any bigger than that yet.

[montrealsuper]

Haymo is going to rob Garcia and give it to Broner - count on it -

[gilgamesh]

Haymo is going to rob Garcia and give it to Broner - count on it -

Why didn't he rob Porter or Maidana then?

Broner's management figured out long ago his limits. He's the new Zab Judah. Nobody is gonna bother protecting his record because there's nothing to protect. He's a guy that can keep getting big fights because he talks a lot of sh*t, people hate him and want to see him get beat up. Nobody is gonna be "robbing" anybody over Broner at this stage.

[Mexi-Box]

He's not wrong. He would've KO'd Gamboa since that fight was in talks before he "retired." After just two fights, he's arguably the #1 LW in the world. Hard to really argue.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He certainly wouldn't be a huge star.

[gilgamesh]

He's not wrong. He would've KO'd Gamboa since that fight was in talks before he "retired." After just two fights, he's arguably the #1 LW in the world. Hard to really argue.

When I think Huge star I think PPV selling mega star that even ESPN and the networks that don't really care that much about Boxing talk about it when he fights. Garcia isn't there yet. Wouldn't have been there without the layoff.

If he kicks Broner's ass, and then gets a crack at Pac or something it might put him over the hump.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He's not wrong. He would've KO'd Gamboa since that fight was in talks before he "retired." After just two fights, he's arguably the #1 LW in the world. Hard to really argue.

When I think Huge star I think PPV selling mega star that even ESPN and the networks that don't really care that much about Boxing talk about it when he fights. Garcia isn't there yet. Wouldn't have been there without the layoff.

If he kicks Broner's ass, and then gets a crack at Pac or something it might put him over the hump.

Nah, he will draw a few more fans than other top guys like Crawford & Lomachenko, but a Garcia PPV against either of them is no better than Ward/Kovalev on buys.

[Ruthless-RKO]

So the talk about him no longer being able to make 135 is bullsh!t then. He sounds well adjusted to reality to me.

Who said that?

He said when the fight was announced that he would be moving back down to 135.. he only took this fight because it was. 'Too good to refuse' ..

[montrealsuper]

So the talk about him no longer being able to make 135 is bullsh!t then. He sounds well adjusted to reality to me.

Who said that?

He said when the fight was announced that he would be moving back down to 135.. he only took this fight because it was. 'Too good to refuse' ..

Or probably annd more likely because Al Haymon wanted me to

[SaadOffTheDeck]

So the talk about him no longer being able to make 135 is bullsh!t then. He sounds well adjusted to reality to me.

Who said that?

He said when the fight was announced that he would be moving back down to 135.. he only took this fight because it was. 'Too good to refuse' ..

Or probably annd more likely because Al Haymon wanted me to

Of course last week you were convinced that Garcia was Al's boy. You can teach dumb, you were born with it.

[Tanzio]

So the talk about him no longer being able to make 135 is bullsh!t then. He sounds well adjusted to reality to me.

Who said that?

He said when the fight was announced that he would be moving back down to 135.. he only took this fight because it was. 'Too good to refuse' ..

The talk was on here. People claiming that he was killing himself getting down to 135, etc. I don't blame them for making the biggest money fight but I think that he should have stayed at 135 and cleaned it out a bit.

Until he goes back to 135, I consider him a 140 fighter.

[Ruthless-RKO]

So the talk about him no longer being able to make 135 is bullsh!t then. He sounds well adjusted to reality to me.

Who said that?

He said when the fight was announced that he would be moving back down to 135.. he only took this fight because it was. 'Too good to refuse' ..

The talk was on here. People claiming that he was killing himself getting down to 135, etc. I don't blame them for making the biggest money fight but I think that he should have stayed at 135 and cleaned it out a bit.

Until he goes back to 135, I consider him a 140 fighter.

A lot more competition at 135 than 140

[Ossyrules]

I think he'd be a certain fixture in the p4p, but whether he'd be a huge star is a different matter

[Mexi-Box]

He's not wrong. He would've KO'd Gamboa since that fight was in talks before he "retired." After just two fights, he's arguably the #1 LW in the world. Hard to really argue.

When I think Huge star I think PPV selling mega star that even ESPN and the networks that don't really care that much about Boxing talk about it when he fights. Garcia isn't there yet. Wouldn't have been there without the layoff.

If he kicks Broner's ass, and then gets a crack at Pac or something it might put him over the hump.

By the time Garcia beat Burgos, he was on track to fight Gamboa. Not only that, Arum was heavily implying that Pacquiao would fight him. If he had beaten Pacquiao and Gamboa, it would've pushed Mikey into superstar status. He has a built-in fanbase since he's Mexican.

[Lackeos]

Stardom is never guaranteed. But if he had not gone inactive, he was on track to go somewhat deep in the p4p rankings.

[montrealsuper]

Who said that?

He said when the fight was announced that he would be moving back down to 135.. he only took this fight because it was. 'Too good to refuse' ..

Or probably annd more likely because Al Haymon wanted me to

Of course last week you were convinced that Garcia was Al's boy. You can teach dumb, you were born with it.

You're lying - Broner is Haymons higher priority - strongly suspect the politricks will favor Broner,

[Impractical Poster]

I think he'd be a certain fixture in the p4p, but whether he'd be a huge star is a different matter

This is about right. He doesn't really have the personality to be a huge star. However, he may end up getting a huge Mexican following after beating some high profile guys. So, who knows.

[Mexi-Box]

I think he'd be a certain fixture in the p4p, but whether he'd be a huge star is a different matter

This is about right. He doesn't really have the personality to be a huge star. However, he may end up getting a huge Mexican following after beating some high profile guys. So, who knows.

Mexicans don't need personality. They have a built-in fanbase. Canelo has the personality of a wet dish towel, but he does huge PPV numbers. I think Mikey can be the next big thing if he keeps scoring huge KO wins and gets the right fights. Not so sure if it was a good idea to ally himself with Gaymon/PBC, though, if he's looking to become the next PPV star.

[Impractical Poster]

I think he'd be a certain fixture in the p4p, but whether he'd be a huge star is a different matter

This is about right. He doesn't really have the personality to be a huge star. However, he may end up getting a huge Mexican following after beating some high profile guys. So, who knows.

Mexicans don't need personality. They have a built-in fanbase. Canelo has the personality of a wet dish towel, but he does huge PPV numbers. I think Mikey can be the next big thing if he keeps scoring huge KO wins and gets the right fights. Not so sure if it was a good idea to ally himself with Gaymon/PBC, though, if he's looking to become the next PPV star.

True. But Canelo is a fair skinned, red head. Mikey is not. However, I see your point.

[Badhusker]

If I were him, I would wait to see how he does against Broner before spouting off too much. If he even struggles with Broner, but still wins he will be somewhat of a laughing stock, the way people here and all over have him as such a heavy favorite. Personally I think it will be a good fight.

[Badhusker]

Haymo is going to rob Garcia and give it to Broner - count on it -

Someone needs to tell you mom to cut the internet from your sorry ass. Get a life ya fucktard.