03-01-2020, 08:21 PM
Garcia defeats Vargas by unanimous decision
By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside
In a wild Texas showdown at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX, next door to the worldwide headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, Jessie Vargas and Mikey Garcia went toe to toe in front of a packed house of 10,000 +. Garcia came back from a slow start to win a hotly contested unanimous decision in an entertaining, high action battle and come away with the WBC Diamond Welterweight title.
Garcia fought for the 2nd time at welterweight, losing a one-sided affair to one of boxing’s pound for pound best in Errol Spence Jr. last March at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. While Vargas has spent a career mostly at 147 and was the bigger man entering the ring.
Vargas came out sharp from the opening bell with a strong jab and good work to the head and body of Garcia and it continued into 2nd picking up where he left off. Vargas used a strong jab and a consistent left and right hand to the body, taking the knowledge from trainer Mike McCallum aka The Bodysnatcher who was known for his vicious body shots during his hall of fame career and early on it paid off.
Garcia, however, finally got warmed up in the 3rd round as he exchanged big shots with Vargas and in the 4th, it turned into a fire fight as Vargas had Garcia first in trouble in the corner, but Garcia quickly reversed course and started to land solid shots of his own.
The 5th round was all Garcia with Vargas’ face bloodied after several combinations followed by an overhand right that put Vargas on the canvas and looked like he may be finished. But Vargas showed the heart of a champion and got to his feet as the bell rang. From the 6th-8th round, Garcia was using Vargas as target practice. Garcia punctuated the end of round seven with a bang as he tried to finish off Vargas while referee John Schorle looked on closely for a possible stoppage.
Garcia seemed to take his foot off the gas during the 8th and 9th round and appeared to be looking for a big right hand to end the fight. With Garcia picking his spots, Vargas got a second wind and started working his jab and throwing the right hand again. In the 10th round, Vargas had his best round since early in the fight and was busier than Garcia. Garcia was back in control in the 11th and the 12th was back and forth action before Vargas landed a crushing right hand followed by the left just before the final bell.
The judges scored it 114-113, 116-111, 116-111 as Garcia earned the WBC Diamond Belt.
Mikey Garcia in the ring with Chris Mannix after the fight shared the following:
“Thanks to everyone that came out. Especially my family. I love you guys. I am very happy to be back and happy to be here. I had to make adjustments early on for his height and reach. As the fight went on, I started to hurt him, pick up timing and I think it work out well. I carried the weight better; I was solid when I had to. I felt the size difference, but my talent took over. I think he felt the power. Every so often I would hurt him again. I felt my speed and power was perfect. I think I have great options, ready to get back in with the best. I’m looking to get in with Manny Pacquiao or rematch with Errol Spence. I think it is very likely with Pacquiao.”
Jessie Vargas in the ring with Chris Mannix after the fight had this to say:
“I got a little confident when I hurt him in the 4th round. Mikey fought great fight, timing was precise, and I don’t take anything from him. I think it was an entertaining fight for Frisco. I think it was close. I want a rematch. I am very happy with my team; I just didn’t follow the game plan exactly. I am thankful to Eddie Hearn for giving me a chance. I think he’s a good fighter and has a nice pop to match up against some of the top welterweight. I thought it was closer than what the judges had.”
By Jeff Zimmerman at ringside
In a wild Texas showdown at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, TX, next door to the worldwide headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, Jessie Vargas and Mikey Garcia went toe to toe in front of a packed house of 10,000 +. Garcia came back from a slow start to win a hotly contested unanimous decision in an entertaining, high action battle and come away with the WBC Diamond Welterweight title.
Garcia fought for the 2nd time at welterweight, losing a one-sided affair to one of boxing’s pound for pound best in Errol Spence Jr. last March at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. While Vargas has spent a career mostly at 147 and was the bigger man entering the ring.
Vargas came out sharp from the opening bell with a strong jab and good work to the head and body of Garcia and it continued into 2nd picking up where he left off. Vargas used a strong jab and a consistent left and right hand to the body, taking the knowledge from trainer Mike McCallum aka The Bodysnatcher who was known for his vicious body shots during his hall of fame career and early on it paid off.
Garcia, however, finally got warmed up in the 3rd round as he exchanged big shots with Vargas and in the 4th, it turned into a fire fight as Vargas had Garcia first in trouble in the corner, but Garcia quickly reversed course and started to land solid shots of his own.
The 5th round was all Garcia with Vargas’ face bloodied after several combinations followed by an overhand right that put Vargas on the canvas and looked like he may be finished. But Vargas showed the heart of a champion and got to his feet as the bell rang. From the 6th-8th round, Garcia was using Vargas as target practice. Garcia punctuated the end of round seven with a bang as he tried to finish off Vargas while referee John Schorle looked on closely for a possible stoppage.
Garcia seemed to take his foot off the gas during the 8th and 9th round and appeared to be looking for a big right hand to end the fight. With Garcia picking his spots, Vargas got a second wind and started working his jab and throwing the right hand again. In the 10th round, Vargas had his best round since early in the fight and was busier than Garcia. Garcia was back in control in the 11th and the 12th was back and forth action before Vargas landed a crushing right hand followed by the left just before the final bell.
The judges scored it 114-113, 116-111, 116-111 as Garcia earned the WBC Diamond Belt.
Mikey Garcia in the ring with Chris Mannix after the fight shared the following:
“Thanks to everyone that came out. Especially my family. I love you guys. I am very happy to be back and happy to be here. I had to make adjustments early on for his height and reach. As the fight went on, I started to hurt him, pick up timing and I think it work out well. I carried the weight better; I was solid when I had to. I felt the size difference, but my talent took over. I think he felt the power. Every so often I would hurt him again. I felt my speed and power was perfect. I think I have great options, ready to get back in with the best. I’m looking to get in with Manny Pacquiao or rematch with Errol Spence. I think it is very likely with Pacquiao.”
Jessie Vargas in the ring with Chris Mannix after the fight had this to say:
“I got a little confident when I hurt him in the 4th round. Mikey fought great fight, timing was precise, and I don’t take anything from him. I think it was an entertaining fight for Frisco. I think it was close. I want a rematch. I am very happy with my team; I just didn’t follow the game plan exactly. I am thankful to Eddie Hearn for giving me a chance. I think he’s a good fighter and has a nice pop to match up against some of the top welterweight. I thought it was closer than what the judges had.”