Mikey Garcia defeats Robert Easter Jr. to unify lightweight titles

The last time Luis" King Kong "Ortiz beat him , it was he who was eliminated. Garcia did it in front of Spence, who was ringside of a reconnaissance mission

"It's a big fight." Spence said. "It's a huge fight, it's an easy fight to do, Showtime is on board, our direction is on board, this year we hope, November or December."

Garcia won world featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight titles In February, Sergey Lipinets edged juniors Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Márquez by winning world titles at 126, 130, 135 and 140 pounds. "It was a great experience for Mikey," said Robert Garcia, Mikey's older brother and coach. "This is the first time that Mikey is unified, it was a great fight against a very difficult opponent, Robert had size and advantage and it was quite difficult Mikey fought the he needed to apply the pressure, it was a bit difficult, but Mikey dominated most of the rounds and did what it took to win. "

Garcia was the first title defense that he won 18 months ago by pocketing Dejan Zlaticanin with a climax – Kreel knockout in the third round in January 2017. Some were wondering if he would be able to comfortably do 135 pounds after having had two fights in the junior welterweight division, but he appeared strong and fast against Easter.

"He was just a better man tonight, I take my hat to Mikey," Easter said. "He's a real warrior, every time we enter the ring, we put our lives on the line and tonight Mikey was victorious, I did not find the moment and I could not leave fall my right hand. 19659002] According to CompuBox punch statistics, Garcia landed 176 out of 555 punches (32 percent) and Easter landed 129 out of 507 (25 percent). Of the Easter total, 89 out of 343 were jabs, but production has dropped in the last few rounds.

Easter, in his first fight with new head coach Kevin Cunningham, showed exactly what his game plan would be from the opening bell. use his 8-inch advantage to keep Garcia at the end of his jab and also go to the body, which he did effectively from the start.

Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs), 30, of Moreno Valley, California sped up the pace in the second round by attempting to cash in the highest of Easter and train him to the Inside, but Easter (21-1, 14 KOs), 27, of Toledo, Ohio, was able to keep it bay with his jab. But he could not continue like that for the duration of the fight.

"I like to stay patient very early, he had a good game plan to use this scope, once I started to pick up the pace, we took control. had to wait for my time, "said Garcia." He has good hand speed, so I have to be patient and cautious, I am more experienced, I am a more hungry fighter. "

Garcia had a very good third round and that's even better spent connected with a combination of three strokes – jab, right hand and a left hook – who dropped Easter with a few seconds left.He beat the count but took a few more shots at the end of the round.

"He caught me with a pure shot and I fell, but I got up like a real champion," said Easter. "We go back to the board to drawing: every time we win, lose or shoot, we go back to the drawing board and we work hard. "

Garcia continued to badert in the fourth round, forcing Easter to come back with an badortment of The fight was held even after five rounds on two of the three Bo tables. rd, but Garcia took over.

As the battle progressed, Easter steam declined and he became a more stationary target. Garcia steadily advanced and bounced on the jabs and right hands of Easter, which went into full withdrawal mode in the eighth round.

The ninth round brought the crowd to his feet as the two exchanged hard knocks during a protracted and fierce exchange. Garcia put some punitive left hooks on the Easter body while Easter forced his left hand in the middle of the crowd as the crowd chanted "Mikey! Mikey! Mikey!"

Garcia pounded Easter in the 10th round. He shook his head back with flush jabs and forced to the ropes before landing suits on the floor. It was more of the same in the 11th round as Easter languished on the ropes for long periods and took the punishment.

"The difference was that it was Robert's first big fight," said Cunningham. "Mikey Garcia is one of the best fighters in this sport, there are things to settle, it was my first camp with him and there are still things that need to be worked on and refined. again

"Some nights are better than others. He's young. He will be back. He showed a lot of heart tonight. "

After the 11th round, Robert Garcia told his brother to do nothing stupid in the last round, and although he did not take any bets, he did back to Easter Garcia is categorical: 95-34 in total for the last four rounds.