IBF World welterweight champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr. will defend his strap against four-weight World champion Mikey Garcia at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas on March 16th.
The bout brings together two of the sport’s biggest stars, with current unified 135lbs champion Mikey Garcia seemingly attempting the impossible in moving up two weight classes to take on the formidable Spence – considered by many to be the division’s number one fighter.
Garcia, who sat out from the sport for over two years between 2014-2016 following a contractual dispute with former promoter Bob Arum, has wasted little time in reclaiming his status as one of boxing’s ‘pound-for-pound’ best upon his return.
Since breezing past former WBC featherweight champion Elio Rojas in his comeback fight, Garcia has claimed three World titles in two weight classes in just his last four bouts – adding to his pre-exile tally and becoming a four division champion in the process.
However, the scale of his task in jumping up to face unbeaten 28-year-old Spence is considered by many to be a bridge too far.
Unbeaten and huge for the 147lbs limit, southpaw slugger Spence has rattled off twenty four consecutive victories en route to establishing himself as the division’s premier combatant.
Blessed with naturally heavy hands and in possession of one of the most brutal body attacks in the sport, Spence has eviscerated his last eleven opponents – including the likes of former World champions Kell Brook, Lamont Peterson and Chris Algieri – and had been hoping for a unification clash with one of the other welterweight belt holders.
Despite his brother and trainer Robert Garcia voicing his concern about moving up in weight to take on Spence, Mikey Garcia has been unwavering in his proclamations that he can inflict a first career defeat on the Texan.
With the bout taking place in Spence’s home state of Texas, the venue will also play host to a number of Mexican spectators who will attend in hope of seeing their compatriot pull off what would be one the sport’s greatest – and most daring – upsets.
Should Garcia achieve what many consider to be an impossible task, his status as one of boxing’s best fighters will be elevated even further into that of superstardom and legitimate all-time great status.
Though some boxing fans have derided the contest as a mis-match, the steely resolve and sheer gusto of Garcia in taking a fight that would have sent many in the welterweight division itself running for the hills is something that deserves the utmost respect.
For Spence, a man who has been vocal in his wish for bouts with former unified World champion Keith Thurman and current WBC titlist Shawn Porter, he will be aware that any slip-up against the diminutive Garcia would surely see irreparable damage done to his previously pristine reputation.