Mikey Garcia: Interesting Q&A Session
Posted: 13 Jun 2017, 03:22
Garcia had a recent sit down with Boxing Scene..
Q: People were wondering what fights were out there for you at 135, and suddenly there was a release saying you were fighting Adrien Broner. How quickly did this come up and how quickly did you jump on it when it did?
A: As soon as they proposed the fight, as soon as there were talks about it, I agreed. I wanted to make sure that the weight limit was 140 pounds. I made it very clear I could not go any higher than 140. Being that I am still champion at 135 and I still want to compete at 135, I wouldn’t go over 140. That was the only thing that concerned me and Adrien Broner accepted right away too. There was hardly any trouble negotiating the fight.
Q: Is there a rehydration thing, or is just that you have to weigh in at 140 or below.
A: He just has to make 140 the day of the weigh in and that’s it. There will be some penalties if he doesn’t make the weight, and it’s still up to my own discretion if I decide to take the fight or not if he’s over the 140 limit. That happens in every fight. When I didn’t make weight with Lopez I had to pay a big fine for not making weight and Lopez still had the option to take the fight or not. That’s the normal way of doing business.
Q: If we step back a year, last June, people are talking about Mikey Garcia saying we haven’t seen him in two years and we can’t wait to see him back in a ring. Fast forward to today, you’ve had two big wins and now you’re jumping to 140. Did you have a sense that you lost time and you have to get stuff done?
A: A little bit, because I wanted to pick up where I left off and I think had I not stopped fighting for those two-and-a-half years I would’ve been taking these big fights. So I wanted to make sure I was back right where I belong, and in only my second fight I fought for a world title and defeated an undefeated world champion. Now I’m moving up in weight and fighting another top, top fighter in Adrien Broner, a four-division world champion. I wanted these kinds of fights before and now that I’m able to get them and secure them I’m jumping on the opportunity.
Q: If things go well in this fight, are you going to pursue more at 140 or is 135 still a priority? What does the landscape look like assuming things go well in July?
A: 135 is still my main priority but you’ve got to be flexible in boxing. I’ve got to be able to keep my options open. Something at 135 would be great, a title unification match with either Flanagan or Linares or even Robert Easter Jr., or if a good title defense is offered – maybe Lomachenko does move up to 135 like he’s been saying he will – I would definitely take on a fight like that.
Q: Talk about Broner as an opponent. He’s been in a lot of big fights. When you look at him as one fighter to another, what jumps out? What do you notice first?
A: When Broner’s got his A game he’s honestly a very dangerous fighter. He’s very strong and very fast, very sharp when he’s countering his opponents and he’s knocking guys out. That’s what I actually expect from him and that’s what I’m hoping for because that will also push me to the next level. I think he’s taking things very seriously now. He’s moved his camp to Colorado, he’s focused, he’s training, he’s motivated for this fight. I think the way all the fans and media are counting him out in a way is actually motivating him to prove everybody wrong. That’s gonna allow and make for a that much bigger and better fight.
Q: Is 140 at all a concern for you? You’ve got to be pretty confident if you signed for it, that you think you can move up there and be effective.
A: I think 140 will be fine. I don’t think it’ll be a major factor for my performance, but I have to wait and see. I’m definitely going to be fighting the biggest man in my career when I step in against Adrien Broner. But I think my skills, my speed and my power will also be there with me.
Q: Talk about the fight with Broner. We’re watching the first couple rounds. How will we know at the beginning that it’s going to be Mikey’s night?
A: I’m going to see what I can and what he can do in the early rounds. I plan on being patient. I plan on using my jab, using my distance, my range and using footwork. If I need to change things, then I will make those adjustments. The first few rounds I always start calm and patient so that’s normally what you can expect.
Q: What’s training camp going to look like. With six or seven weeks to go, how quickly do things ramp up?
A: We’ve been training for a few weeks now. About three weeks now we’ve been working out, getting into the groove. We’ll bring sparring partners in maybe two weeks to get me ready for the actual fight. Right now we’ve been sparring just to stay in shape and stay on my toes. Within two weeks we’ll start picking it up and making sure we peak at the right time – two weeks before the fight will be probably at peak, then cruise down until we get to fight night.
Q: If you got on the scale now, what would the number be?
A: I’m at 152 right now.
Q: Is that about what you normally walk around at?
A: That’s about what I was walking around at before my last fight, too. My last fight I was at 150, so 150 or 152 is normal walking around weight.
Q: So making 140 isn’t really that big a deal?
A: It’s not a big deal. People think you’re moving up in weight, but you still have to cut some weight. It’s not like you have to eat more to gain weight. It’s not like I’m going to be fighting at light heavyweight.
Q: In theory then, cutting the weight is easier for this fight, it’s just making sure you’re carrying strength and speed to 140 from 135?
A: Exactly correct.
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Q: People were wondering what fights were out there for you at 135, and suddenly there was a release saying you were fighting Adrien Broner. How quickly did this come up and how quickly did you jump on it when it did?
A: As soon as they proposed the fight, as soon as there were talks about it, I agreed. I wanted to make sure that the weight limit was 140 pounds. I made it very clear I could not go any higher than 140. Being that I am still champion at 135 and I still want to compete at 135, I wouldn’t go over 140. That was the only thing that concerned me and Adrien Broner accepted right away too. There was hardly any trouble negotiating the fight.
Q: Is there a rehydration thing, or is just that you have to weigh in at 140 or below.
A: He just has to make 140 the day of the weigh in and that’s it. There will be some penalties if he doesn’t make the weight, and it’s still up to my own discretion if I decide to take the fight or not if he’s over the 140 limit. That happens in every fight. When I didn’t make weight with Lopez I had to pay a big fine for not making weight and Lopez still had the option to take the fight or not. That’s the normal way of doing business.
Q: If we step back a year, last June, people are talking about Mikey Garcia saying we haven’t seen him in two years and we can’t wait to see him back in a ring. Fast forward to today, you’ve had two big wins and now you’re jumping to 140. Did you have a sense that you lost time and you have to get stuff done?
A: A little bit, because I wanted to pick up where I left off and I think had I not stopped fighting for those two-and-a-half years I would’ve been taking these big fights. So I wanted to make sure I was back right where I belong, and in only my second fight I fought for a world title and defeated an undefeated world champion. Now I’m moving up in weight and fighting another top, top fighter in Adrien Broner, a four-division world champion. I wanted these kinds of fights before and now that I’m able to get them and secure them I’m jumping on the opportunity.
Q: If things go well in this fight, are you going to pursue more at 140 or is 135 still a priority? What does the landscape look like assuming things go well in July?
A: 135 is still my main priority but you’ve got to be flexible in boxing. I’ve got to be able to keep my options open. Something at 135 would be great, a title unification match with either Flanagan or Linares or even Robert Easter Jr., or if a good title defense is offered – maybe Lomachenko does move up to 135 like he’s been saying he will – I would definitely take on a fight like that.
Q: Talk about Broner as an opponent. He’s been in a lot of big fights. When you look at him as one fighter to another, what jumps out? What do you notice first?
A: When Broner’s got his A game he’s honestly a very dangerous fighter. He’s very strong and very fast, very sharp when he’s countering his opponents and he’s knocking guys out. That’s what I actually expect from him and that’s what I’m hoping for because that will also push me to the next level. I think he’s taking things very seriously now. He’s moved his camp to Colorado, he’s focused, he’s training, he’s motivated for this fight. I think the way all the fans and media are counting him out in a way is actually motivating him to prove everybody wrong. That’s gonna allow and make for a that much bigger and better fight.
Q: Is 140 at all a concern for you? You’ve got to be pretty confident if you signed for it, that you think you can move up there and be effective.
A: I think 140 will be fine. I don’t think it’ll be a major factor for my performance, but I have to wait and see. I’m definitely going to be fighting the biggest man in my career when I step in against Adrien Broner. But I think my skills, my speed and my power will also be there with me.
Q: Talk about the fight with Broner. We’re watching the first couple rounds. How will we know at the beginning that it’s going to be Mikey’s night?
A: I’m going to see what I can and what he can do in the early rounds. I plan on being patient. I plan on using my jab, using my distance, my range and using footwork. If I need to change things, then I will make those adjustments. The first few rounds I always start calm and patient so that’s normally what you can expect.
Q: What’s training camp going to look like. With six or seven weeks to go, how quickly do things ramp up?
A: We’ve been training for a few weeks now. About three weeks now we’ve been working out, getting into the groove. We’ll bring sparring partners in maybe two weeks to get me ready for the actual fight. Right now we’ve been sparring just to stay in shape and stay on my toes. Within two weeks we’ll start picking it up and making sure we peak at the right time – two weeks before the fight will be probably at peak, then cruise down until we get to fight night.
Q: If you got on the scale now, what would the number be?
A: I’m at 152 right now.
Q: Is that about what you normally walk around at?
A: That’s about what I was walking around at before my last fight, too. My last fight I was at 150, so 150 or 152 is normal walking around weight.
Q: So making 140 isn’t really that big a deal?
A: It’s not a big deal. People think you’re moving up in weight, but you still have to cut some weight. It’s not like you have to eat more to gain weight. It’s not like I’m going to be fighting at light heavyweight.
Q: In theory then, cutting the weight is easier for this fight, it’s just making sure you’re carrying strength and speed to 140 from 135?
A: Exactly correct.
See More..
