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Errol Spence Jr vs Mikey Garcia: Spence retains title in unanimous decision

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Roar Guru
17th March, 2019
43

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Fight result:

Errol Spence Jr has retained his IBF world welterweight title by putting on a 12-round boxing clinic in Texas to beat fellow American Mikey Garcia.

Southpaw Spence won every round on all three judge’s cards, using his significant height and reach advantage to totally dominate Garcia.

Spence’s lightning fast jab and slick boxing skills were too much for his smaller opponent, who was game but ultimately outclassed.

The loss is Garcia’s first in 40 pro fights. A four-division world champion, he stepped up two weight divisions to challenge Spence in search of a fifth world title.

The win takes 29-year-old Spence’s perfect record to 25-0.

After the bout Manny Pacquiao entered the ring and Spence said he’d love to fight him next. He has plenty of other options if that bout doesn’t eventuate.

The welterweight division is jam-packed with talent at the moment, including WBO champion Terence Crawford, WBA champion Keith Thurman and WBC champion Shawn Porter.

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Garcia will likely go back to down to lightweight where he still holds the WBC belt. The Ukraine’s WBA and WBO lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko is waiting for him there. It would be a lucrative payday for both fighters.

Fight preview:

Somebody’s 0 has got to go when WBC lightweight champion Mikey Garcia steps up two weight divisions to challenge fellow American and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr in Arlington this afternoon Australian time. Join The Roar at 1pm AEDT for live round-by-round updates of the fight.

It’s a big step-up for the 31-year-old Garcia, but he certainly has the credentials to pull this off. He’s already won world titles in four different weight divisions in his unbeaten career so far. He’s looking to add a fifth against Spence.

Garcia has plenty of punching power, with 30 of his 39 career wins as a pro having been KO’s.

Spence has been the IBF world welterweight champion since May 2017 when he stopped England’s Kell Brook in the 11th in Sheffield. He’s since defended his title inside the distance twice.

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Like Garcia, the 29-year-old Spence also has plenty of punching power, with 21 of his 24 career victories ending early.

Spence will have a significant height and reach advantage over Garcia. He’ll enter the ring as a heavy favourite, but anything could happen.

Win, lose or draw in this bout, there are some potentially exciting fights ahead for both boxers. The welterweight division is jam-packed with talent at the moment, including WBO champion Terence Crawford, WBA champion Keith Thurman and WBC champion Shawn Porter.

Garcia could also go back down to lightweight where the Ukraine’s WBA and WBO champion Vasyl Lomachenko is waiting for him for what would be a lucrative payday for both fighters.

Prediction
Logic dictates that Spence should be able to use his height, reach and boxing skills to keep the smaller Garcia away from him.

Garcia will need to be prepared to get in range and let his hands go, like he normally does. He’ll need a KO to win.

If it goes the distance, Spence will win.

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Time: From 1pm AEDT, Sunday 17 March
Venue: AT & T Stadium, Arlington, USA
TV: Live on Fox Sports Channel 507
Fight Records: Spence 24-0, Garcia 39-0
Betting: Spence $1.22, Garcia $3.80

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