'Other' Garcia pushed for Manny
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 06 Nov 2019
LOS ANGELES. If you ask former IBF superfeatherweight champion and now boxing trainer Robert Garcia who should be super WBA welterweight titlist Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent, he’ll push for his younger brother Mikey.
Garcia, 44, attended to two fighters in the Top Rank card at the Dignity Health Sports Park last Saturday night in nearby Carson where IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas should’ve made his eighth title defense until it was postponed because of his Mexican challenger Jonathan Javier Rodriguez’ inability to clear state medical exams due to the delayed issuance of his US visa.
“I prefer Mikey more than Danny Garcia as Manny’s next challenger not because he’s my brother,” said Garcia who has been to Manila at least twice to work the corners of Brian Viloria and Nonito Donaire, Jr. “Danny’s of Puerto Rican descent while Mikey is of Mexican descent. From a pay-per-view standpoint, Manny against Mikey is a bigger sell because of the rivalry between the Philippines and Mexico. I guarantee it’ll be an exciting fight.”
Garcia said at the moment, Mikey isn’t doing hard training. “He comes in twice a week to work out in the gym,” said Garcia. “He’s not going down in weight. He’s staying at 147. If Manny calls for Mikey, I’ll make sure he’s in line. He hasn’t fought since losing a decision to (Errol) Spence last March. It’s sad what happened to Spence and it’s a miracle that he survived the car accident.”
Garcia said it’s exclusively Pacquiao’s decision whom to fight next. “It’s Manny’s choice and whomever he is, I’m sure the fight will be a blockbuster,” he said. “For me, I’m just hoping to go back to Manila for the press conference to announce the fight between Manny and Mikey, if ever. I love Manila and I love Filipinos.”
Garcia said he has relocated his boxing gym from Oxnard to Riverside. His new facility includes living quarters for 15 fighters under his care. Mikey, 31, was once the WBO featherweight, WBO superfeatherweight, WBC/IBF lightweight and IBF lightwelterweight champion. His only loss in the pros was to Spence. Mikey’s record is 39-1, with 30 KOs.
Garcia said he was disappointed that Ancajas’ defense was cancelled last Saturday. “I know Jerwin trained hard for that fight and I know how it feels not to be able to fight when you’re ready to go,” he said. “If I was told even a week before to prepare a replacement in case Rodriguez wouldn’t be able to fight, I could’ve suggested Joshua Franco whom I train. Joshua is the kind of guy who’ll fight anyone for a payday. He’s a bantamweight but he would’ve gone down to 115 for the chance to fight for the world title.”
Franco, 24, has a 15-1-2 record, with 7 KOs and is ranked No. 7 by the IBF, No. 10 by the WBC and WBO and No. 12 by the WBA as a bantamweight. He’s known as the Professor and is the reigning WBA International and North American Boxing Federation bantamweight champion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
QUOTES FROM TODAY’S CHM 2: REMATCH SEASON OPEN WORKOUT PRESENTED BY CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH
Wed, 10 Dec 2025Villarosa to fight Antaran on Dec. 18 in Bucana
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Dec 2025Opening Day Concludes at the 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Wed, 10 Dec 2025Mangin is rising star in PH taekwondo
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Dec 2025CHICKEN RANCH CASINO RESORT BACKS DECEMBER 13 NIGHT IN STOCKTON
Tue, 09 Dec 2025Brackets Set for 2025 USA Boxing National Championships in Lubbock
Tue, 09 Dec 2025Petecio, Bautista, 4 others see action in SEAG on Dec. 10
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Super Welterweight Yoenis Tellez Ready for Redemption Bout vs. Kendo Castaneda on December 13
Tue, 09 Dec 2025Hot prospect Marco Romero Prepared to close 2025 in style
Tue, 09 Dec 2025PH favored in SEA Games triathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Dec 2025Tamayo settles to a draw in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 08 Dec 2025Apolinar fails in WBO Asia Pacific title bid
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 08 Dec 2025Biendima loses by UD
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 08 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 6: 1932 OLYMPICS AT LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 08 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS MASOUD BEATS McGRAIL
Sun, 07 Dec 2025