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Mikey Garcia becomes a 4-weight world champion after decision win against Sergey Lipinets

Written by Keeran Rajan on 11th March 2018.

Mikey Garcia successfully came through his attempt to claim his fourth divisional world title.

Garcia once again showed us why he should be closer the top of the pound-for-pound rankings as he claimed Lipinets’ IBF jr-welterweight world title to add to the WBC Lightweight title he already holds.

Garcia outboxed and even dropped Lipinets en route to a unanimous decision verdict on the scorecards.

The judges tallies at the end of the night in San Antonio read scores of 116-111, 117-110 and 117-110.

A comprehensive victory for the undefeated Garcia whose record has now improved to 38-0.

Garcia utlised his superior craft and ring IQ to earn him the victory in a very intriguing and technically challenging bout.

Garcia controlled the early goings of the action but following the game Lipinets upping his efforts mid-fight to try and stage a comeback, Garcia’s corner led by his brother and former world champion, Robert advised Mikey to stay off of the ropes.

This led to an enthralling seventh round where both fighters looked to stand and trade. Both fighters unfurled left hooks at the same time and Garcia’s shot found the mark first and Lipinets suffered a very jarring first knockdown of his career.

“I landed mine right on the chin and that’s what brought him down but we both were exchanging at the same time,” Garcia said.

“I know i carry the power but I was fighting a bigger man who takes a good punch.

There were moments where I thought I had stunned him a little or hurt him but not enough for me to go after him.

I had to be very careful. I didn’t want to get caught with an overhand right and go down by accident so I had to be very patient.”

With the win, Garcia becomes one of the most decorated fighters of the modern era. Garcia shared it felt ‘great’ to be able to join a select few in history as a four weight world champion.

“It’s a great feeling. Winning this fourth world title in as many divisions is an honor,” Garcia told Showtime’s Jim Gray in the ring post-fight.

“Getting to be mentioned with the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez is a huge accomplishment and a huge honor for me.”

“I’m very grateful for everything that has happened to me. I’m very excited and very emotional.”

Delivering his opinions on his opponent, Sergey Lipinets, Garcia was complimentary.

“He came in exactly as I expected –very tough, very determined and very hungry,” Garcia said.

“He’s a strong fighter and we had to work with angles, footwork and behind the jab because he knew he was going to be there for a long night.

He was very determined and dangerous with those overhand rights and left hooks.

We had to be very careful but we had a great game plan and were very prepared.”

There are a lot of options moving forwards for Garcia, many options have been mooted such as a lightweight unification clash with Jorge Linares which is the likely next step.

However a super-fight with WBO 130 lbs champion Vasyl Lomachenko at lightweight has been floated around.

Garcia now holds a world title 140 lbs and its hard to envisage anyone in the division posing any real threat to him there.

He has also shared that he does intend to move up to the welterweight limit of 147 lbs in the near future. Garcia has already put both Keith Thurman and Errol Spence Jr on notice recently, sharing he wants to secure match-ups with them.

“I love the most that I have all these options,” Garcia said. “I can come down to 135 and unify all these titles, which is what I really want to do.”

“Then I would move up to 140 and unify those titles and possibly go to 147 after that. Two or three more fights, you are going to see me at welterweight for sure.”

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