'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:
Carcedo wins WBC Asia South super welterweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
Tue, 10 Feb 202619-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
Tue, 10 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Women's Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Tue, 10 Feb 2026Filipino child prodigy Asher Judd Sy tops the 3rd King’s College Bangkok Chess Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 08 Feb 2026Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Sun, 08 Feb 2026Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 08 Feb 2026Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 07 Feb 2026Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 06 Feb 2026WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026“Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj
Thu, 05 Feb 2026