SPENCE DOMINATES GARCIA IN UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN

There aren’t many boxers in this era of the sport that will take the risk to put their unblemished record on the line in order to place themselves in the history books. Mikey Garcia has been doing just that since his return to the ring two and half years ago, and tonight, Garcia stepped into the ring against the top welterweight, Errol Spence, Jr.

            With 47, 525 in attendance at the AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, TX, Spence, Jr. put his IBF welterweight world title and his own unblemished record on the line against the four-division world champion, Garcia.

Many had doubted Garcia, 31, could handle the hard punches of a bigger guy like Errol Spence, Jr., 29, let alone stand twelve rounds with him.  Both Garcia and Spence, Jr. delivered the fight in a calm, cautious manner, but it was Spence, Jr. who’s reach and jab would dominate the ring. The judges scored a unanimous decision win for the Texas native.

Garcia had difficulty getting in the inside as Spence, Jr. utilized his jab and boxed well both on the inside and the outside. Widely known as a fighter that can bang the body and early knockouts, Spence, Jr. focused more upstairs. By the fifth round, Garcia lost his head movement, slowed down and couldn’t adjust to find a way inside. In the ninth, Spence put on the pressure and had Garcia in danger, but Garcia was able to survive. Garcia’s corner threatened to stop the fight, but Garcia picked up the pace coming into the tenth round. Spence, Jr. had to work for his win tonight as he came to see the 12^th round for the first time in his professional career.

“I respect Mikey so much for this,” said the champion, Spence Jr. who wants to take on legendary six-division world champion, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao next. “He’s a legend of the sport, and it’d be my honor to fight him next.”

Spence worked to retain his IBF belt tonight showing the boxing world that he is not only a knockout artist, but a polished boxer. “All the credit to Errol Spence, he is a great champion. He is the truth; he is for real. He came out here with a great game plan and kept the distance at his favor,” said Garcia. “I tried to make adjustments, but he was able to keep the distance at his favor.”

Judges saw the bout 120-107 for Spence, Jr. and 120-108 twice for Spence, Jr.