By Ian S Palmer
A pair of unbeaten boxers will be unifying their lightweight titles this Saturday, July 28th when IBF Champion Robert Easter jr. of Toledo, Ohio takes on WBC boss Mikey Garcia of Ventura, California at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The 12-rounder can be seen live in the U.S. on Showtime and on TSN 5 in Canada. Garcia last fought in March when he beat Sergey Lipinets for the IBF Super Lightweight Title by unanimous decision. Easter’s last bout was a split decision win over Javier Fortuna in January.
The 30-year-old Garcia will climb through the ring ropes with a perfect 38-0 record with 30 of his wins coming by Ko. He has a 68-inch reach and stands 5-feet-6-inches tall. He’s also a former world featherweight and super featherweight champion who was inactive most of 2014 and 2015 due to promotional issues. Garcia has better than average power with a current knockout ratio of 79 per cent and is also a quick, solid boxer with no apparent weaknesses. He’s fought 202 rounds since turning pro back in 2006.
There isn’t really a weak side to Garcia’s game as his speed, power and boxing skills have simply been too much for all of his opponents so far. Garcia has some impressive wins against quality opponents such as Lipinets, Adrien Broner, Juan Carlos Burgos, Roman Martinez, Juan Manuel Lopez, Rafael Guzman, Orlando Salido, Jonathan Barros and Mauricio Pastrana. He’s basically the total package and it’s too bad he missed so much time away from the sport.
Garcia’s still still young enough to be in his prime, but he may not be as well known to the average boxing fan as he should be. He’s simply one of the best out there pound for pound and is now heading back down to 135 lbs for this bout after winning four world titles in different weight divisions. It’s hard to say if Garcia will risk moving up another division to welterweight, but he did lose to Terence Crawford in the amateurs so you never know.
The 27-year-old Easter was an alternate of the 2012 American Olympic Team and will enter the ring with a perfect record of 21-0 along with 14 Kos. He’s a tall lightweight at 5-feet-11-inches tall with a reach of 76 inches. This gives him a five-inch edge in height and an eight inch reach advantage over Garcia. He’s boxed 106 rounds since turning pro back in 2012 and likes to stay active. Easter has good power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 67 per cent, but has been taken the distance in his last four fights. Easter has good hand speed and doesn’t mind going toe-to-toe when needed.
Along with wins over Fortuna, Denis Shafikov and Richard Commey, Easter’s also beaten the likes of Argenis Mendez, Juan Roman Solis, Miguel Mendoza, Daniel Attah, Roberto Acevedo, Hardy Paredes and Carlos Cardenas. He’s a good combination puncher and a fast starter as all 14 of his Kos have come before the sixth round. If Easter has a weakness it’s his defence since he’s not the hardest guy to hit and he’ll need to make sure he doesn’t leave himself open for one of Garcia’s powerful counter shots.
Prediction…
This is a good matchup as they both have experience in tough fights. Easter has the big edge in height and reach and will need to use it to his advantage to try and keep Garcia at bay and on the back foot.
Garcia’s an elite boxer/puncher though and simply one of the best in the world right now. I’m expecting Garcia to leave the ring with both title belts.
