SPORTS SHORTS 59: MIKEY GARCIA SAYS MANNY PACQUIAO IS AIMING FOR LOW-RISK, HIGH REWARD FIGHTS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 19 Feb 2021
Mikey Garcia has been aiming a high-profile fight against former eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao for at least two years now. Garcia (40-1, 33 KOs) says he still wants the fight against the 42-year-old Pacquiao, but he thinks that the Filipino icon is focusing on “low-risk, high reward” match-ups and these are against opponents Ryan Garcia or Conor McGregor, when he is about to call it a career.
* * *
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) seems to prefer fighting psyched-up opponents that has stayed active and not just waiting for the huge payday. The former top pound-for-pound fighter of the world even at age 42, looks steadfast in keeping himself always in shape, and aims to achieve more success in his career. The 33-year-old Mikey, hasn’t fought in 12 months, and has been fighting only once a year since 2019, the last was a unanimous decision win over Jessie Vargas, who was also beaten by Pacman.
* * *
“Who wouldn’t? Everybody would like to fight Pacquiao,” said Mikey Garcia to Little Giant Boxing. “Is it going to happen? I don’t know. It was supposed to happen. Towards the end of the year, I heard him talking about Conor McGregor. Then he started talking about Ryan Garcia." Mikey revealed that he hasn't talked to him and opined that Pacquiao is looking for encounters with lesser risks.
* * *
“I haven’t talked to him. From that, it tells me that Manny is looking for a low-risk, high reward type of fight. He’s obviously earned to call the shots. He’s done it all in boxing. There’s nothing left for him to prove or claim." Garcia added that if Pacquiao wants to fight and retire on a big event because these guys he face would make such a huge happening with the least amount of risk, then so be it.
* * *
“He’s earned that right. If he’s looking for a real fight, a challenging fight, then he would have to look at actual welterweight fighters. Everybody would like to see Manny fight a big fight and challenge himself,” Garcia continued. If Pacquiao fights someone like Ryan Garcia, he’s earned it, according to Mikey. "I would fight him, but it’s not up to me. It’s up to Manny. I’m going to start training to get a little bit in shape,” said Mikey.
* * *
Pacquiao expressed interest in facing WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford which is not a “low-risk” level fight. But he is asking for $40 million, which during this time of pandemic and limited live audiences, is too difficult to raise. The question is Crawford is not of the same level as Conor McGregor or Ryan Garcia as a pay-per-view blockbuster.
* * *
Mikey says fans think he will be fighting Pacquiao. “People asking me if I’m fighting Pacquiao because they saw he’s training,” Mikey said. “He just announced that he started his training camp. It’s very impressive what he’s able to do, even at this age." Mikey commented that most fighters are unable to do that as Pacman takes care of his body, and has that drive and still has that hunger." It’s like an obsession with him to keep winning titles. They don’t have an age where they want to retire. They want to keep doing it until their body says, ‘No more.’"
* * *
Errol Spence Jr. had an easy night, defending his IBF world welterweight title for the fourth time with a convincing unanimous decision over Mikey Garcia on March 16, 2019 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The scores were 120-107, 120-108, 120-108 shutout on all three cards, as one judge scored a 10-8 round. Spence had landed 345 punches to Garcia's 75.
* * *
James Harden topscored 23 points for his team and handed 11 assists and Joe Harris added 21 points as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 109-98 on Thursday at the Staples Center. Kyrie Irving contributed 16 points and seven rebounds for the Nets, who grabbed their fifth successive win. Kevin Durant missed his third straight game due to a hamstring injury.
LeBron James led all scorers with 32 points on 14-of-23 shooting, hauling eight rebounds and dishing out seven assists for the Lakers. The defending champions played without Dennis Schroder for health and safety protocols and Anthony Davis, who will be sidelined for at least two to three weeks due to a calf strain.
* * *
Roel Velasco of Bago, Negros Occidental, represented the Philippines at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, where he won the bronze medal in the light flyweight class. In the semi-finals he was stopped by Cuba's eventual winner Rogelio Marcelo. He is the elder brother of Mansueto Velasco, who won the silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the same weight division. Velasco's 1992 Olympic results:
Defeated James Wanene (Kenya) 16–1
Defeated Rajendra Prasad (India) 15–6
Defeated Rowan Williams (Great Britain) 7–6
Lost to Rogelio Marcelo (Cuba) RSC 1 (1:36)
Source : Wikipedia
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SUNDAY: Fabio Turchi-Milans Volkovs Cruiserweight Showdown Headlines Italy Fight Card LIVE in the U.S. on ESPN+
Sat, 07 Jun 2025Bomogao KOs Rubio in 1st round
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 07 Jun 2025REYES CUP SET FOR ELECTRIFYING RETURN TO MANILA, OCTOBER 16–19
Sat, 07 Jun 2025King's Promotions June 19th Card at Wind Creek Event Center is Postponed Card Rescheduled for September 5th
Sat, 07 Jun 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 7 - AMATEUR BOXING CAREER OF MUHAMMAD ALI
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Indiana, Haliburton Do It Again, Pacers Shock OKC on the Road, 111-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 06 Jun 2025STAR BOXING PRESENTS SPECIAL PRESS CONFERENCE-MONDAY
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Undefeated Super Bantamweight Chavez Barrientes Returns June 7th Against Sharone Carter on Most Valuable Prospects 13 Card
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Vasiliy Lomachenko Announces Retirement: A Glorious Chapter Closes in Boxing History
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 06 Jun 2025“HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Returns Home for Inaugural World Title Defense at Norfolk’s Scope Arena
Fri, 06 Jun 2025DAZN PRESENTS NEW NO DAYS OFF EPISODE HIGHLIGHTING REIGNING UNIFIED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION FRANCHÓN CREWS-DEZURN
Fri, 06 Jun 2025ANTONIO VARGAS PENS CO-PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM AND BOXLAB
Fri, 06 Jun 2025Antimaro, Jimenez to fight in Japan on June 7
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 05 Jun 2025Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
Thu, 05 Jun 2025