BoxRec

Boxer Mikey Garcia retires with 40-2 record, 30 knockouts

Mikey Garcia, a former four-division champion, confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday that he has retired from boxing.

In a sport filled with self-promoting fighters, Garcia was understated. And in typical fashion for Garcia, he simply changed his Instagram profile to indicate he's a "retired world champ" in lieu of a retirement announcement.

"My brother Mikey had a great boxing career," his older brother and trainer, Robert Garcia, told ESPN on Tuesday. "Becoming a five-time champion of the world in four divisions is something very few have done. I am very proud of my brother for everything he accomplished in boxing. Now it's time for him to enjoy his life together with his family and loved ones."

The 34-year-old from Southern California captured titles at 126 pounds, 130, 135 and 140. He attempted to become a five-division champion with a challenge of Errol Spence Jr. in March 2019 at 147 pounds, but Garcia was shut out on all three cards.

Garcia (40-2, 30 KOs) remained at welterweight for the final two fights of his career. The boxer-puncher scored a unanimous-decision victory over Jessie Vargas in February 2020 before he dropped a majority decision to Sandor Martin in October in a major upset.

Garcia's resume also includes wins over Orlando Salido, Adrien Broner, Juan Manuel Lopez, Robert Easter Jr. Guided by his older brother Robert Garcia, one of the sport's best trainers, Mikey was a staple of pound-for-pound lists until his defeat to Spence.

A one of the biggest wastes of talent?

He missed 2-3 years of his prime with his Top Rank dispute which was a shame.

His come back was good, beat some good boxers as he moved up as well.

It’s good he won a belt at 140, but there was so many fights we wanted to see him in at 135..

He was the more experienced of the lot bar Loma.

Shame we never saw the fights.

But boxing if a business more than a sport now days.

He made his money, made millions more against Spence and then rinsed Hearn for $7m in a nothing fight.

Smart move and good career regardless.

He never really defending his belts much, it was all about win and move on.

HOF worthy?

He was one of my favourite boxers in recent times.

Would have liked to see him fight again and go out on a win. But hey ho.

He’s not motivated anymore.

DrDuke wrote: ↑28 Jun 2022, 16:14 A one of the biggest wastes of talent?

Some of it was party the contract dispute he had.

When he came back he just built himself up for the money.

Wouldn’t say waste of talents, but a lot of questions left unanswered.

A career most prize fighters would kill for.
Well deserved retirement I wish him the best

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑28 Jun 2022, 16:15 HOF worthy?

No.

Won some of those title belts vs softy opposition but I always thought he was really skilled (probably top 10 p4p in his prime) and wish he'd have had more big fights between 126-135 lbs.

giacomino wrote: ↑28 Jun 2022, 17:03 Won some of those title belts vs softy opposition but I always thought he was really skilled (probably top 10 p4p in his prime) and wish he'd have had more big fights between 126-135 lbs.

His KO of Zlaticanin was sickening.

Only his 2nd fight after his return.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑28 Jun 2022, 17:12

giacomino wrote: ↑28 Jun 2022, 17:03 Won some of those title belts vs softy opposition but I always thought he was really skilled (probably top 10 p4p in his prime) and wish he'd have had more big fights between 126-135 lbs.

His KO of Zlaticanin was sickening.

Only his 2nd fight after his return.

Garcia vs Loma in 2014 or 2015 at 130 would have been a really interesting fight.

What are his best wins? Salido? Broner? Zlat?

Unreal career interms of achievements but it could of been incredible. If he didn’t waste time with top rank legal, and didn’t go to welterweight…

Shame we got Mikey Vs spence instead of Mikey vs loma, tank, Haney, Ryan Garcia, Danny Garcia, teo.

mikey has a pretty deep resume of solid wins, but doesnt really have anything that really stands out

instead of bizarrely moving to 147 for a fight 0 people were calling for, it woulda been great to see him fight loma at 135, enter the wbss at 140, and other top options from 130-140

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑29 Jun 2022, 03:31 mikey has a pretty deep resume of solid wins, but doesnt really have anything that really stands out

yeah I'm struggling. Umm. Zlat. umm. ummmm. well there was Salido at 126lbs, that one aged quite well I suppose. ummmmm.

I mean the 'proverbial eye test' ( ) said he was a lot better than his best wins could prove but fck me if boxing isn't the most retarded sport in the world.

i mean , look how utterly ridiculous this pic is. it's like spence fighting a chubby 5th grader. imagine the fights we could got instead if mikey had kept active and stayed from 130-140

boxing

Garcia could achieve good money against those, who were on par with him, but he decided to cash out while being outmatched. He had a chance to become great at LW, but he wanted no part of Lomachenko. That's why he wasted his talent. He secured a decent career, but he had potential for a greater one.

This retirement is all like due to the fact that Teofimo Lopez called him out. It's like an attempt to save face when he knows that he was heading for that canvas face first.

Think he's done good. Clearly with the move up / cash out fights he's not one fussed about legacy or career defining fights.
Made a shit tonne of money, multiweight world champion and some good names on his win list.
Obviously the desire has gone, but he has his health and a good bank balance.
He can enjoy many years of retirement.

Fightnight Scores wrote: ↑29 Jun 2022, 09:02 Think he's done good. Clearly with the move up / cash out fights he's not one fussed about legacy or career defining fights.
Made a shit tonne of money, multiweight world champion and some good names on his win list.
Obviously the desire has gone, but he has his health and a good bank balance.
He can enjoy many years of retirement.

Yes, quite right.

There's the future and the legacy, but there's also the now.

Boxing is simply a terrible sport to leave and have little to show for all the pain and suffering it demands.

Besides, that Spence fight did next to nothing to detract from his legacy.

Solid career, but it could've been far more if he wasn't just looking for that paycheck. Dude was like a force of nature at FW. Every twist of his fist planted Salido on his butt.

Smart man if he stays retired. Many signs he lost the drive following his fight with Spence. Fair enough too, I’m sure he’s been boxing from a very young age and wants to do something different. He seems switched on so I’m sure there’s things he can do unlike someone like Broner.

lazboy wrote: ↑30 Jun 2022, 04:15 Smart man if he stays retired. Many signs he lost the drive following his fight with Spence. Fair enough too, I’m sure he’s been boxing from a very young age and wants to do something different. He seems switched on so I’m sure there’s things he can do unlike someone like Broner.

He knows his boxing. He’s well spoken.

Can be used for punditry or commentary.

I’m sure DAZN can use him.

Mikey Garcia Retirement - Brother Robert Feels He Made Right Decision

“It’s time for him to enjoy his kids, his family, his loved ones,” Garcia told FightHubTV. “I think he made the right decision. When a fighter doesn’t want it, doesn’t have the hunger, we’re not going to go in there and risk [our lives].”

Great for Mikey. I admire him for daring to be great, moving up to challenge Spence. He also had a great career besides that. 4 weight champion! Most boxers only dream about it.

Best wishes Mikey!